For us, western " terrestrials", the word "nomad" evoke bohemiens with caravans or herders with flocks. In south-east Asia and Indian Island, where insularity and vegetable's exuberance are at the top, "nomad" evoke not only the forest people but also seamen. In south-east Asia as in Europe, communities "without fixed address" are disconcerted and they have been amalgamated to brigands and pirates. As it is possible to verify with the Vezo, for instance, this "sea Gipsies" never had, and they still don't have, technological and organizational means indispensable for the execute of any effective piracy. Sea nomads and semi-nomads are humble populations; today they are distributed on a immense area of the inter-tropical zone, from Moluccas to Madagascar. Such dispersed area, subjected by force to different systems of echological's factors (clime, soil, vegetable and animal covering, ethnic groups in contact) generates a differentiated range of sea nomadism, in the form and in the degree. In monsoonic and isolated zone, for instance the one of Mergu's archipelago, where raining forest and mangrove "eat" all the sandy beaches, we find the Moken, living quite permanently on theirs boats endowed of mobile roof; they have a strong resistance to sedentariness.
People going to fish. The Kabang is a boat and a home. During the good season, the Mokens eat and sleep aboard.
ZEF0082876 © Franco Zecchin
A woman at work.
ZEF0082879 © Franco Zecchin
A couple sleeping.
ZEF0082889 © Franco Zecchin
A child carrying a boat miniature.
ZEF0082881 © Franco Zecchin
A boy carrying a child.
ZEF0082899 © Franco Zecchin
Mokens are sea nomads. They travel in little convoy from one island to another. The Moken are living quite permanently on theirs boats endowed of mobile roof; they have a strong resistance to sedentariness.
ZEF0082895 © Franco Zecchin
Boys hunting and fishing on the rocks.
ZEF0082877 © Franco Zecchin
Children with a play gun.
ZEF0082878 © Franco Zecchin
A man fishing underwater.
ZEF0082893 © Franco Zecchin
A boat approaching the beach.
ZEF0082880 © Franco Zecchin
Shaman taking care of a child. Mokens are one of the rare populations that have been able to keep their traditions until today.
ZEF0082882 © Franco Zecchin
Every day, during the low tide, people go to gather food on the beaches.
ZEF0082887 © Franco Zecchin
A woman walking in the village.
ZEF0082890 © Franco Zecchin
Man fishing.
ZEF0082894 © Franco Zecchin
Child playing with a bird.
ZEF0082897 © Franco Zecchin
A woman in the boat.
ZEF0082891 © Franco Zecchin
A boy in the boat.
ZEF0082892 © Franco Zecchin
Man sitting on the beach. During winter-time Mokens live in villages of Mergui archipelago, 400 km along Thai's and Burma's coasts.
ZEF0082896 © Franco Zecchin
A baby on the boat.
ZEF0082898 © Franco Zecchin
Man resting on the beach.
ZEF0082888 © Franco Zecchin
Children going to school.
ZEF0082883 © Franco Zecchin
People washing themselves.
ZEF0082886 © Franco Zecchin
A woman singing and playing drums with an oil tank.
ZEF0082884 © Franco Zecchin
A fisherman.
ZEF0082874 © Franco Zecchin
Children playing on the seaside.
ZEF0082900 © Franco Zecchin
A man collecting leaves in the forest.
ZEF0082873 © Franco Zecchin
A young couple laying on the beach.
ZEF0082885 © Franco Zecchin
Dogs on seaside.
ZEF0082875 © Franco Zecchin