Our journey began early on Tuesday, August 19, with a visit to the Tomb of Opu Daeng Manambon. As someone from the United States, I had never experienced a cultural custom quite like it. Everyone who entered the tomb was required to remove shoes, as a sign of respect and cleanliness for the deceased. Inside, there was a lot of gold paint and carpets on the ground to pray. Coming from a background that doesn’t pray, it was a new experience for me. An old man recited a prayer in Arabic and everyone around me closed their eyes. I decided that even if I wasn’t sure of the official process of praying, I would take this time to reflect and think about what I am grateful for the amount of hospitality and welcoming gestures I have experienced as someone who is from a completely different background.
Exploring Mempawah: The Enchanting Robo-robo Festival through American Student
