Dk Era, Brunei's Polar Girl

Bandar Seri Begawan - Squeals of delight and surprise were clearly audible through the handset as the Borneo Bulletin introduced Dk Era Najibah Era Pg Hj Ahmad Manhdi Al-Sufri, Brunei's very own intrepid Polar adventurer, to her first of three `surprise' callers yesterday.

Having only spoken to three other people from Brunei, all of them local journalists, since departing Punta Arenas in Chile more than a month ago and a world away from the warm climate and soothing shores of home, the Bulletin asked Era how she was doing

As the conversation settled, Era was told that there were several surprises waiting for her. Hearing nothing but the strong Antarctic winds blowing on the other side of the line, the stage was set and the question posed: "Era, we're going to hand you over to your first surprise. Are you sitting down?"

When Era's younger sister, 23-year-old, Dk Nuur'Izzah Nabilah Pg Hj Ahmad Mahdi Al-Sufri said hello to her sister, Era's piercing scream of pure joy brought a warm beaming smile of happiness on Nuur's face.

After speaking to her elder sister for some 10 minutes, Nuur told Era that she was about to pass the handset to her second surprise - her husband, Mohd Faierony Hazelin Hj Mat fair.

"Hello sayang' (dear), it's me. How are you?" were the first words that Ronny said to his wife whom he had not seen for more than a month now. The emotionally charged reunion was clearly seen on his face too but stoically and somewhat embarrassed, Ronny kept his emotions in check, perhaps due to the fact that the Bulletin's senior photographer was clicking away recording the moment for posterity.

Apprising his wife of recent events and exchanging words of comfort and support to each other, Ronny then passed the phone back to Nuur who held her mobile phone in her other hand with their mother, Pg Hjh Basmillah Pg Hj Abbas, on the line.

The next 10 minutes were shared between Pg Hjh Basmillah, Brunei's Permanent Representative to the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, Nuur at the Bulletin's office, and Era who is now undergoing Phase Two of the all-women Commonwealth expedition in Antarctica - all sending messages of love, hope and support to each other.

The handset was then given back to Ronny where he reminded Era to stay strong and that everyone in Brunei was praying and thinking of her.

After the almost hour-long interview, Nuur explained to the Bulletin: "My eldest sister has always been very active, very passionate and very mature. Yet, being the eldest she is also very modest and very humble," adding, "When `Kaka' (sister) wants something, she gets it. My sister's awesome," she said with a knowing smile.

Asked how she felt after talking to her elder sister, Nuur replied: "I feel very excited and happy to hear that she is safe, but I'm not sad. I have a lot of faith in her. She has a lot of confidence and I believe so much in her."

Nuur expressed some concerns when Era told her about the pain and discomfort that she is enduring from the blisters on her feet. "Knowing her, she'll get through the pain and keep on going though."

She went on to recount for the Bulletin what their mother said to Era. "She told her that she misses her. She reminded Era to always stay safe during the journey and to always pray and that we are all looking forward to seeing her again in January."

Nuur then recounted when they were growing up, Era had always taken on a maternal role over her younger siblings and shared a story of when they were on a road trip across America, from New York to Florida. "I remember that Era was 13 or 14 at the time and my mother was driving and Era was our map reader. She had plotted the course days before our trip on the map and she was so organised. It was a very intelligent thing for a girl her age to have done. And we got to our destination - Disneyland - without a hitch. You could always rely on her."

So how did it feel to live under the shadow of an elder sibling who is making her mark in history? "I am so proud of her. The fact that my sister is the polar girl."

Turning our questions to Era's husband, Ronny explained that the second he called out to her, upon hearing her screaming out loud, "I felt like my heart was going to burst in an explosion of love".

Having supported her decision to embark on this gruelling expedition, Ronny is understandably worried about hearing Era's hoarse voice. "I could hear the strong wind blowing in the background and it must be very, very cold there."

Asked how he felt now that he had heard Era's voice again: "I am very happy. I am not sad either. Usually when you have not heard someone you love for a long time, you can tell from the sincerity in their voice. Talking to her just now, I know she is fine. At least, for the first time in a long while, I will sleep very well tonight."

Ronny recounted that during the first few weeks, "It was very sad and lonely and it was a real struggle for me. I would sleep very late, and even if I tried very hard not to, I would have all these worries, these what-ifs, these anxieties about her. But now that I have spoken to her and heard her telling me that she is doing fine, I feel much better knowing that."

But what of her discomfort, the Bulletin asked. "Knowing Era, even though she is in pain, she will keep quiet, tough it out and carry on to get what she wants. And right now, that is all aimed at getting to the finish line and being reunited and together again, hopefully in a month's time."

Asked if he would support her again if she wanted to go on another expedition, Ronny replied: "I don't know," with a knowing smile of his own.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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written by Uh , December 10, 2009

WOW WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

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