+66 (0) 87 917 7165 info@andamandiscoveries.com

Moken Village

Moken Experience Surin Island

Spirit Poles “Lor Bong”

The Surin Islands are located in the northern rim of the Andaman Sea, about 10 kilometers south from the official Thailand-Myanmar border and 60 kilometers west from Thailand’s mainland. The common port of departure is the Kuraburi pier of the Phang Nga province. The Surin Islands consist out of five islands, Koh Surin Nua, Koh Surin Tai, Koh Ri, Koh Kai and Koh Klang.

The Moken Sea Gypsies use to navigate around the islands and stay in different bays, yet nowadays they are permanently located on Surin Tai, the big southern Island.

The Moken village in Ao Bon Yai counts 70 households that are inhabited by 300 people. The village also hosts a health center, a school, and an information center.

Moken Village: Ao Bon Yai

The Moken are sea nomads that traditionally lived and travelled the Andaman Sea between Thailand and Burma. In the 1990th they started to settle on Koh Surin permanently. Before the Tsunami in December 2004, two Moken villages were located in “Sai End” and “Ao Bon Lek”, counting about 20 households in each village. On December 26, 2004, the Moken, as people of the sea, noticed the change in the water and fled up the hill. Unlike other places affected by the Tsunami, no person was harmed, but just like other places the houses were destroyed. In 2005 the two villages have been reconstructed as one in Ao Bon Yai.

Climate:

Two seasons define the changes in the way of life on the Surin Islands, monsoon and dry season. During the monsoon the national park is closed as the sea is too rough for tour boat transfer between the island and the mainland. For the Moken the monsoon is the time of

Making Moken Boat

resting and fishing for domestic use.  Dry season is the time that allows moving around and is hence defined by work. As the national park is open during dry season, this time is dominated by tourism.

Local Culture:

Living surrounded by national park, the Moken have observed many tourists moving in and out, yet little possibility of direct interaction existed. In 2012 the Moken Tourism Team has developed guidelines and activities in order to find a way of changing passive village tourism into a community based tourism. For the Moken, this allows the active participation in tourism, while the tourists can have the unique experience of sharing

Moken Handicrafts

and learning from the Moken way of life.

To respect the values in the Moken community, guidelines for interacting in the village have been developed. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to participate in the cultural activities and explore Moken mythology. To promote intercultural understanding and respect, we ask that visitors adhere to the following:

For your personal health:

  • Drink plenty of water, the salty environment speeds the process of dehydration
  • Cover up in the sun, wear a hat and protect your skin
  • Prepare for ants and mosquitoes in the forest behind the village. Wear loose cotton long sleeved clothes or/and use insect repellent

For the general good:

  • Please cover up when you enter the village. Children may walk around naked, yet adults are expected to wear t-shirts that cover the shoulders and knee-length shorts
  • When swimming close to the village, please leave your shoulders covered and wear shorts
  • If you are invited into a house, please take off your shoes before you enter
  • When taking photographs, please make sure this happens in agreement with the people in front of your lenses
  • If you need to use a bathroom in the village, please ask your guide
  • Please leave coral and shells on the beach
  • Please take back any trash you might bring into the village

Responsibility and Behavior

All we ask of visitors is to be patient, open-minded, and willing to accept new things.

Be aware that your presence makes a difference. In being interested in the Moken you empower them to be proud of their culture. Make sure to promote responsible behavior and only share the best parts of your culture.  For example, being part of a kid’s game is more respectful (and more fun) than showing your newest camera model and the amazing picture you took of the village elder.

Thank you for choosing responsible ways of traveling with Andaman Discoveries.

Moken Village Way of Life – A Brief Introduction

A long time ago, prince and princess lived together peacefully. They shared their time and their love. One very dark night on his way home the prince was confused and entered the wrong house. It was the room where the princess’ sister lived. The princess heard her husband entering her sister’s room and got angry. She put a curse upon them that kept them from ever having a permanent settlement. So the prince and his new companion were banished to roam the seas on their nomadic houseboats.

As sea gypsies, the Moken are both hunters and gatherers with exceptional skills. The spear is used for hunting underwater and for the surface, yet this type of fishing is restricted nowadays by the national park. For generations, the Moken have made use of the rich diversity of plants and woods in the surrounding jungle. In the back of the village you can find a trail that features medicinal herbs, edible plants and different woods used to make tools, boats and houses. You might also see monkeys, squirrels and other wildlife. Be aware that there are ants and mosquitoes awaiting you.

Traditionally, the dry season was the time to move around and work, trading merchandise and fish and maintaining the good condition of boats and houses. The construction of kabang houseboats and chaban boats are protected by law and the trees for these boats cannot be cut from the National Park area anymore. Consequently, the beautifully miniature boats receive more attention to be sold as handicrafts.

The rainy season is the time of rest, which means building houses to stay in the bays. The main activity during this time of the year remains the same until now: fishing and collecting shells and sea cucumbers for domestic use.

To complement their traditional livelihoods, the Moken have developed a Tourism Team that facilitates Community-Based Tourism in the village and surrounding islands. They have decided to show Moken Experiences and share the following traditional activities with incoming visitors:

Moken Weaving

  • Weaving baskets, mats, and thatch roofs
  • Working on the boats and houses
  • Making wood carvings and handicrafts
  • Spear fishing
  • Rowing the Cha Ban Boat
  • Nature Trail
  • Moken Traditional music
  • Snorkeling and boat trails

Moken Village Tour if you come with a responsible tour operator, you can be sure that the Moken receive payment for their services, and you are welcome to further support their community by purchasing handicrafts.

If you are visiting independently, you can hire Moken guides for the nature trail, for trying out spear fishing and rowing the chabang boat and for adventurous boat or snorkeling trips on the long tail boats. Thai or Moken language is required.

Moken Village Nature Trail

The Moken have an incredible knowledge of the plant and nature that make up their surroundings. Passed on from generation to generation, they know which leaves to use for medicine, where to find food and fresh water, and which trees are suitable for construction of boats and houses. On this trail you can find plants for all different uses.

The Trail leads you past a beautiful viewpoint that overlooks the village and the bay where one of the emergency escape routes for the Tsunami ascends. Keep your eyes open for wildlife, including giant flying squirrels, monkeys, hawks, and flying foxes and bird species such as hornbills, Nicobar pigeons and hawks, or other types of birds.

Edible Plants

On the trail you will find Vitaceae, which is a type of sour leave that is used for cooking. In its raw condition, the leave will give an itchy sensation. The Hyi Tree needs to grow for over 30 years to carry the first fruits. The dark ripe fruits taste sweet and sour and have been given the nickname of velvet tamarind. During the rainy season the shooting bamboo is a source for delicious cuisine.  Furthermore, you will find ground potato and other edible fruits on the trail.

Moken Medicinal Herbs

There are two main types of medical plants, Uncaria and Ga-e Lapeng, along the trail, their leaves are used to smoke poison out of wounds. Additionally you will find leaves that bring down your temperature in times of fewer; and a type of herb that helps against jelly fish stings.

Moken Boats and Shelter

The Rattan tree and the Elephant Cry tree bring great material for weaving and stitching roofs. Water Rattan can be used as a rope.  Straight and light wood comes from blood trees and is perfect for making the floor of the Kabang boats or paddles to row the boats

The sides of the boats and houses, as well as the roofs, are woven. The leaves for weaving come from the Elephant Cry tree and wild Pandanus.

The Dinochloa Vine Bamboo is heavy and strong – the perfect material for making spear sticks and in older days smoking pipes. Bamboo can be used for the floors or the sides of houses.

Book Now!      Contact A Local Expert!