Opening Ceremony – Selamat malam dan selamat datang. . .

At 7pm sharp the staff and participants nervously took their seats in waited in anticipation for the arrival of Mr Chin Yen Sang from the Ministry of Youth and Sport, who would be officially opening the expedition.

As Mr Sang took is seat an excited silence spread through the audience and a rather nervous looking MC, Comms Officer Emma, started proceedings with a Malay welcome and Rory (Country Director) took to the stage to deliver the first speech of the evening. Rory’s speech was quickly followed by Mr Sang’s, before a selection of staff and participants were invited to join the VIP’s for a specially prepared Malay meal.

Those invited to dine with the guests were host country participants Ee Laine and Ronnie, Aussie’s Ben and Kellie-Marie, UK participants Ishen, Rebekah, Tom (Dixon) and Juliet, and international participants Gilles and Veronica. They were whisked off to the VIP room and joined by Bridging The Gap staff member Nikki, and Project Managers Zoe (Alpha 1), Jon (Alpha 4) and Ben (Alpha 5), where they enjoyed local dishes of chicken, fish and rice, and a rather bright green desert that we believe was coconut based!

The rest of the participants and staff were invited to eat their meal in the main area of the complex, where roughly 70 people ate enough food to feed 150 – the prospect of crackers and cheese for the next 3 weeks clearly made a few people a little nervous!

Everyone was then invited back in to the ceremonial hall where they were dazzled with a display of traditional Malaysian dancing. First was the Sambut Tamu, which means welcoming the guest, and is performed by several ethnic groups who’s different colorful costumes symbolize the unity of the people of Sabah.

The next dance was the Tarian Limbai, the dance of the Bajau people of the Kota Belud (and Kg. Ambong) area. The dance is performed at weddings and other social gatherings by three to four couples and it characterized by the gently turning movements of the dancer’s hands. This was probably the most elegant dance of the evening and was accompanied by the locals playing the drums and the gongs.

The third dance of the evening was the Tarian Sumazau, a traditional dance of the kadazan people of the Penampang District. Performed at religious ceremonies and social events, the dance mimics an eagle in flight with piercing cries punctuating the dance and the dancers spreading out their arms like wings. Staff and participants were then invited to join the dancers and try the Tarian Sumazau – some were clearly natural dancers and everyone had fun!

The penultimate dance was the Tarian Daling-Daling, a jovial and popular dance amongst the Bajau and Suluk people from the Semporna District. Performed by pairs of men and women at weddings and social gatherings, it is accompanied by a cheerful poem about love, life and happiness.

The final dance of the evening was by far the most spectacular. Tarian Magunatip, also known as the ‘bamboo dance’, is performed by many of the indigenous people of the interior of Sabah including the Kiningau and Murut groups. The dance involves many pairs of long bamboo poles being clapped and banged rhythmically on the ground while the dancers attempt to leap in and out of the space between without catching their feet.

The dancers made it look effortless, but a lot of concentration is required as participants and staff discovered when the dance was opened up to volunteers to have a go. Although slightly tricky, all those that had a go thoroughly enjoyed themselves and thankfully no injuries were sustained.

As the festivities drew to a close an excited buzz surrounded the staff and participants as they made their way to their beds; how much sleep was actually had that night will remain a mystery . . .