miguel a. cartagena
Floating People of Koh Panyess
This time we went from Phang Nga Bay and sailed through its channels to arrive at the floating village of Koh Panyee. The people of Koh Ko Panyee or Panyi are actually from a settlement which is a provision of the confluence of two Klongs (channels) artificially constructed by people arriving from Muslim Indonesia. These people came here 200 years ago and at that time, they discovered the marine life that excisted and so dedicated themselves to fishing. Over time this village has become a tourist destination in Phang Nga Bay with the famous Koh Tapu Island (James Bond). The platform was built on and secured by huge piles with restaurants and a market inside.
At the docks we find homemade small fish farms where you see a variety of fish which are bred to be sold to other parts of the bay and to the south. Tourists have also become a source of income with which to cover the rest of today's needs as fishing alone is not enough to keep this settlement. Ultimately though, the fishing, not the tourism is what allows it to retain its essence because it offers tour packages that the big ones don't. Currently it is only in the local tours but not as luxurious offer a better view of the country and the everyday lives of the citizens.
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