Dried fish hanging in the family boat. Bajau Laut dry fish to eat it later or to sell it in the market to earn money to buy other kinds of food.
Barisaya and her children Romi and Ina are waiting for Barisaya’s husband and father-in-law to come back from Semporna with fuel and food.
Romi and Ina are not attending school, but spend all of their time with the family on the boat. “My grandchildren started crying when we took them to school. They were afraid. So the best thing is just to stay on the boat and go fishing together,” Bungsali says. “Also, when we see tourists in Semporna, we send the kids to beg for money.”
Romi and Ina are eating noodles on the top of the boat, close to Semporna town, Malaysia.
Romi and Ina are not attending school, but spend all of their time with the family on the boat. “My grandchildren started crying when we took them to school. They were afraid. So the best is just to stay on the boat and go fishing together,” Bungsali says. “Also, when we see tourists in Semporna, we send kids to beg for money.”
Bajau Laut in Semporna area, Malaysia.
The only time that Bungsali and his family venture on land is to get fresh water from the mountains, or to buy some food, fuel and cigarettes in the town.
Most Bajau are unaware of their age, have but one name and are unable to read or write. On top of this, many have no formal documents to speak of or know where they were born. No documents means no education nor health care; the Sama Dilaut are unable to live a regular life and continually face difficulties.
Bajau children are playing on Mabul island. Most of their parents are working in Semporna or other towns in Sabah and children are left alone or with their grandparents. It's seems that the island belongs to children as you can see them play everywhere.
In the evenings though, some of them attend a school for stateless children. A local teacher, Alee, established this school on Mabul island 5 years ago. In the beginning Alee had only 4 pupils, but now the number of students attending his lessons, which take place at 8pm ever night (except Thursday), has swollen to 80.
“It is very important for Bajau children to start learning, as this is the only way for them to get jobs in the future and make a living if they cannot fish anymore,” Alee explains.
Most Bajau lack official papers, and this means their children are unable to attend public schools.
Countless numbers of Bajau children are still without education, however, and while NGOs and other organisations are working on trying to get more Bajau Laut educated by encouraging their children to attend school, in the end it’s still their choice.
Bajau children are playing on Mabul island. Most of their parents are working in Semporna or other towns in Sabah and children are left alone or with their grandparents. It seems that the island belongs to children as you can see them play everywhere.
Agunnay family's house on Mabul island, Malaysia.
Agunnay, his wife Intanlasa and their children in the house in Mabul island, Malaysia.
Agunnay and his nephew at home in Mabul island, Malaysia. Agunnay has 5 sons and two daughters. It took two days for him to build the hut when they came here from the Philippines and decided to settle.
Agunnay not only built a small house for his family, but even got a wrist watch to look like a more modern man. “I have the watch, but I don’t know the numbers. So if I need to know the time, I go to my neighbours, show my watch and ask what the time is”.
Bajau Laut stilt houses on Mabul island.
Children are making small squid ink "bombs". Later they will be used by their parents for attracting tuna.
Agunnay is spearfishing in the shallow waters. Living in unity with the ocean allows the Bajau to develop extraordinary abilities to free dive. They can go as deep as 20 meters down to look for seafood. They also used to dive for pearls.
"When father took me to free dive for the first time, I didn’t know how to do it. He just showed me how to breathe and block my nose. Then he put a rope with some weights on me and drooped me into the ocean," explains Agunay.
A Bajau woman and her children caught in the storm offshore Mabul island. They go around the island to sell fish for resorts or tourists and earn some money.
There might not be any Sama Dilaut living on boats left in the area in a few years. Only stories and legends about people from the Ocean will remain.
A man selling sea food for tourists next to one of the resorts in Mabul island.
Bajau Laut are selling sea food for tourists next to one of the resorts in Mabul island.
Agunnay in his tiny boat, paddling out in to the ocean for spearfishing.
Teacher Alee during the lesson in School of Hope for stateless children in the island of Mabul, Malaysia.
Bajau Laut are selling sea food for tourists next to one of the resorts in Mabul island.
Bajau Laut are selling sea food for tourists next to one of the resorts in Mabul island.
Teacher Alee during a lesson in the School of Hope for stateless children in the island of Mabul, Malaysia.
Agunnay is coming back home in his boat after spearfishing in shallow waters not too far from Mabul island.
School of Hope for stateless children in the island of Mabul, Malaysia.
School of Hope for stateless children in the island of Mabul, Malaysia.
Agunnay swims to fishing place.
A turtle swims offshore Sipadan island.
Bajau Laut selling fish next to a reasort on Mabul island.
Agunnay is preparing his speargun for spearfishing session.
A boy hand on the boat in Sibuan island.
Clothes are hanged to dry on the shore of Sibuan island.
People playing in Sibuan island.
People building a stilt house off the shore of Sibuan island.
Bajau woman in the boat, near her small stilt house just right offshore Sibuan island, Malaysia.
Bajau woman pours water away from her boat, near her small stilt house just right offshore Sibuan island, Malaysia.
A cat by a stilt house in Sibuan island.
A view through the boat window offshore the Maiga island.
A child crying in the dad's lap, in the boat offshore Maiga island.
Woman washes dishes in the boat, floating close to Maiga island.
A man coming back to his boat after fishing offshore Maiga island.