boy scouts camping

 On hiking route towards the Mount Matang.

Last week, Lucyriver brought five selected boy scouts to participate in the Secondary School Uniform Units Camping which saw the participation of 33 schools in Kuching. It was held and organised by a school in Matang. We, minus Lucyriver (not sleeping in the tent), camped there for three days and two nights.

Only half way on the road did Lucyriver realised that Lucyriver had forgotten to bring the camera, thus resulting in these low quality photos. Well, better than no photos at all. Anyway, these photos were only taken towards the end of the camping.

 The boys having their lunch at the park near the Red Bridge.

We departed after school with another five Girl Guides accompanied by another sun wu kong and arrived in the late afternoon . Only then we were told that we have to stay together with the monkeys in the tents. Noooooooo!!! Anyway, it did not happen as we we offered a bungalow space instead.

The boys started to pitch up the tents at their lot number 10 before gathering for a briefing and ice-breaking session in the evening.

In the morning, they woke up early for marching competition. We were blessed with a light morning downpour which eventually got heavier and heavier. Backwoods cooking was almost cancelled due to the rain but the organisers decided to carry on after hiking.

 The high-rising arms of the trees in the park to the sky.

 We rushed to get ready to hike, right at noon, well, it was more like walking along the road from the school to the Red Bridge, a small park with flowing river where one can picnic and swim there. After lunch at the park, we hiked back again using another road. Approximately we had covered 10 kilometres to and fro. It was a hell of walk to Lucyriver. The boys had offered to carry Lucyriver if Lucyriver pass out. Huh, as if ...

The backwoods cooking were all left to the boys to settle. They chopped the woods and started the fire while the girls prepared the ingredients. We were given two bamboo culms and half a kilo of chicken. We bought other ingredients ourselves.

 The boys working together to keep the fire going.

 Cooking their first dish, chicken with potatoes.

Initially, it took a long time for them to keep the fire burning and the food thoroughly cooked. In the end, we decided to keep the food to ourselves and not joining the competition anymore. Yes, it was a competition.

 Potatoes with tapioca leaves

 Tomato omelette

 Chicken and soup, almost gobbled up by the monkeys.

 The camping area of the boys with scenic backdrop of the mountain

It rained again the morning we were to say goodbye. After the closing ceremony, we quickly dismantled the tents and packed up our things to go back.

A picture of the boys for memory

 The almost shrouded mountain by the morning clouds

Lucyriver glad that Lucyriver went to the camping instead after no one was willing to go with the boys. Most of the time, Lucyriver did not even need to lift a finger as all the tasks were completed by the boys. Well done, boys!

monkey love

This piece of writing is penned by one of Lucyriver monkeys. He was in Form Five last year. He is not that good in the language but has the will to learn.

One day, Manju goes into the jungle. He wants to collect durians. At there, Manju sees many monkeys are eating the durians. When the monkeys see Manju, they run away deep into the jungle. Manju is very happy because the monkeys run into the jungle. He starts to collect the durians. Manju collects many durians. Suddenly, Manju sees a baby monkey on a durian tree. Manju climbs the tree and catches the baby monkey.

Manju is very sad seeing the baby monkey because he has no father and mother. His parents have ran into the jungle. Manju brings the baby monkey back to his village. At his village, Manju gives the monkey something to eat. Manju is very happy playing with the monkey. In the afternoon, Manju’s father is surprised to see the baby monkey at the house. He tells Manju that he doesn’t want the baby monkey at home.

Manju is very sad because his father doesn’t want the baby monkey at their house. Manju’s father chases the baby monkey out. Manju is very sad. Manju goes outside and he brings the baby monkey back. Manju comes into the house and he tells his father that he will not stay in the house and village anymore. Manju and his baby monkey go into the jungle. Manju loves the baby monkey. He cannot bear to see the baby monkey alone. So, he cuts down the trees in the jungle and build a new house in the jungle.

From then on, Manju sits in the jungle for a very long time. His father is very sad because Manju does not come back to the village, back to his father. After two months, Manju and his baby monkey are very happy because the monkey family is here. Manju is very sad because the baby monkey will have to go back to his family. Now, Manju cannot keep the monkey anymore because his mother has returned. Manju loved his monkey very much.

