East Malaysia Sabah Tour: Enter the mangrove forest and see the "water gypsy" Bajau shacks

There are large areas of mangrove forest near Kota Kinabalu, and the ecology is enviable. We cruised through such a mangrove forest by speedboat, were lucky enough to see the local wild silver langurs, and saw the local indigenous people known as the "water gypsy" of the Bajau shacks up close, and then watched the best sunset in Sabah on the sandbar at the mouth of the Benkapo River. As night falls, the speedboat takes us deep into the mangroves to watch the fireflies. The day's activities were very special and finally made me feel that it was worth the trip.

We drove to the edge of the mangrove forest

At first glance, it is a mangrove forest, like a water forest.

The river is called "Bengapo River" and there are wooden houses by the river, where we once again enjoy Malay afternoon tea. In addition to milk tea, there was Malay sticky rice fried, which was very delicious, and each of us ate three.

There is also an old man playing the guitar in the wooden house

Opposite the chalet is the fishing platform

Let's go!

Our speedboat sailed along the Benkapo River, lined with dense mangroves and occasional egrets.

This is a local wild silver langur that inhabits mangroves.

From time to time, we would see local indigenous people - the Bajau people sailing past us in small boats.

There is a small wooden pavilion on the edge of a cliff, and from there the hill up is where the Bajau bury their dead.

They would mark the trees with ribbons to remember where their ancestors were buried.

Continuing on, you can see in the distance the Bajau settlement, a large area of water shacks.

Look closer

The roof of the Bajau shed has a knife-like decoration

Shacks are generally old

The Bajau are indigenous people living in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, and have lived on water for generations for historical reasons, making a living from fishing. They have no calendar, no concept of time, no organization in their lives, so they are called "sea gypsies" by the outside world.

This row of land huts was built by the local government, who forced the Bajau to live ashore, so the race is shrinking day by day.

Houses on land are obviously more beautiful and neat in appearance than shacks on the sea, but it seems that the Bajau seem to prefer to live on water.

The shacks are connected by simple pedals, and the scattered shacks become a small community.

The Bayu people are poor, and some of the shacks are already dilapidated, but the locals are very simple and greet us warmly when they see us. The twin sisters danced with excitement when they saw us.

In this way, the Bajau people have lived in humble water shacks for generations

Reluctantly, we left the water shack of the Bajau people and continued to watch the sunset.