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Good evening. This essay explores the historical accounts of nomadic communities who have made the vast oceans their home, living on boats and traversing the waterways of the world. Nomads, by definition, are communities or individuals who move from one place to another rather than settling permanently in one location. The sea nomads, or maritime nomads, represent a unique subset of these wandering cultures.
One of the most well-known sea nomadic groups is the Bajau people, who reside in the waters around Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. They have been called "sea gypsies" due to their mobile lifestyle, living almost entirely at sea on their boats known as 'lepa-lepa'. Their intimate knowledge of the marine environment allows them to live off the sea by fishing and gathering shellfish.
Another example is the Moken people of the Andaman Sea, primarily around Thailand and Myanmar. They traditionally spend eight months of the year on their kabang boats, which serve as both transportation and home, only coming ashore during the monsoon season.
These communities showcase a remarkable adaptation to their aquatic environment, with generations of knowledge passed down that allow them to navigate and survive on the open seas. Their way of life, while not without challenges, speaks to the incredible diversity of human living conditions and cultural practices.
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