Sailing from Raja Ampat to Wakatobi to find the Ocean Nomads Who Inspired Avatar Ep 226
We first arrived in a remote, untouched bay on the island of Buru after sailing 300nm through strong, relentless winds. The crossing was wild—salt spray in our faces, sails straining, and the sea rolling with energy. Dropping anchor in that secluded bay felt like entering another world. There were no signs of modern life—just dense jungle, silence, and the sound of waves brushing the shoreline.
After catching our breath there, we set sail again—this time for a much longer passage. We covered over 200 nautical miles across the Banda Sea, eventually reaching Wangi-Wangi in Sulawesi. From there, we continued on to the coastal town of Wakatobi, where we finally found the people we had heard so much about: the Bajo.
They live almost entirely on the water—homes on stilts, boats tucked under houses, and women floating between the houses with effortless grace. Spending time with them felt like stepping into a living myth. They’re the sea people who inspired the ocean tribes in Avatar: The Way of Water, and you can see why. Their bond with the ocean runs deeper than anything we’ve ever seen—it’s not just how they live, it’s who they are.
The next day, we wandered through the local market, a vibrant chaos of smells and color. Women were expertly chopping massive slabs of tuna—clean cuts through fish the size of small sharks. I bought a pile still fresh and cold from the early morning catch, and carried it all back to the boat…my provisioning was complete.
It was a journey of extremes—ferocious winds, long blue miles, and moments of quiet wonder among people whose way of life seems more water than land.
Music in this video deserves a Thanks to :
” This is Everything” by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/
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We first arrived in a remote, untouched bay on the island of Buru after sailing 300nm through strong, relentless winds. The crossing was wild—salt spray in our faces, sails straining, and the sea rolling with energy. Dropping anchor in that secluded bay felt like entering another world. There were no signs of modern life—just dense jungle, silence, and the sound of waves brushing the shoreline.
After catching our breath there, we set sail again—this time for a much longer passage. We covered over 200 nautical miles across the Banda Sea, eventually reaching Wangi-Wangi in Sulawesi. From there, we continued on to the coastal town of Wakatobi, where we finally found the people we had heard so much about: the Bajo.
They live almost entirely on the water—homes on stilts, boats tucked under houses, and women floating between the houses with effortless grace. Spending time with them felt like stepping into a living myth. They’re the sea people who inspired the ocean tribes in Avatar: The Way of Water, and you can see why. Their bond with the ocean runs deeper than anything we’ve ever seen—it's not just how they live, it's who they are.
The next day, we wandered through the local market, a vibrant chaos of smells and color. Women were expertly chopping massive slabs of tuna—clean cuts through fish the size of small sharks. I bought a pile still fresh and cold from the early morning catch, and carried it all back to the boat...my provisioning was complete.
It was a journey of extremes—ferocious winds, long blue miles, and moments of quiet wonder among people whose way of life seems more water than land.
Music in this video deserves a Thanks to :
" This is Everything" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/
Go To PATREON ...and ....
Help towards video production / editing / data costs & get bonus content!
https://www.patreon.com/mothershipadrift
You prefer PAYPAL? ....
Help towards the cost of travel to places further off the beaten track.. or ice cream!
https://paypal.me/Mothershipadrift
YOUTUBE MOTHERSHIP ADRIFT
Share our channel with others - just copy and paste this link!
https://www.youtube.com/c/mothershipadrift
AMAZON SHOP FRONT
https://www.amazon.com/shop/mothershipadriftfamilytravelandsailingblogs?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfmothershipadriftfamilytravelandsailingblogs_6BYCP2BB5631MZQZJYJ4
Photos/videos of far off places, our Amel, crew, and other sailing images
https://www.instagram.com/mothershipadrift
Updates, comments and news as it happens!
https://www.facebook.com/mothershipadrift
WEBSITE
Our website with deeper insights and links to other resources
https://www.mothershipadrift.com
NOFOREIGNLAND
Follow our boat..
https://www.noforeignland.com/boat/5858761751134208
YOUTUBE MOTHERSHIP MAINTENANCE
Learn how we fix our boat
https://www.youtube.com/c/Mothershipmaintenance
SHOP
Buy a sailing gift from our online store
https://mother-ship-adrift-3.creator-spring.com/?
Mothership Adrift Travel and Sailing
We're a UK family who have saved over many years to live the dream of travelling the world with our kids. We sold our belongings, closed our business and rented our house to buy a 20 year old sailboat . We want to show the kids that there is a bigger world out there and to appreciate the simple things in life, things that you find in the sea, the woods, up mountains, along the beach , the sky and the stars. Our dream of cruising and exploring the world's oceans is matched with a desire to live a more off-grid and sustainable lifestyle. A background as RYA instructors, flotilla skippers and RNLI crew only partly prepared us for the challenges of a live-aboard life! From buying a boat to homeschooling the kids, from cooking on a budget to making money while we travel, from sailboat maintenance to visiting amazing places - join our journey and share in our world adventure, as well as the challenges of family life, through our series of video blogs.
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