(put sound on max to hear properly or go to where sound is OK)
These types of boats are the main career tools for the local fishermen at Haad Yao village of Krabi's Nue Klong district. Their special feature is the curved bow about 1 metre high at the boat front: This is called in Thai 'Hua Tong'. It is said to help boat operators to accurately navigate the boat to the right destination or direction as well as help the boat balanced while being in the water.
Boat building is getting common in the Andaman region of southern Thailand's fishing communities. This type of boat is presently used to take tourists out to explore the natural beauty of Krabi.
Being inspired from its unique function and relating to tourist service, the villagers at Ban Nateen in the famous tourist area of Ao Nang gathered and produce tiny boat models for souvenirs for tourists. Once they enjoy riding it, they may wish to take a model back home as a souvenir, as head of Nateen Community OTOP group Supa Khaenglee explained. ' The local villagers here use these boats for fishing. After the fishing season, the boats just stand there so we adapted them, put up the roof and made some decoration and use to take tourists out from Ao Nang Bay. When they go home they may like to tell or show their families the boats, so we build tiny models for them to be able to carry home. The materials are rubber wood which is light and soft and can be easily found locally.'.
The more important thing is that the boat souvenirs are made by both adults and local children and the products came out neatly. This is not only a very good way to make a career out of local resources and wisdom, but it also maintains the local heritage so that younger generation learn the value of their own community while visitors take with them good memories of the local community while visiting Krabi in Southern Thailand.
------ Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket & Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 at 7, 10.30 or 11pm, Thursday 15 & 22 November 2007
