People from Mabul Island

[chenws]

some portraits and images of activities of the people in Mabul Island, Borneo.

#1 Returning from sea.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1584.jpg

#2 Siblings.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1684.jpg

#3 Brothers.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1713.jpg

#4 Mother bathes toddler.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1750.jpg

#5 Home is a roof over the head and with loved ones
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1758.jpg

#6 Savouring a bite after dinner
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1762.jpg

#7 A family portrait.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1798.jpg

#8 Sweet girl.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1808.jpg

#9 Showing off her new phone.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1811.jpg

#10 Sweets for sale.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1881.jpg

#11 Siblings enjoying the evening together.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2165.jpg

#12 Mabul fashion parade : beach wear. Practical, durable and affordable.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2226.jpg

:D hope you liked them, more to come later. Comments appreciated too.

[astroboy]

Interesting insight into the lives of the villagers.

Where is Mabul island located? Some travel tips on getting there may be helpful.

Thanks for sharing :)

[ShaolinTiger]

Where is Mabul island located? Some travel tips on getting there may be helpful.

Mabul is where you stay when you dive in Sipadan as they closed the accommodation there for environmental concerns.

[jonjon]

wow............... really love the whole series..... exp 1st pic......

bro wish to see BnW vers.

[chenws]

Interesting insight into the lives of the villagers.

Where is Mabul island located? Some travel tips on getting there may be helpful.

Thanks for sharing :)

Flight to Tawau (nearest airport)
Bus/ coach to Sermporna town - 1hr15min.
Speedboat Semporna to Mabul Island - 45 minutes.
Speedbot Mabul to Sipadan 30 minutes.

Some resorts there sell dive/snorkeling packages, and they pick you up from airport. That's the most convenient package.

Otherwise, stay one night in Semporna; there are some great fishing villages and houses on stilts, for photography of course. But I'm not sure about personal safety in Semporna. And then book a stay in Mabul from there.

It is very safe in Mabul island. I took all these and walked alone throughout my trip.

Mabul is where you stay when you dive in Sipadan as they closed the accommodation there for environmental concerns.

only the army unit stays there. Sometimes they allow small groups to land on the island, but no roaming around. I had a chat with them, and being ex-army, it was easier to get permission and I got to walk the beaches a bit, but nothing missed if you don't land. The attractions are in the sea, not the beach.

wow............... really love the whole series..... exp 1st pic......

bro wish to see BnW vers.

Yes, I'll do some later.

;)

[Guy594]

i love all these photos, they show the reality how these people live and what they do.
These pics are ready for a magazine in my opinion :)

[nfariz8]

nice series.. somethings you don't see everyday.. :)

[chenws]

i love all these photos, they show the reality how these people live and what they do.
These pics are ready for a magazine in my opinion :)

nice series.. somethings you don't see everyday.. :)

Thanks, I'm glad you all liked the portraiture incorporating the living environment.

Here's more.

#13 Beach boys at sunset
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1779.jpg

#14 Girls wanna have fun too
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1783.jpg

#15 Happiness and carefree. There is a school here. But I wondered if anyone is bothered about getting good grades.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1795.jpg

#16 Handsome boy got his sister to pose as well.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1824.jpg

#17 At play on the sand; a family enjoying the sunset
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1861.jpg

#18 A simple home, a room and a kitchen outside.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1743.jpg

#19 Swinging time.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1835.jpg

#20 The race is on
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2182.jpg

#21 Sisters enjoying a packed meal
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2163.jpg

#22 Enjoying a smoke with his pet dog
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2232.jpg

#23 He ran up from the sea just to pose for me when he saw his friends crowding around me
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2255.jpg

#24 A sea gypsy girl return. She commandeered the boat herself to shore, with her mother and siblings seated inside.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2270.jpg

.

[brownteddy]

from the picts, they ain't making much for a living but no sad or dull face at all. i wish everybody is like that, be grateful with what we have, especially now when the economy is like a yo-yo. very nice capture chenws!!!

[mitmivec]

i miss this island... was there 2 year back wonderful place.. the people there look so relex and the kids are so cute not forgeting the nature and the fish :P glad that i am returning there next month to revisit that place :P

[jayhan]

beautiful series of pics!

[klguy]

These are exactly the type of pictures I love to see - people as they are in their everyday life. Wonder images Doc. Many thanks for sharing.

[kiankheong]

You have captured them so well. They looked so natural.

Thanks for sharing.

Now I wonder whether are they truly Malaysian, with the current on-going Sabah issues. :?

[chenws]

beautiful series of pics!

Thanks Jayhan

These are exactly the type of pictures I love to see - people as they are in their everyday life. Wonder images Doc. Many thanks for sharing.

Thanks klguy

You have captured them so well. They looked so natural.

Thanks for sharing.

Now I wonder whether are they truly Malaysian, with the current on-going Sabah issues. :?

They fear the authority because of deportation. But they have nowhere to deport them to, because many of them are born and raised on this island they call home. There's no reason to send them away. The resorts' manpower requirements and sports activities such as boating, diving need their services. The island is so peaceful and relatively crime free. The children are always playing and smiling and so happy. I don't think they are bothered about political issues.

[karheng]

Doc...great stuff again! Thanks for sharing shots of a place where many of us didn't even know about...

[chenws]

Doc...great stuff again! Thanks for sharing shots of a place where many of us didn't even know about...

Thanks karheng, take up diving, or at least improve your swimming and snorkeling and then take a trip there. It's worth it.

Some more images from Mabul Island.

#25 Sea gypsy girl at home
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2443.jpg

#26 Mother and child
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2279hp.jpg

#27 BBQ fish for dinner. This is from another village on this island, with higher standard of living. they are traders and boat-builders.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2313.jpg

#28 Aunt and nephews.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2326.jpg

#29 Young girl pumping water. Houses are on stilts on this part of the island.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2385.jpg

#30 They looked tired after a long day playing
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2464.jpg

#31 Those not tired continued playing, with fire
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2473.jpg

#32 Children of the sea, playing into dusk
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2348.jpg

.

[SooHK]

wah can see 135mm in action...

[dinduboy14]

The pictures sets an innocent and care free tale.

Thanks for sharing those wonderful shots.

[chenws]

wah can see 135mm in action...

The pictures sets an innocent and care free tale.

Thanks for sharing those wonderful shots.

My pleasure.

#33 These kids are actually laughing, not smiling.
I must have looked stupid and overdressed in my T-shirt, jeans and shoes, when they run around almost naked.

http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2660.jpg

#34 Just to complete the story. Not everyone living on this island live on land. Many make their homes in these boats. They are the Bajau Laut or sea gypsies. When there is a storm or bad weather, they bring their boats back to shore. The dive master here use them as weather forecaster, when the sea gypsies come in to shore, surely rain and storm will be impending, and it's not a safe time to dive in the open seas.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2684.jpg

#35 Sea gypsy families enjoying the morning. It had rained the whole night before.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_2699%7E0.jpg

#36 Here's a fine art rendition of grandpa and child on an outrigger.
http://www.chenws.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_1579.jpg

:)

[karheng]

I must say doc...final shot and fit on a maple brown wooden frame - Ooh la la....

[edward chan]

their hair looks like being dyed/coloured but the truth is malnutrition, right doc?

[chenws]

their hair looks like being dyed/coloured but the truth is malnutrition, right doc?

Yes. According to the Resort's dive manager, the Bajau Laut people eat only rice and fish. They get sick even eating chicken, for example. Vegetables and fruits they hardly get to eat. They happened to be the poorer group also of the islanders here.