A chance meeting with this year’s “Ratu Lepa” or queen of the Regatta Lepa at a water resort in Semporna, Sabah, allowed us to learn a little bit more about the Bajau Laut people and their culture.
The Bajau Laut of Semporna are mostly seafarers, and are said to be gifted swimmers and divers. Traditionally, they were also a nomadic people, choosing to live either in their lepa (traditional boat) or in temporarily-built stilt houses, until the monsoon season arrives.
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