This week my hometown, Beaufort hit by flood. I watched the news about the flood kilometres away from home. They said the flood was similar to 1981, I can imagine how it was. In 1981 I was just in primary school, the flood was bad. Schools closed and food supplies hard to get ( road to Beaufort town inaccessible ). Luckily, the houses were traditionally built (built on stilt) so we never transferred to relief Centres. To be frank, as child, I like flood. As my hometown proned to flood I get used to this nature's strike. Beaufort situated at the end of Padas River, the second longest river in Sabah. Meanwhile, at the upper end, Tenom and Keningau enjoyed their position as the 'head' of Padas River. The ' tail ' part of Padas River suffered for years. This situation worsen by the construction of Pangi Dam in Tenom. Initially this dam constructed for electricity supply for Lower Interior Division. We accepted the idea for better living. I don't want to talk about the damned am anymore. I prefer share my valuable experinces as child during the flood season.
When there is flood, there is no school. My school was on the low-laying area, by the river side ( not so close, less than one kilometre ). The parents' worry were growing as their children preferred to stay outside than inside the house. Me, my brothers and I would build a raft out of banana trunks. We have a kind of 'raft-race ' during the flood season, what a wonderful old days. Tired of banana trunk rafting we have a diving competition, who stayed the longest under the water would be the winner. We only out of the flood water when my mother came to us with a cane. We never hope the night to come, we wish the day stays. We practiced the swimming skills, river was so unfriendly for us ( my mother said the crocodile always there to prey on human; she always scared us with her stories about men being eaten by crocodile ). We assumed that crocodile won't come to our village as the flood water was shallow.
It was an extra joy if there was a boat. I would row the boat the whole day, where was the 'tiredness', disappeared in the flood water. My elder brother would build his own boat out of rumbia trunk. We would set the fishing net, near our house. Hours later, we never disappointed as there would be fish trapped in the net. Learned from experience, extra careful as there were snakes.
The only bad experience about flood was during the post-flood period. As child, we were the main 'labour' who assigned to do the cleaning works.
When there is flood, there is no school. My school was on the low-laying area, by the river side ( not so close, less than one kilometre ). The parents' worry were growing as their children preferred to stay outside than inside the house. Me, my brothers and I would build a raft out of banana trunks. We have a kind of 'raft-race ' during the flood season, what a wonderful old days. Tired of banana trunk rafting we have a diving competition, who stayed the longest under the water would be the winner. We only out of the flood water when my mother came to us with a cane. We never hope the night to come, we wish the day stays. We practiced the swimming skills, river was so unfriendly for us ( my mother said the crocodile always there to prey on human; she always scared us with her stories about men being eaten by crocodile ). We assumed that crocodile won't come to our village as the flood water was shallow.
It was an extra joy if there was a boat. I would row the boat the whole day, where was the 'tiredness', disappeared in the flood water. My elder brother would build his own boat out of rumbia trunk. We would set the fishing net, near our house. Hours later, we never disappointed as there would be fish trapped in the net. Learned from experience, extra careful as there were snakes.
The only bad experience about flood was during the post-flood period. As child, we were the main 'labour' who assigned to do the cleaning works.
i saw this with my own eyes..this is the first time i saw a big flood like this in beaufort..you know bro, my father often said this to me when there is no flood until end of year, "nakuro isada liud da taun titi?" hahaha..what is that mean? flood is something we really miss at beaufort..good work bro, i like ur blog..
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