2018-08-27

Jemeri– Day 3

#KantaPeninsular Minah in her 80s and her family of grandchildren on her ancestral land, a field just cleared for crop. Non-mechanised, and purely laboured by hand. She lives in a wooden house downhill from here and barely have the energy to walk up the hill. [1 & 2] Here resting in the failing light they called out to me from afar, as I carried a strange red box on a stick across their field. [3] Receiving her portrait at the native celebrations, [4] she brought us to pick some wild salak. During the festivities, the Balai Adat (Cultural Hall) was the centre of activity, [5 & 6] especially in the communal kitchen, peeling Petai, tapioca, sweet potatoes, all endemic and common native food crops and gatherings. Running the kitchen [7] A-mai oversaw the preparation the entire time we were here. [8 & 9] Every meal was a communal feast. [10] Government housing (if any) on the fringes tend to be very basic. The forest around them don't exist anymore, the more able invest in [11] Palm Oil saplings as the only way they know to join in the currency economy. Each sapling goes for about RM 12-15 (USD$3-4), takes about 5 -7 years to mature for fruition. [12] At 84 years of age, she is the eldest of the community of about 100 household. #KantaPortraits #BeyondBorders #EdgesofMalaysia

[1] Minah & grandchildren
[2] Minah
[3] Receiving her portrait

[4] pick some wild salak

[5] communal kitchen

[6] communal kitchen

[7] A-mai oversaw the preparation

[8] communal feast

[9] communal feast

[10] Government housing

[11] Palm Oil saplings

[12] At 84 years of age