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While you read this, a member of the Bajau tribe is diving deep into the Sulu Sea for their daily hunt. Their day starts and ends on water. In fact, most of their houses are also on water. The lepa-lepa (the boat) that carries them to and fro is where they spend their entire day, cooking, hunting and performing daily chores. Apart from purchasing their secondary needs from the coast land once a week and selling their produce, they hardly tread on nearby human land.
Ocean For Food, Ocean For Life
Source: Lamkuanmoi/Instagram
Often, the kids and adults alike have really sharp eyes as they can take one quick look and be back in a minute with something they’ve fetched for lunch. Living on water has given them eyes like dolphins, they can swim without any gears, simply in the jeans that they are wearing. The salt in the ocean water doesn’t seem to hamper their vision.
Eating From Their Natural Habitat
Source: Lucianocandisani/Instagram
If you are stuck on their island, you surely wouldn’t miss seafood because that’s all they’ve got. Fish and rice are their staple meal. Coral fish and shellfish are the common ones that are hunted with the help of a fishing rod during midday when the waters are shallow. Or else, just ask your offspring to aim and take a jump because it’s time for lunch. The fish is cooked on open flames with minimum ingredients. Tuna is a rarity since it’s at the bottom of the sea and difficult to hunt down. For salad, you’ll find fresh sea cucumbers and for a festive treat, octopus will be served.
FUN FACT: Did you know that the follow a natural calendar based on the seaweeds? The changing color and opening of seaweeds mark the dates of every month. And they are generally very accurate.
