Traditional Tattoo Equipment

I recently meet up with one of my friend who is a tattoo freak as I am, (Nearly her whole body is covered with tattoo!..Amazing and Impressive) and she was showing me her recent tattoo of a Hornbill bird on her arm. I can say it was huge! (Sorry, wasn't able to get the picture cause I didn't bring my camera and my camera phone was dead.) But It was amazingly beautiful, the design the natural design background. When I asked her, did she get it done traditionally or machine. She was like, "..Are you nuts?? I am not going to get it done traditionally"..Why I asked,"...Painful leh. Scared of the needles". LOL! For a person who have more then a dozen tattoo on her, she is scared of needles.

Then this made me think, seriously? Is the traditionally Dayak@Iban tattooing disappearing? Most people rather have their tattoo done by machine and having the tattoo done as soon as possible so they don't have to endure the pain. Why have a tattoo done if you're scared of the pain? To have something you have to earn it. Going thru the pain it's nothing if the tattoo means something to you. Yes, it does take a longer time to get the tattoo done traditionally and it doesn't have the smooth finishing touch as a machine does. For me, to get a tattoo done traditionally, the pain you endure, the excitement that you feel to get the tattoo done, even if it takes 4hrs for a set of bunga terong, I am willing to go thru it. There's something about getting it done traditionally.

Well, anyway, I when thru e-bay, and I saw some antique dayak@iban tattooing tools.





Beautiful! I purchase one set, and hope I can learn on how to use it.

More info about Borneo Tattoo

I was blog hopping and I stumble to one particular blog that again catches my attention. This guy really know what he is talking about when it come to Borneo Tattoo. I'm extremely impress.

You could check on his profile and more detail info about Borneo tattoo at:-

http://tattooborneo.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html

Iban Tattoo

Picture taken from one of the blogger, Desmond Jerukan from Kuching. I was so intrigue with the pictures that I have to take some of the pictures. (Hope you dont mind!)

Bunga Terong in the process. What I find out, if done traditionally, it'll take more then 4hrs.



The instruments used looked like the dentist's wares at first but on a closer look one will notice the equipment consists of sharp ends (one has a fine tip for a sharper job while the other had a wider tip for covering a larger surface) which goes up and down in high speed depending on the amount of electricity you use. The Dettol tube comes in handy for unintentional cuts... yikes! The black bottle consist of the color dye/paint used.


Sterilizing the equipments, towels and tissues


Concentrating on the outline first

It's not as painful as it looks. For those tattoo addict, it's an excitement .

Ernesto Kalum at work. one of the best, no, he is the best bornean tattoo artist around.

A few more skin to cover up.





The final result.

What I was inform that, iban men will get the tattoo of 2 identical bunga terong when they reach at certain age. The spirals in the middle are meant to symbolize the life cycle. Some villages say that it originally came from the spirals on the belly of tadpoles, and when you actually go find a tadpole as i have done, you can see this pattern. The bunga terong is supposed to guard the wearer from evil spirits. Some of the other tattoos on different parts of the body are for different purposes. They used to tattoo the hands if they were headhunters.

Borneo Tattoo

It really amaze me how little people know what is a Borneo Tattoo. I, well, sort off, dedicated part of my life on to expand the meaning and the knowledge of bornean tattoo. Hmm.. not sure how to start but here goes.

As the tattoo significantly called, “Borneo”, originally from the island of borneo . 3rd largest island in the world, located in South East Asia. Since I am a Sabahan, but so far when it come to tattooing for Sabahan natives, I have not found any proofs, telling that any Sabah tribes does and practice tattooing. Borneo tattoo are famous from Sarawak, the southern part of the island of Borneo. The natives consist of different tribes where each has its own language and culture as it was with Sabah. Though their languages and cultures are different, all tribes share something in common: the tradition and practice of tattooing. (Just for info, Sabah and Sarawak are different state, and no, we do not live in trees, and yes, we are still consider Malaysian!)

Anyways, for many years, the tradition and practice of tattooing has also been a way of life for the Iban - one of the largest tribe amongst the natives and me, myself self proclaim being an Iban even thought I am a Kadazan. Tattoos were very much revolve with every aspect of their culture. Tattooing was a sacred activity that connected the people to the spiritual world or so they say. But I believe so la.

Before, tattooing was done signifying the success to the Iban men in headhunting and the coming of age amongst the womanfolk and youngsters. Usually for the youngster, a “bunga terong” would be tattooed on each side of the shoulder. Acknowledge maturity. Aside from symbolizing their social status, tattoos also to enhanced the women’s beauty. It is believed that the darker the color of the tattoo, the more beautiful the tattoo and the bearer is.

The Ibans also bore tattoos for protective purposes as it is said to help ward off harm and disease. Thats why I am planning to get another tattoo for protection on my right arm sleeve. Not sure yet of what, but soon.

A Borneo Tattoo- Bunga Terong and Borneo Scorpion

I got my tattoo done there,by Ernesto Kalum

Free hand ... one and only weiii!!

The sweet torture begins.

Halfway there.. *phew!*

Well, those are some of the old picture of me getting my tattoo done. Well, i hope what I’ve shared will add some info to those who has thought of getting a Borneo tattoo. Share some info bah.

I'm not sure why I have this blog

Seriously, I have no idea why I started this blog anyway, but since I've started it, should just do something about it.

Let see... I'll dedicate this blog more to my interest in the traditional Bornean Tattoos. Or anything about tattoo.



From the making, to the machines, to the design, the traditionally tattoo, biomechanical , samoan.. anything.. but I need to get more information before I could even start.

Well.. that's the end of my 1st entry! :D