They are called the Sentinelese and they are the very last people in the entire world to be untouched by modern civilization.
With a population estimated to be between 40 and 400, they live on North Sentinel Island in the Andaman chain in the Bay of Bengal.
Not much is known about the Sentinelese except that they aggressively defend their tiny island no bigger than 44 square miles.
Get too close and 
they will shoot you with…hold your breath…bows and arrows.
It’s no laughing matter given that two Indian fisherman who drifted too close in 2006 were killed by the Sentinelse. The Indian Coast Guard tried to recover the bodies using a helicopter but were met by the customary hail of arrows and had to abort the mission.
Other than the occasional drifters, for the most part, modern civilization has left the Sentinelese alone because they would have little or no immunity to even the most basic of our germs like the common cold.
This video shows extremely rare, friendly (albeit distant) contact with the Sentinelese. Look closely at them. They are a reminder of what we were like thousands of years ago…healthy, fit, strong, self-sufficient.
Most interestingly, they appear to be matriarchal as seen by the woman dragging her man away from the strangers (at 1:32 into the video).
I find something very beautiful in their primitive, relaxed, simple way of life.
It’s hard to believe people like the Sentinelese still exist, given that our world is so complicated, stressful, and overwhelming.
Lululemon North Sentinel Island
I know what you must be thinking and no this is not a hoax. I also looked carefully at the above video expecting one of these Sentinelese to be clad in Lululemon Astro Pants doing Supta Trivikrmasana.
But no, they are the real deal. Go ahead, Google them.
I share this with you not to say…. let’s get rid of the gadgets, strap on loin cloths, and go backwards.
But how can we move forward in a way that soothes the soul and creates a more natural, sustainable pace and style of living?
The Mayans say 2012 is the year when the world comes to an end. I agree, the world of chaos, distraction, and information inundation. Let that world die. And a let a simpler, more sacred life begin.
If you share my frustration with the difficulties of living in a world where emails pile up faster than a fart in a windstorm, I’m leading a Livin the Moment program in 2012.
I’ll give you those little reminders, thoughts, quotes, suggestions, and stories to open your mind, stir your soul, and make you think twice before reaching for the iPad when you could be reaching for your spouse or child.
If a little kick in the butt to live in the moment sounds like something you could use, just email me at yeahdave@mac.com and write “2012” in the subject.
That takes me back (way back), when I visited Sumatra. I spent a month on the island of Nias. No hotels, not even guesthouses. Tiny men covered with loincloth, carrying spears walking right passed us through the rainforest. We stayed at the king of Nias’ batakh house.
One morning, about 5am still pitch-dark, I wake up to Bob Marley :Get up, stand up….blasting through the village.
One of the little guys had taken my little am/fm cassette player and hooked it up to the village compressor and the one speaker that was attached to a palm tree.
A surreal moment in my life.
That sounds amazing Anke. A beautiful moment! Great to hear from you
-Dave