Sea Gypsies: Hidden Tribe In Borneo Lives In Its Own Paradise

Some people get sea sick even thinking about boats. But Bajau spent their lives on waves, and French photographer Rehahn managed to snap some pictures these people. The pictures featuring the children are especially whimsical. After all, most of us were young, once, and wanted to play in the sea. And these kids play there all the time. And not just any sea: it‘s the tropical paradise, azure blue kind of sea. Clear as sea can be, and wonderfully warm. It is the brighter side of the lives of these peoples. Bajau, a sea living nomadic fisher folk, currently face a multitude of serious economic and livelihood problems, not exactly reflected in these pictures. Hopefully, the children are spared the worst of it.

The Bajau, the nomads of the sea, are neither recognized not accepted by the neighboring countries

They are there by choice: the choice to live in paradise, their own little paradise

The tribe has no knowledge of reading or writing

The Bajau do not know their ages

They know roughly about the concept of age but time doesn’t matter much to them, only the present moment counts

Regardless of age, everyone finds his place and helps to catch the fish

Women give birth here in their hut on stilts. Most Bajau are born, live and die on their land

Younger children are constantly on the boats, learning how to dive or swim, while those who have reached the age of about 8 years old are already busy hunting