In between P. Ramlee and Pontianak movies in black and white … I would sit by the high green wrought iron four poster bed listening to the stories my grandmother would relate … and from behind the opening of the kelambu (mosquito net) drapped over the posts she would often sing a song which was a favourite of hers, a song that I learnt to sing by singing along with her, a song in Bahasa Indonesia about a Cockatoo (Burung Kakatua):
- Burung Kakatua
- Menclok di jendela
- Nenek sudah tuah
- Giginya tinggal dua
- Letrum Letrum Letrum ooh la la
- Letrum Letrum Letrum ooh la la
- Letrum Letrum Letrum ooh la la
- Burung Kakatua
My maternal grandmother and me, MacRitchie Reservoir, 1969
What a wonderful memory! The photo of your grandma reminded me of my own, my grandmother from the paternal side. The motherly look and the ‘nyonya custume’ …. I wonder if ppl still use ‘kelambu’ nowadays:)
For those who are born in Indonesia, the song Burung Kakatua is a real legend:)
Thanks for your comments Lois! Glad that the photo of my grandma reminded you of your own … it is these memories that we should treasure! 😀 I don’t think anyone uses the “kelambu” any more in built up Singapore … but I suspect that you might find that it would still be used in some of the rural parts of the region … and the song Burung Kakatua is certainly a real legend! 😀