Calvin Jemarang
@tribalstories.substack.com
I’m a tribal storyteller from Borneo. "Tribal Stories" https://tribalstories.substack.com
Just heard something troubling: a friend in his final year of uni was denied entry to the US—and now has to take a whole gap year.
I don’t know if this is an isolated case or part of something bigger. Has anyone else seen students face this recently?
I don’t know if this is an isolated case or part of something bigger. Has anyone else seen students face this recently?
August 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Just heard something troubling: a friend in his final year of uni was denied entry to the US—and now has to take a whole gap year.
I don’t know if this is an isolated case or part of something bigger. Has anyone else seen students face this recently?
I don’t know if this is an isolated case or part of something bigger. Has anyone else seen students face this recently?
Bad news for our fridge. Govt’s hiking sales tax on imported produce. So farewell, sexy salmon. Goodbye, bougie avocado. And RIP to my sweet sweet Honey Murcot (yes, that’s a citrus, not a K-pop star). Already expensive, now entering “look but don’t touch” territory. Wallet says no. Mouth says WHY.
June 13, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Bad news for our fridge. Govt’s hiking sales tax on imported produce. So farewell, sexy salmon. Goodbye, bougie avocado. And RIP to my sweet sweet Honey Murcot (yes, that’s a citrus, not a K-pop star). Already expensive, now entering “look but don’t touch” territory. Wallet says no. Mouth says WHY.
Tried a few night shots with my budget Android phone—surprisingly, they turned out okay! Still figuring it out though. Anyone else messing around with night photography on a phone? Would love to hear your tips or see your shots.
April 6, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Tried a few night shots with my budget Android phone—surprisingly, they turned out okay! Still figuring it out though. Anyone else messing around with night photography on a phone? Would love to hear your tips or see your shots.
A fascinating cultural heritage site, located in front of The Shell Square in Miri, Sarawak.
April 2, 2025 at 12:58 AM
A fascinating cultural heritage site, located in front of The Shell Square in Miri, Sarawak.
Malaysia is generally not an LGBTQ+-friendly country. However, in some places, you might come across signs that suggest a different reality. This one, spotted in a shopping mall in Bintulu, Sarawak, is a rare sight in a nation where LGBTQ+ visibility is often restricted.
March 6, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Malaysia is generally not an LGBTQ+-friendly country. However, in some places, you might come across signs that suggest a different reality. This one, spotted in a shopping mall in Bintulu, Sarawak, is a rare sight in a nation where LGBTQ+ visibility is often restricted.
In Bintulu, the Punan built settlements, ruled trade, and shaped culture. Leaders like Orang Kaya Paso and Uzong Tijah bridged Punan traditions with Brunei aristocracy. Their descendants carried on—until history forgot them.
February 27, 2025 at 9:10 AM
In Bintulu, the Punan built settlements, ruled trade, and shaped culture. Leaders like Orang Kaya Paso and Uzong Tijah bridged Punan traditions with Brunei aristocracy. Their descendants carried on—until history forgot them.
History isn’t just about what happened—it’s about who gets to tell it. For centuries, the Punan of Sarawak were mislabeled, mistaken, and overshadowed. A mix-up between “Punan” and “Penan” erased their distinct identity. Time to set the record straight.
February 27, 2025 at 9:10 AM
History isn’t just about what happened—it’s about who gets to tell it. For centuries, the Punan of Sarawak were mislabeled, mistaken, and overshadowed. A mix-up between “Punan” and “Penan” erased their distinct identity. Time to set the record straight.
I’d never experienced a Facebook outage—until today. For a brief moment, chaos reigned.
#FacebookOutage
#FacebookOutage
February 27, 2025 at 8:53 AM
I’d never experienced a Facebook outage—until today. For a brief moment, chaos reigned.
#FacebookOutage
#FacebookOutage
10/ The Tatau are not a separate people. They are, and have always been, Punan. Their identity was reshaped by history, but the truth remains beneath layers of colonial classification and political convenience. #SarawakHistory #TribalStories #PunanStories #PunanSarawak
February 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
10/ The Tatau are not a separate people. They are, and have always been, Punan. Their identity was reshaped by history, but the truth remains beneath layers of colonial classification and political convenience. #SarawakHistory #TribalStories #PunanStories #PunanSarawak
5/ Over time, the descendants of Sega Saghe—the leader of Lovuk Sega—intermarried with neighboring groups, reinforcing their Punan identity while adapting to new realities.
February 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
5/ Over time, the descendants of Sega Saghe—the leader of Lovuk Sega—intermarried with neighboring groups, reinforcing their Punan identity while adapting to new realities.
3/ The Tatau language is actually a dialect of Punan, not a separate language. Before colonial rule, Tatau (Taytow) speakers were spread across multiple river systems, interconnected with other Punan communities.
