❤️ Wakatobi & meeting Bajau Sea Gypsies

We are soooooooo glad we visited the Wakatobi Marine Park, whilst a bit out of our way, it was 👌...& a blast for Ted who has been reading/ watching documentaries for years about the Bajau sea gypsies.
We arrive at Wangi-wangi 🏝 in the afternoon, very greatfull for daylight passage as FADs were everywhere 😲. We tied up to an abandoned marina as it looked to be still in good nick, & met Mr. Albar (harbour master, diver master, Bajau community eldrer, and a truck load of other good stuff) who sorted a scooter for us. After a big ⛵️ day & and stoked to be in civilisation, we spoiled ourselves with dinner out... big spenders 😆 $10oz for 2🍜 and a 🍺.
We had a great time 🛵 exploring ⛩️🕌 🏖🤿, & "interesting" times eating a lunch with unknown content 🤔 & getting indo hair cuts 😱. Laughing so hard at Ted's (no hair left) cut, it took 5 min to get me back on 🛵. If only we had stopped there, finding a different ✂️ Ted was soon 🤣 at my "burnt bob" distress.
We enjoyed a lovely meal & conversation with Albar, it was so good to hear about the Bajau people, who as ocean nomads are not recognised by any nation & how they are working to try save their culture, livelihood & 🪸 🐟 🐠.
The next day was Teddles 🎂 🥳 🎉 so we left to Hoga Island 🏝 5-6hrs away, our home for the week & for a special dinner @resort. We were met by Mr. Duda as we ⚓️, who helped us nail the 👌 spot, & with fantastic English told us about Bajau stilt village & pointed us in the right direction for Resort ...which was actually a lovely little home stay on the beach. Here, our gracious host, Ms. Wai, served up the yummiest meal we have had so far in Indo & spoilt Ted with birthday pumpkin 🎂 & a beach candle (ted 53 so 🔥 bomb very fitting). Bar other passing sailors, we were Wai's only guests for a long time, Covid/5 yr no flights = no guests 😞.
The next morning, Duda took us snorkelling to a protected reef/dropoff, which is extra special in an area where the Bajau fishermen work hard to provide & survive. We swam for hours & saw a crocodile fish, sea snakes, turtles, rays, an unusual nemo & a stunning range of🌈 🪸 s. Unfortunately, we also saw lots of rubbish because at this time of year, Wakatobi beaches collect the 🌎 floating trash. In the arvo, we visited Duda' s lovely home & family. We learnt the Bajau tribe live on & are sustained by the ocean. Their kiddies are swimmers as babies, with some diving by 5yrs. After walking through the village & fitted out with new bajau diving googles, we left amazed & humbled at their way of life & friendliness.
We loved our stay here, highlights being the above experiences ➕️ buying super fresh fish off sea gypsies, more snorkelling, daily beach sundowners with Wai & her daughter...this wonderful week was topped off with Ted spearfishing with Bajau diver, Kudang ...Ted 🐟, Kudang 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 .
😔 & promising to return, we left at sunrise...off to Pasar Wajo to provision for the next big passage south

Some of the great dudes we met here were part of Ted's fav Bajau documentary, Jago: A Life Underwater
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