Traditionally nomadic, the Surin Islands’ two to three hundred Moken sea gypsies used to move between the nearly eight hundred islands of the Mergui Archipelago in their handmade wooden kabang boats. In the last few decades, however, life for the Moken has become more difficult. Because many Moken have no national citizenship, a human rights issue with many complexities, their movements have been restricted. Since the 2004 tsunami, the Thai government has required the Surin Islands’ Moken community to live in a single village (photo), Ao Bon Bay, on the archipelago’s second largest island, Ko Surin Tai.
Rico says 'sea gypsies'; who knew?
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