Bajau Laut: Gypsies of the sea

I’m in the southeastern Borneo town of Semporna, the gateway to the paradise islands of Sipadan, Mabul and many others, all of which are great diving spots.

But I’m not here to swim in the crystal clear ocean.

I’m here to visit the Bajau Laut settlement built on stilts over the Celebes Sea.

Originally hailing from the southern Philippines, these seafaring gypsies have migrated south over the last few decades to the Malaysian state of Sabah and onto islands in Indonesia.

They make up around 13 percent of the total population in Sabah, and their numbers around the world are currently estimated at 400,000.

While their nomadic lifestyle has been curtailed, the Bajau Laut still choose to build homes over the water on stilts.

The stilt village I visit is a melting pot of migrants from other parts of Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. I even came across a little girl from North Korea, whose family had escaped via China and finally settled here.

On the shores off Semporna, the first stilt homes are well designed and have all the usual modern conveniences.

I strike up a conversation in broken English with a retired Malaysian army officer and he invites me into his home for a quick peek.

Aside from the beautiful ocean view on three sides, the home was decorated like any other Malaysian home.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Bajau Laut: Gypsies of the sea
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Semporna Regatta Lepa Festival Elevates Bajau Culture

SEMPORNA -- The Regatta Lepa Festival which enters its 18th year this year will be able to raise the Bajau culture and heritage to a higher level, said Minister in the Sabah Chief Minister's Office Datuk Sri Nasir Tun Sakaran.

He said the Regatta Lepa Festival which showcased characteristics of the Bajau culture not only had high esthetic values, but was also marked in the national tourism calender as an annual tourism event.

"Continuous publicity by the government through the federal and state tourism ministry, as well as the private sector, has raised the festival's popularity to a reputable level," he said during the launch of the 18th Regatta Lepa Festival by Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, yesterday.

For example, Nasir said dance performances, traditional costume fashion shows and traditional Bajau delicacies not only helped to preserve the culture of the community, but also introduce the culture to other communities.

Continue reading at: Semporna Regatta Lepa Festival Elevates Bajau Culture
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Picture perfect day with Sea Gypsies in Semporna

Bajau children playing in a boat

Coral and sea creatures can be seen through the crystal clear waters

Tall coconut trees provide shade from the bright sunlight

Diving homestay where we stayed at Mabul Island

Bajau family relaxing during sunset on Maiga Island

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to Azrol Azmi and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By Azrol Azmi

If you are planning an island resort getaway this coming school holidays in March, look no further than Semporna and its surrounding islands, which offer stunning white sandy beaches and picturesque views.

Imagine crystal clear waters, long stretches of white sandy beaches, cool breeze blowing from the sea and tall coconut trees providing shade from the bright tropical sun as you unwind on one of the islands.

Semporna, a town located in Tawau division on Sabah's east coast, is inhabited mainly by ethnic Bajau Laut, also known as Sea Gypsies, many of whom live in sprawling stilt villages above the water or in traditional Lepa boats.

Semporna is a gateway to the some of the best dive sites in the world which are situated about an hour's boat ride away.

Among the islands that can be visited are Mabul, Kapalai and of course, Sipadan surrounded by the Sulawesi Sea which needs no introduction to avid divers from around the world.

There are other islands with equally fascinating dive sites. Tourism Malaysia is working hard to promote the lesser-known but equally beautiful dive sites in Sabah such as Si Amil, Mantabuan, Sibuan and Bohey Dulang.

As many as 101 dive spots have been identified by a team of divers who hope to bring greater attention to Sabah's other dive site jewels. These sites are listed in the Sabah 101 Dive Treasures brochure.

I recently went on a photo expedition with a group of friends with the same interest to capture the beautiful scenery at some of these islands.

We started our journey driving from Brunei Darussalam to Kota Kinabalu before catching a flight from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Tawau Airport, (which is the nearest airport to Semporna) before proceeding on an hour's drive to Semporna town in a tour bus. Enquiries at the airport revealed that public buses and taxis are available to transport people from Tawau to Semporna at a reasonable fee.

In Semporna, we made our way to the public jetty where our friend from Tawau, Muslianshah, who oversaw our stay during our photo expedition, awaited with a boat ready to take us to our first island, Maiga.

We made a quick stop at Bohey Dulang island to take a closer look at the Bajau or Sea Gypsies. We learnt that the Bajau community made their living from fishing and farming seaweed which they sell in Semporna.

Maiga is not well-equipped to receive tourists as the island does not have the basic amenities of running water and electricity. We were told that we would be "camping out" but we actually slept in a makeshift hall built by the Bajau.

We visited other islands before finally staying in Scubajeff-Sipadan diving homestay at Mabul Island, which is one of the more popular islands among diving tourists and beachcombers.

Mabul is well-equipped to receive tourists and even has a resort as well as several diving homestays to cater for "budget" divers.

Mabul is situated just 25 minutes from Sipadan. Running water and electricity are available on Mabul and a few shops selling everyday items can be seen in a small village populated by the Bajau.

More photos can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/azrolazmi and look for Semporna set.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend
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Sabah Tourism: Tamu Besar, Kota Belud

Date: 30 - 31 October 2010

The ‘Tamu' is Borneo's traditional open market. This grand event showcases Sabah’s largest alfresco market while featuring the unique customs and traditions of the Bajau community. Throughout this event, the natives of Kota Belud will be out and about parading in their best traditional costumes.

The Bajau horsemen known as the ‘Cowboys of the East' will dress in their traditional best and ride horses extravagantly decorated with colourful fabrics and jingling bell collars. The younger generation Bajau gentlemen will get in touch with their age-old heritage as horsemen of the east in an exuberant display of horsemanship. There will also be a parade of ponies dressed in gorgeously ornate costumes.

A wild, wild, East experience with a Bornean twist!

Further Information

Organiser: District Office of Kota Belud / Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn. Bhd
Contact Person: Mohd. Najib Muntok (District Officer) / Zachary Mobijohn (Sri Pelancongan Sabah S/B)
Telephone: +6088 976621 / 976542 / 232121
Fax: +6088 977064 / 265540
Email Contact: zachary@sabahtourism.com
Event Website: http://tamubesar.sabahtourism.com

Source: Sabah Tourism

NOTE: Photo Copyright to Sabah Tourism
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Putatan, a cultural centre in the making

Betitik is the Bajaus’ way of making ceremonial music. Their instruments are brass gongs and barrel drums made from the skin of goats and buffaloes.

From them comes a trance-like music that is a cross between a dull drum thump and a ringing clash of cymbals quite similar to that of a xylophone. It is traditional music to celebrate marriages. But Betitik has become an annual musical festival, one that will take centre stage in Sabah’s Putatan district as a tourism event.

Deputy chief minister Yahya Hussin has claimed Betitik, in its third year, for Putatan. He says that it is its home and not Kota Belud, the heartland of the famed Bajau horsemen. Yahya promises a grander Betitik next year when the celebration will move closer to a tourist hotel and shopping mall.

The Bajaus (about 400,000) are Sabah’s second biggest indigenous people after the Kadazandusuns (560,000) in a 3.2m multi-ethnic population that includes other indigenous people, Malays, ethnic Chinese and Indians.

The festival is marked by a battle of the bands. Fifteen six-member bands took part in a three-day contest that led to the final on September 25.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Putatan, a cultural centre in the making
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