Longtail Boat in Ko Phi Phi

This shot is taken from the water off the shore of Ko Ph Phi Island, Thailand. (A short distance from where the movie "The Beach" was filmed). The longtail boats, like the one seen here, are extremely versatile and help the thai people navigate through the smaller canals and inlets. They are also used as dive boats, water taxis and even aid in the fishing industry.

The front of the longtail boat typically has an offering, like this one, of flowers, cloth and other materials (ie shells). The thai people are deeply religious (buddhist) and superstitious, and believe in giving offerings to appease the gods.

Phi Phi Island is a magnificent and tranquil place off the coast of Phuket. Its remoteness is a large part of its appeal- we arrived via speedboat from Phuket, a trip that took about two and a half hours.

The longtail boats that dot the coastline of this small island provide such beauty as they float on the water and emphasize the calm tranquil atmosphere. However, when they gear up to move, they are extremely noisy and in fact disrupt the local ecosystem, in that their engine emmisions emit a lot of fumes into the air and water. Therefore, as one often finds in Thailand, thay are a huge contrast in and of themselves: they are at once beautiful/peaceful, and loud/contaminating. I choose to see their beauty...