Visit the Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud, Sabah

The Bajau people, also known as Sama are the second largest indigenous group in Sabah after Kadazan Dusun. Originally seafarers, there are now two distinct groups, the East Coast Bajau and West Coast Bajau. The East Coast Bajau are nomadic sea gypsies.

Bajau 民族也被堪称为Sama是Kadazan Dusun后第二大的原住民族群。他们的祖先都是海民，现在已区分两个不同的群体，东海岸Bajau以及西海岸Bajau。东海岸Bajau族民是海上的吉普赛人。

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud

The West Coast Bajau have now settled down around the Kota Kinabalu to Kota Belud areas and have learnt the art of farming and cattle rearing.

西海岸的Bajau则安居在Kota Kinabalu至Kota Belud一带，他们已经掌握耕田和牧牛的技巧。

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud

They are the famous cowboys of Sabah and have been dubbed "cowboys of the east".

他们是沙巴著名的牛仔且被誉为‘东方牛仔’。

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud

Their skills in horsemanship are well known locally and on festive occasions both horses and riders are dressed in colourful costumes. (from:http://www.sabah.edu.my/itsr039/BAJAU.htm)

他们的马术在本地是有名的，在节庆时，马儿和骑马师都会穿上五颜六色的服饰。(来自:http://www.sabah.edu.my/itsr039/BAJAU.htm)

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud- kiss with the horse

For my recent visit to Sabah, I had a great chance to visit Bajau people to know them better.

在我最近的沙巴之旅，我终于有个大好机会到访Bajau族民以进一步认识他们。

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud-I should bring a hat so that I look like a cowboy

We came to a house in Kota Belud where the Bajau family rears horses.

我们去到 Kota Belud 的一间屋子，那里有个Bajau 家庭饲养马儿。

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud

Although the horse is not tall, I still scared of falling off when riding on it. Great balancing skill is needed. Though it's an unforgettable experience. That's also my first time seeing the horse dressed in such way. Hopefully in near future I can come back here for their Tamu Besar (a great event for Bajau horsemen as 100 Bajau horsemen will wear their Bajau costumes, decorate their horses with colorful outfit and use horses to do different movement and formation)

虽然马儿不高，但是骑在上面的时候，我还是很害怕会跌下来。这真的需要好的平衡感。但是这是个难忘的经验。这也是我第一次看到马儿这样子穿。希望在将近的日子我可以到回来出席他们的Tamu Besar庆典（这是Bajau马师的一大盛事因为100位Bajau马师会穿上他们的Bajau服饰，也帮他们的马儿穿上彩色服饰，然后在马上做不同的动作和形式。）

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud

At some places in Sabah especially the roads of residential area, one has to be careful of the cows. They are everywhere. But when our cars drove closer to them, they knew to move aside to give way to our car ^^

在沙巴的某些地区尤其是乡村的马路，必须很小心因为那里随时有牛儿出没。他们无所不在。但是当车子驶近他们的时候，他们懂得散去一边让车子过 ^^

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud

This was my first time knowing that Bajau people are also skillful in making parang or machete. A parang is a medium-sized weapon.
It can be used for different purposes such as clearing land, cutting meat and also as wall decorations.

这是我第一次听闻Bajau族民也很厉害制造parang或者machete。Parang是个中型武器。它可以用作很多用途如除草，切肉和壁上装饰品。

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud

We had been brought to Kampung Siasai which is a parang making centre. The village is famed for its handmade parangs by the Bajau community for generations.

我们被带到去Kampung Siasai那里是个parang制造中心。这村子以Bajau社群手制的parang刀闻名。

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud-parang making

Upon arrival, the skilled Bajau parang makers demonstrated to us the traditional parang making. First, a fire is lit in the burner. That's not an easy job. One has to endure the heat besides a strong arm to lit the fire.

抵达时，这些生巧的Bajau parang刀师父就示范给我们看传统的制parang刀过程。第一，先把火给生起来。这不是简单的工作。除了那有力的肩旁，他必须顶着那热气去生火。

Skillful Bajau @ Kota Belud

The Bajau parang maker told us that the most expensive parang costs only RM500. The raw material steel is bought from Inanam.

这Bajau parang刀师父说最贵的parang刀售价是RM500而已。所用的生铁都是从Inanam购入。