Borneo Break: Aniministic Elements of Gawai

Borneo probably sounds exotic to many; but probably too, Borneo puts fear into the heart of some especially when one starts to form in his or her mind pictures of headhunters. There probably are no headhunters in Borneo now but historically,explorers and missionaries had been said to have braved both tropical diseases and headhunters alike in their search for fortune and converts.The missionaries probably are successful in their mission since many indigenious people in Borneo like the Kadazans and Ibans are Christians nowadays and in fact, some people credited the missionaries for the dissapearance of the headhunters.I used to think that all of the indigeneous people are Christians too but the truth is there could be Muslims living among the Christians in the longhouses.I met a Muslim family in a longhouse in Julau and another family there even had aniministic beliefs...

Signs of Animistic Beliefs... Offerings on an altar...

Amulets on the roof...
...Chapan...and discarded items for spirit of bad luck?

...getting ready for the miring ceremony...

... the miring ceremony...

...offerings to the spirits...

Traveling Tip: Learn the local culture!