Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Full force of the Bajau


PAINTING the town red is an understatement in Semporna in Sabah especially when the Regatta Lepa Festival makes its annual round.

The colours go beyond the small town to the turquoise-coloured sea where Semporna folks, mostly Bajaus, moor their lepa (traditional boats) at the waterfront of Tun Sankaran Marine Park.

The lepa are heavily decorated with colourful sambulayang (sails or flag) in contrasting combinations of red and other bright colours.

Traditionally in red, white and black, the sambulayang is raised on special occasions and events like weddings and national day celebrations or to welcome State leaders.

For three days, from April 18-20, the small bay between the Waterfront and the floating Dragon Inn Resort was turned into a vibrant dockyard for a total of 138 lepa.

Continue reading (incl. pics) at: Full force of the Bajau

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