Author: Valentine Tawie Salok

Poor artist with paintings the world over

Since 1971, I have been involved in quite a number of painting and photography exhibitions in the country and abroad. The first one, namely in our 1971 batik painting exhibition in The British Council, Kuching was a group show comprising eight Saratok Secondary School students. Leading the exhibition list was

NAG art exhibitions and ‘bad omen’ jinx

Three times in the past my canvases were among scores of others given prominence in the National Art Gallery (NAG) in Kuala Lumpur. Most of the paintings were by established artists who were among the ‘Who is Who’ in the Malaysian Art Scene. Only mine and a few others fell

Unforgettable encounter with king cobra

As promised, I’m back with ulu tales especially those pertaining to my familiar territory, the upper Melupa river basin. Being brought up by farming and rubber tapping parents, I was out of parental cobweb at an early age of eight and since then, had been roaming freely in the width

Rimbas United Sri Aman Closed champions

SRI AMAN: Rimbas United emerged as the champions of Sri Aman Closed Sepak Takraw Championship 2017 to win Hajjah Simon Peri Cup, Lingga State Assemblyman. Rimbas United won the match after defeating team Semadi Nadai through final action at Multipurpose Court, Saberkas Kampung Hilir Sri Aman in straight sets 22-20,

Enjoying the carefree ‘ulu’ life

Kids in the ulu (remote hinterland) of the late 50s through to the 60s had to be contented with their surroundings as their playground and sources of entertainments. In the absence of toys, gadgets, cinemas and other entertainments the urban centres could offer to their counterparts then, rural kids then

Faceless dreams, a remarkable ending

In 1989 while serving as Julau Scout District Commissioner I was had the privilege to join a special camp. The big group of campers comprised Rela members of the district. It was planned to be for spending a night’s rendezvous at the famous Fort Brooke built in 1935, Nanga Meluan

Have guitar will travel

A Chinese movie in the late 60s/early 70s entitled ‘Have Swords Will Travel’ starring David Chiang and Ti Lung provides me with some inspiration with the title of this article though there are scores of other titles that could possibly fit in. Oh..the Chinese movies, especially those of flying swordsmen etcetera

Wheels with so much to tell

Keeping quiet was the best option when I heard my two colleagues talking about the latest car models in the market, both locally and internationally. Their enthusiasm for cars was really inspiring but certainly not infectious. If I were to open my mouth they might not believe that I had