juniorwild91

Night out with the wild bunch.

This was an old encounter from 2023, but a very memorable one, as i was recollecting a chance meeting with an elderly villager I had met along a tranquil village of Simpang Belinyu of Bangka Belitung years ago, where we stopped to refresh myself while returning from my 5 days exploration trip at Gunung Menumbing.

Upon exiting my vehicle, i noticed there was this elderly man sitting by the wooden bench, his hands gripping a traditional instrument as he strummed an old folk song. What captivated my attention was the head carving of a sambar deer on his instrument. I approached him and greeted him with "apa kabar Pak" in the simplest form of Bahasa Indonesian, and to my astonishment, he responded in English.... I noticed your hat adorned with a deer emblem! I was not only surprised by his keen observation but also genuinely impressed by this humble, modest, small-sized old man who converse fluently in English. He continued to speak of the once-abundant sambar deer found in those years, now sadly vanished due to relentless hunting. Here, he described the sambar deer as a keystone species, a cultural symbol of their province, and an essential part of the wild narratives unfolding in many villages across Indonesia. Even a humble soy sauce was branded with the sambar deer symbol.

This memorable meeting has left a lasting impression on me, one that I will carry for the rest of my life. Today, I humbly share this story with all of you, hoping that you all will also cherish and preserve our precious sambar deer as we do.

About the Dambus :
The instrument pictured is a dambus, a traditional stringed instrument popular in the Bangka Belitung islands of Indonesia. Dambus music is a traditional musical art form, rooted in cultural acculturation, influenced by the Oud or Gambus plucked string instrument from the Middle East, brought by Arab traders, and then adapted to local Malay (Melayu) culture. This instrument, iconic with its deer/deer head decoration, is often used in traditional celebrations and is now preserved as an intangible cultural heritage.

Origin: The dambus is an adaptation of the Middle Eastern gambus or qanbūs, which arrived in the Malay Archipelago centuries ago.

Shape: It is shaped like a guitar or lute. A key characteristic of the Bangka Belitung dambus is often a carved animal head, such as a deer or fox, on the peghead.

Usage: Dambus music is a significant part of the local Indonesia Malay culture in Bangka Belitung Island, often accompanied by other instruments like tambourines and violins, and the songs portray cultural norms and religious values

YouTube Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIpFtyA6A1Q

26 Feb 2026

Helping out with Nature Society zanzibar eradication event

18.2.2026 (Singapore)

Its CNY and an excellent opportunity to meet Mr Fong (Interim Director of Taman Negeri Perak, Perak State Park Corporation) during his short visit to Singapore. We had so much to share and discuss during our 2 hours impromptu meet.

New year gathering. Gong Xi Fa Cai

Overload of cuteness 🥰😍😘

Observation

Observation : Mother and son