The Story

In the wake of the tsunami, the coastal communities of the Andaman Sea had their traditional livelihoods all but destroyed. As villagers sought alternate means of income, a number of craft cooperatives formed, producing a wide variety of beautiful products.

In Kuraburi and Suksamran districts, there are three groups producing crafts:

• Hand-made cards from women in Bak Jok village
• Herbal soap made by the women of Ban Talae Nok
• Hand-carved Moken boats from Bak Jok
• Locally sourced natural Tie-Dye Products created in Ban Lions

All of these groups come from communities directly affected by the Tsunami. Half of Ban Talae Nok was wiped out; while Bak Jok was completely destroyed, and Ban Lion was built to replace it. The production of their crafts secures a cultural bond they have always shared.

The Story of Ban Jok

On the 26th of December 2004, the quiet fishing village of Bak Jok was completely destroyed by the Tsunami. Situated on the northern tip of Phratong Island, the village was hit hard by the wave, killing at least 48 people and leaving 88 families homeless. Andaman Discoveries has been working with the village to give social and economic opportunities, developing practical ways for the community to rebuild their lives and regains a sense of place, including a paper making collective.

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The Story of Ban Talae Nok

Situated 200 km north of Phuket, nestled between the mountains and the mangroves of the Andaman coast, there is a small Muslim fishing village named Ban Talae Nok.

On the 26th of December 2004, the village was irreversibly changed, with the tsunami devastating the lower part of the village, taking many lives as well as destroying houses, boats, and the school.

In the aftermath, villagers struggled to cope, not just with the challenge of rebuilding their lives, but with the flood of tsunami aid. With no boats their traditional livelihood was indefinitely on hold, and with no way to know which promise of aid would prove reliable, families were left feeling powerless, until a soap-making workshop was offered.

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The Story of Moken Boats from Bak Jok

Traditionally, the Moken Sea Gypsies traveled to coastal and island areas in the Mergui Archipelago by their "kabang" (boat). It served both as a home and a means of transportation. They would spend seven months fishing during the dry season and take refuge on land during the monsoon in coastal communities like Bak Jok. The French anthropologist, Jacques Ivanoff, once said that the kabang is a symbolic embodiment of a human being, with a mouth and different organs.

Bak Jok village used to exist on the island of Koh Phra Thong, just off the south west coast of mainland Thailand, in the North Andaman region. After the Tsunami, its peoples lost not only their possessions but also, sadly, many family members, young and old.

The idea of the Artisans Co-operative was born from discussions with Mr. Jao Klatalae, a master craftsman at making the traditional miniature kabang. He agreed to teach those members of the community who were interested in learning the craft and bringing a source of income into the community. They quickly picked up this skill and started to practice an art form that was in danger of becoming extinct.

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The Story of Tie-dye Products from Ban Lions

Muhd Yom Koh Phra Thong is a collective creating natural tie-dyed handicraft on Phra Thong Island. The group includes tsunami survivors who depend primarily on seasonal fishing for their livelihoods. These brave individuals started a handicraft group in 2010 in Lions Village, which was rebuilt after the lost of Bak Jok Village during the 2004 Tsunami. The members of Muhd Yom Koh Phra Thong are working to develop creative new designs and practical products using local knowledge.

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