After that, Manju goes back to the village. His father is very happy because his son has returned home. Manju and his father are very happy because the baby monkey has found his family again. At night, Manju and his father sleep together and they are very happy.

written by

Pawi Mukan

20^th October 2009

monkey drama

The kingdom of the flower fruit mountain hosted a monkey drama competition on the 25th June. Never did the monkeys take part in drama these few years back. Therefore, it could be a pilot.

Seven kingdoms took part in the drama with a rehearsal a day before.

The White Scarf
by
The Kingdom of the Flower Fruit Mountain

Two lovebirds who eventually ended up in a tragic way.

Two ladies are gossiping in the daylight.

Looking for Sengalang Burung

A warrior is performing a ritual dance in the wake of 'sengalang burung'.

The calling of the 'burung sengalang'.

Welcome to the heaven with the little warrior angel guiding the gate. He is lost in ecstasy.

Melur's Cucuk Sanggul

The husband is having a severe headache when the wife is demanding new clothes and beautiful jewelleries to attend a wedding.

The Land of the Heritage

The girls are discussing the plan of stealing documents to retrieve the land of heritage.

Pinocchio's Pursuit of Love

The fairy godmother is narrating the story, "Once upon a time..."

Pinocchio's father is mending a teddy bear.

Pinocchio is asking, "Father, am I normal?" 'Yes, my son. Of course you are." Then the father's nose grows longer.

The trees and the flower is dancing in joy after tricking Pinocchio into believing he needs to be a 'normal' boy in order to be loved.

Not included in the pictures are The Journey and The Stranger.

Champion: Looking for the Sengalang Burung
1st Runner Up: The Stranger
2nd Runner up: The White Scarf

girl or boy monkey drawings

Here are some of the drawings done by the monkeys. The theme is birthday presents. Are you able to guess whether they are drawn by girl monkey or boy monkey? Well, ENJOY!!

Pictures drawn by girl monkey.

Pictures drawn by boy monkey.

Pictures drawn by girl monkey.

Pictures drawn by boy monkey.

Pictures drawn by girl monkey.

Pictures drawn by boy monkeys.



To see if you have guessed accurately, click and run your mouse over the sentences below the pictures.

monkeys kuih raya

A package of black plastic bag landed on Lucyriver table yesterday. Imagine how surprised Lucyriver was when Lucyriver undressed it.

Monkeys Kuih Raya!!

Oh, that dear monkey really kept her promise....with another monkey.


Attached is the note from the monkeys. Gosh, they spelled Lucyriver name wrongly. Nevertheless, Lucyriver just couldn't help smiling all the day.

This morning, Lucyriver brought the cakes into the monkey room. The two monkeys were specially acknowledged. The cakes were passed around and gobbled up within seconds. Bet they were hungry too as it was close to lunch time.

Lastly, of course Lucyriver did not forget to instruct all the monkeys to say thank you to the kuih-bringers. And correcting Lucyriver name, too.

monkeys homecoming

The monkeys are waiting at the gate to go home. Open sesame, they must be thinking.


During the assembly this morning, the monkeys are especially loud and energetic when singing the national and state anthems. Delighted monkeys make delighted sun wu kongs, too.


Looks like the one-week holiday really cheer them up, for the moment, as they will be coming back to face a bigger challenge.

Selamat Hari Raya.

A monkey promised to bring cookies, but Lucyriver doubt it.

an uninvited guest

We had an uninvited guest this morning. This heavily pregnant feline came crashing into the class and slumped to the floor like a bag of jelly mush, motionless.


The monkeys were so excited and made a commotion out of it. One of them ran to the canteen and returned with an empty box. They put the cat into the box and surrounded it like it's some kind of precious artifact.


Then, excitedly they started to ask questions and express their opinions.

a. How long has she been expecting? (No idea, since all this while Lucyriver have been keeping male cats, with the exception of Nino of course, even then, she has been spayed.)

b. Is she going to go into labour soon? (Hopefully not now.)

c. Who is the father? (Hell knows.)

d. How many kittens is she going to have? (Errrr.....more than one?)

d.My grandmother's cat gave birth to nine (Wow!) and five died. (Oh, usually the strong ones win.)

d. Let's send her to the clinic now. (Nuts!!)

e. Pity her. (Oh gosh, the monkeys have more compassion than Lucyriver.)

Before Lucyriver left, Lucyriver told the monkeys to put her somewhere else. Guess the monkeys will keep monitoring the development of the cat.