Sea Gypsies

Sea Gypsies

The Moken are a nomadic sea people who live in and around southern Thailand, traditionally feeding off the fruits of the sea for eight months a year. But the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami destroyed any livelihoods and the Moken were forced onto the land. Brought to the world’s attention by the natural disaster, the seafaring tribe is struggling to reconcile tradition and modernity, leaving behind their “sea gypsy” life for a modern existence.

by contributor Giorgio Taraschi

The Moken are a nomadic sea people who live in and around southern Thailand, traditionally feeding off the fruits of the sea for eight months a year. But the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami destroyed any livelihoods and the Moken were forced onto the land. Brought to the world’s attention by the natural disaster, the seafaring tribe is struggling to reconcile tradition and modernity, leaving behind their “sea gypsy” life for a modern existence.

A young Moken fisherman takes a break after repairing boats in Koh Lao Moken village, Ranong province, southern Thailand. A Moken kid diving for razor clams during a fishing trip, Phang nga province, southern Thailand. A moken fisherman at the local pier during a storm. Phang Nga province, southern Thailand. Moken elder in the surroundings of his home in Chaipattana tsunami village, Phang Nga province, southern Thailand. After the tsunami some Moken families were granted an accommodation. A moken captain on his boat, Koh Lao, Ranong province, southern Thailand. Many Moken have had to find work away from the sea, like Ba Chee, an elder woman who scavenges for recyclables around the beaches and resorts of the Khao Lak area in southern Thailand. Ngui gets ready to dive for razor clams during a fishing trip with his family. Phang Nga province, southern Thailand. Some Moken developed a special underwater skill that allows them to see clearly without wearing goggles. A youth Moken chooses to find work away from the sea, working part time at the local 7-11 in Khao Lak, southern Thailand. Children playing in the shipyard of their village in southern Myanmar where moken trade fish for supplies like petrol, rice and cooking oil. A moken fisherman lays a net next to a mangrove forest trying to catch crabs during a low tide, Phang Nga province, southern Thailand. Moken women have long traditionally collected shells while their husbands spearfish or dive for seafood. Here a group of women and children scavenge for food at low tide in Koh Lao Moken village, Ranong province,southern Thailand. School for Moken and Thai/Muslim kids in Koh Lao. Moken children often drop out of school to join their parents fishing so teachers struggle to keep them in the class. Ranong province, southern Thailand. A moken captain on his boat, Koh Lao, Ranong province, southern Thailand. A Moken man with his two children in Ban Tung Wa Moken village in Khao Lak, southern Thailand. The village is home to some 70 Moken families. : A moken fisherman lays a net next to a mangrove forest trying to catch crabs during a low tide, Phang Nga province, southern Thailand. A moken woman moans the death of her son who died from decompression sickness while diving for sea cucumbers. She hasn't spoken ever since. Burmese woman sits in the shipyard of her village in the Mergui archipelago, where Moken trade fish for supplies like cooking oil, rice and petrol. Sitdit, a Moken elder, in his house in Koh ao Vilage, Ranong province, southern Thailand. His son, hired by Thai fishermen, died from decompression sickness while collecting sea cucumbers at the bottom of the ocean. A Moken fisherman and his two children in their house in Chaipattana tsunami village. After the tsunami some Moken families were granted an accommodation. Outskirts of Ranong, southern Thailand. Ngui, a Moken fisherman, diving for razor clams. Some moken have developed a special underwater skill that allows them to see clearly without wearing goggles.