Longtail boats sway the Andaman Sea in a dream

Just as the gondola is to Venice, the longtail boat is sufficient to represent the presence of the southern waterways of Thailand. Whether it is in the morning market of the Chao Phraya River or at Krabi Beach, the slender figure of the long-tail boat can be easily captured. Earlier, long-tail boats were tools used by Thai fishermen to go out to sea to catch fish; Today, most long-tail boats are no longer fishing and hunting, and have become the main means of carrying passengers. On Thailand's southern coastline, long-tailed boats painted in colorful colors with ribbons of flowers are a sight to behold. Although tourists can reach the popular islands by large passenger boat. But if you want to travel to small islands such as Rebey and Nippon, traditional longtail boats still seem to be the only option.

A common memory of Southeast Asia

With different weather, riding on a wooden hull and a hand-built long-tail boat will also have a completely different experience: the wind and sunny weather, watching the hull push the waves slowly forward, presumably a comfortable and comfortable enjoyment; And being attentive to the waves will thrill the journey like a roller coaster – but in any case, it will be an unforgettable memory.

The history of longtail boats dates back to the days when Arabs traded and traded with Indian merchants along the coastline of Southeast Asia. Merchants would explore the coastal waters, anchor on different islands, renovate ships in towns, and trade pearls. The prototype of the long-tailed ship was born from that time. Long years and the wisdom of the working people have polished this long, banana-shaped, wooden boat.

Today's long-tail boats are no longer driven by human power. The Thai people removed the engines from the agricultural machinery and loaded them into the ship. The noisy noise emitted by the engine during the march became the standard background sound of the long-tail boat. With the exception of a small foredeck below the bow, long-tail boats usually do not have decks. The engines at the stern are stacked on the brackets, which can be moved up and down or in parallel. In this way, the hull can be led into port or turn the rudder left and right, and the engine can move along, while driving the propeller at the end of the long tail, avoiding rocks, corals, fishing nets, ropes or floating garbage on the water. Some large long-tail boats will even have more than one engine, operated separately by multiple boatmen.

Bang Bao's long-tailed boat

However, time has not changed much in the manufacturing process of Thai longtail boats. Today, the raw materials of the longtail boat are still made of traditional wood, and are taught by the craftsmen in an apprenticeship manner. With no drawings and no teaching materials, an apprentice needs to study with the master for three to four years.

Krabi Province, Thailand, is home to the birthplace of longtail boats. Walking in the opposite direction towards Railay Beach, 30 km south of Krabi, there is a village called Krung Rua, which is the manufacturing center of the Krabi province longtail boat. Bang Bao, 55, is the owner of one of the largest workshops here. At that time, he followed his father and learned the technology of building long-tail boats. Now, in the same way, he passed on his craft to his apprentices.

"We basically don't make mistakes, and if we do, those mistakes can be corrected."

The process of shipbuilding usually begins with the keel, followed by the bow, stern, and then the bulwark plate. The frame of the boat is strung together by string and metal wire. Finally, the "ribs" are installed. Then, nails, nuts and resin glue hold everything together. Depending on the number of "ribs", long-tail boats also have different lengths. The final step in shipbuilding is to twist the seam to prevent the gap in the middle of the wooden column plate from leaking. Shipbuilders soaked cotton thread in breadtree resin and used it to fill in crevices. Finally, paint the boat.

Disappearing long-tailed boats?

Whether on the southeast coast of China or in Southeast Asia, fishermen are the most superstitious people. If you carefully look at the long-tail boat travel guide, in addition to choosing a dry location, there is a more important tip: "Don't touch the bow of the ship." ”

The owners regarded the bow of the ship as the head of the Buddha. The first time the longtail boat is launched, a Buddhist monk is invited to bless the bow. Every morning before the boat starts, the owner of the boat puts a new garland on the bow of the boat and burns incense to pray for blessings. The bows of longtail boats are often tied with colorful ribbons in homage to the "grandmother of the ship" (Mae Ya Nang). This is a tradition left by the fishing and hunting people for many years, and the fishermen who float on the sea all year round believe that as long as they respect the "grandmother of the boat", she will bless the boat, give good luck, and ensure a safe and good harvest along the way.

However, in the past decade, the topic of long-tail boats has increasingly stirred the nerves of Thais. Beginning in the 1990s, the Thai government issued a forest protection order prohibiting the deforestation of natural forests. Shipyards had to import timber from neighboring Malaysia or Myanmar, raising the cost of longtail boats. Today, it costs about 400,000 baht (about $12,000) to build a longtail boat, which is double the price five years ago.

On the surface of the Amanda Sea today, the increasing number of modern speedboats has left many lovers of longtail boats and Thai culture worried about the future of this traditional handicraft industry. Therefore, in recent years, in addition to taking long-tail boats to the sea to visit the sea, watching the manufacturing process of long-tail boats has also been included in more and more customized itineraries. The remote shipbuilding workshop, which was rarely visited by tourists, has also become a scenic spot. For Bangbao, although the status quo is difficult, it is not hopeless. As long as you continue to work, the dawn will come.

(Jellyfish)

Editor-in-Charge: Wang Dian (Internship)