Photo and caption by ling cheong

Built from driftwood and scavenged timber, small homes have emerged from the shallow coral reefs of the Celebes Sea. Often miles from land, these flimsy huts are home to a stateless people known as the Bajau sea gypsies. Unlike the boat gypsies, the residents of the stilt houses enjoy a semi permanence. Choosing to weather the storms rather than move with the monsoons.

Location: Semporna, Sabah