After about half an hour to 45 minutes paddling from the put-in from Bengoh you would reach the bidayuh village of Danu. Before the construction of the road, the river used to be the only means of travel to get to this village. A suspension bridge spans across the river to allow access to this road.

We usually take a short break at a little pebbled island in the middle of the river to stretch out legs and to check if everyone is alright before we carry on down the river for another hour and half of paddling. On this trip Kevin, the anthropologist, suggested that we walk up to the village to have a look as he wanted to say hello to some of the villagers he knew.

While there I noticed that the villagers were taking advantage of the sunny weather to dry the crops that they harvested – rice, pepper and rubber; and it was then I noticed that one particular place has what appeared to be sentinels at the corners to guard the harvest. As I got nearer I realized that the ‘sentinels’ were unexpectedly actually cute soft toys! They must have been washed and laid out to dry like the rice husks. Or do you think they are supposed to act as scarecrows? But whatever it is, it made me smile! I am sure it did on you too!

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