The masters and servants of the sea

A Bajau Laut fisherman using a canoe to fish around the islands off Sabahs east coast.

Sabah’s east coast is an enchanting place to visit. Aside from its pristine islands with white sandy beaches and beautiful diving sites, it also boasts unique cultures and lifestyles.

The trips I make to this part of the world has never bored me.

In fact, each trip taken to document the culture and lifestyle of the islanders here, especially the Bajau people, has been an eye-opener and has given me a better insight into this seafaring community.

The Bajau Laut or sea gypsies live a seaborne lifestyle. They live in small wooden sailing vessels or stilt huts built atop coral reefs and rarely set foot on land.

If they do go ashore, it’s usually just to collect fresh drinking water or gather timber to make their boats. They never stay on land for long.

Some of Bajau Laut folk live on small wooden sailing vessels. They eat, sleep and do all their daily activities on board.

They depend greatly on the sea for their main source of income, just like their forefathers.

The Bajau Laut people trade with the locals for their livelihood, using the fish they catch, the coral and shells they pluck from the bottom of the sea, and other sea-based products.

Almost everyone from this community is stateless, living a rather carefree and easy lifestyle, not looking far beyond tomorrow.

The Bajau Laut live in small wooden stilt huts built atop coral reefs.

What is really intriguing about them is not just their simple lifestyle but the ancient Sama language they speak and their culture that they practise.

The Bajau Laut are indeed the masters of the sea. They roam the waters of Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

In Sabah, this community can be found around the islands of Mabul, Bohey Dulang, Sibuan, Maiga, Mantabuan, Selakan and Omadal.

One can travel and visit these islands to see how they live.

Sipadan Dive Resort in Mabul island is one of the many resorts found on the islands off Sabah's east coast.

You can get there through Semporna, a seaside town situated on the tip of the Semporna peninsula around the Lahad Datu Bay. There are many boats to take visitors to the resorts on the islands off Semporna.

Of course, there is some concern about safety when visiting these islands, in view of several kidnapping cases in the past.

In general, it is safe to visit as the Eastern Sabah Security Command (EssCom), which patrols the area and impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew, keeps a close watch on the waters around these islands to ensure the safety of tourists.

Bohey Dulang is a very beautiful island off Sabah's coast. It is a national park. The dark ring around the island is part of a sunken volcano.

A trip to this part of the world is definitely worthwhile, especially as it allows you to see and learn about how the communities here live away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The clean air and beautiful sunsets are added boosts. And you can always lie on the clean sandy beaches and do nothing.

A Bajau woman peeling shellfish. The sea is a source of income for this community.

It is also worth your while to snorkel or dive in the crystal-clear waters around the islands, to admire the colourful world and life beneath the surface.