03 November 2009

Facing Exotic Northern Borneo

The population of Borneo consists mainly of Dayak ethnic groups, Malay, Banjar, Orang Ulu, Chinese and Kadazan-Dusun. The religion of the majority of the population is Muslim, and some indigenous groups continue to practice animism. Meanwhile, approximately 91% of the Dayak are Christian, a religion introduced by missionaries in the 18th century. In the interior of Borneo are the Penan, some of who still live as nomadic hunter-gatherers. Some coastal areas have marginal settlements of the Bajau (sea gypsies), who historically lived in a sea-oriented, boat-dwelling, nomadic culture.

Penan woman, street portrait, headshot, elongated earlobes, stretched earlobes, holes in earlobes, Borneo, Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park, Batu Bungan

Penan woman, street portrait, nose flute, mongurali, elongated earlobes, stretched earlobes, holes in earlobes, Borneo, Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park, Batu Bungan

Kelabit man, portrait, headshot, Kelabit straw hat, Borneo, Sarawak, Kelabit Highlands, Bario

old Rungus woman, street portrait, headshot, sunhat, Borneo, Sabah, Kota Belud

Kadazan woman, people, street portrait, East Malaysia, Borneo, Sabah, Kudat central market

Kadazan man, people, street portrait, headshot, Kadazan headgear, East Malaysia, Borneo, Sabah, Kudat central market

Sama-Bajau woman, Bajan Laut, east-coast Bajan, sea gypsies, sea nomads, portrait, headshot, burak, East Malaysia, Borneo, Sabah, Mabul Island