February 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
3/ The Tatau language is actually a dialect of Punan, not a separate language. Before colonial rule, Tatau (Taytow) speakers were spread across multiple river systems, interconnected with other Punan communities.
1/ Is “Tatau” (or “Taytow”) really a distinct people from the Punan? Or is this division a colonial and political invention? The truth is more complex than the official narrative suggests. Let’s dig in. 🧵
February 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
1/ Is “Tatau” (or “Taytow”) really a distinct people from the Punan? Or is this division a colonial and political invention? The truth is more complex than the official narrative suggests. Let’s dig in. 🧵
A shopping mall in Kuching, Sarawak.
February 7, 2025 at 6:59 AM
A shopping mall in Kuching, Sarawak.
RIP, little guy.
This pic of a lesser mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil) has been making the rounds on WhatsApp. Poor thing got taken out by a falling durian. Now, durian season in some parts of Borneo is over.
This pic of a lesser mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil) has been making the rounds on WhatsApp. Poor thing got taken out by a falling durian. Now, durian season in some parts of Borneo is over.
February 2, 2025 at 2:05 AM
RIP, little guy.
This pic of a lesser mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil) has been making the rounds on WhatsApp. Poor thing got taken out by a falling durian. Now, durian season in some parts of Borneo is over.
This pic of a lesser mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil) has been making the rounds on WhatsApp. Poor thing got taken out by a falling durian. Now, durian season in some parts of Borneo is over.
Photos of Bintulu's most severe flash flood yet.
January 29, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Photos of Bintulu's most severe flash flood yet.
January 22, 2025 at 4:38 AM
What’s a good coffee to me? Forget the fancy stuff—Americano, Cappuccino, all those "ino" drinks. Mine's simple. Just give me a glass of coffee that's a little bitter, stir in some condensed milk, and boom—perfection.
January 20, 2025 at 12:59 AM
What’s a good coffee to me? Forget the fancy stuff—Americano, Cappuccino, all those "ino" drinks. Mine's simple. Just give me a glass of coffee that's a little bitter, stir in some condensed milk, and boom—perfection.
The Bakun Hydroelectric Dam in Borneo is home to the largest man-made lake on the island. The flooding of this massive reservoir began on October 13, 2010, submerging an area so vast that it rivals the size of Singapore! I took this photo in 2015 #BakunDam #Belaga #Hydroelectric
January 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The Bakun Hydroelectric Dam in Borneo is home to the largest man-made lake on the island. The flooding of this massive reservoir began on October 13, 2010, submerging an area so vast that it rivals the size of Singapore! I took this photo in 2015 #BakunDam #Belaga #Hydroelectric
Hugh Brooke Low’s journal, documenting his journey up the Rejang River from March 11 to April 1, 1882, stands as one of the most significant historical accounts of the upper Rejang region. tribalstories.substack.com/p/journal-of...
#UpperRejang #Borneo #Kapit #SarawakHistory
#UpperRejang #Borneo #Kapit #SarawakHistory
January 19, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Hugh Brooke Low’s journal, documenting his journey up the Rejang River from March 11 to April 1, 1882, stands as one of the most significant historical accounts of the upper Rejang region. tribalstories.substack.com/p/journal-of...
#UpperRejang #Borneo #Kapit #SarawakHistory
#UpperRejang #Borneo #Kapit #SarawakHistory
Good morning from Bintulu, Sarawak! The city’s showing off its best blue skies today—a rare break from the non-stop thunderstorm marathon. Who knew we had sunshine in stock? #Bintulu #Borneo #BintuluSarawak
January 18, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Good morning from Bintulu, Sarawak! The city’s showing off its best blue skies today—a rare break from the non-stop thunderstorm marathon. Who knew we had sunshine in stock? #Bintulu #Borneo #BintuluSarawak
AI still has a long way to go! Here’s what I got using my prompt in Gemini: 🤦♂️
Lesson learned: AI editing tools can catch typos, but when it comes to context and nuance, it’s like asking a robot to explain poetry. Still, a fun experiment! 🤖✍️ #WritingStruggles #AIAdventures”
Lesson learned: AI editing tools can catch typos, but when it comes to context and nuance, it’s like asking a robot to explain poetry. Still, a fun experiment! 🤖✍️ #WritingStruggles #AIAdventures”
January 18, 2025 at 11:34 PM
AI still has a long way to go! Here’s what I got using my prompt in Gemini: 🤦♂️
Lesson learned: AI editing tools can catch typos, but when it comes to context and nuance, it’s like asking a robot to explain poetry. Still, a fun experiment! 🤖✍️ #WritingStruggles #AIAdventures”
Lesson learned: AI editing tools can catch typos, but when it comes to context and nuance, it’s like asking a robot to explain poetry. Still, a fun experiment! 🤖✍️ #WritingStruggles #AIAdventures”
This is me, presenting a paper about 'Punan'.
January 18, 2025 at 6:53 AM
This is me, presenting a paper about 'Punan'.