Harbour and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand Mar. 2, 2026

Harbour and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand

Do not be fooled by how simple Ko Samui"s longtail boats look from a distance; decades of local ingenuity have shaped their slender frames. These vessels, known in Thailand as "ruea hang yao," emerged in the early 20th century, when fishermen repurposed vehicle engines to navigate shallow waters that larger boats couldn"t reach. Handcrafted plank by plank, each boat reflects generations of skill. Their hulls burst with bold, striking colours, while decorative cloth and flowers often crown the bows—Buddhist blessings meant to safeguard both the boat and its crew.

© Foto2rich/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Nature’s own canvas
Mar. 2, 2024Modica, Sicily, Italy
Mar. 2, 2025Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW, Australia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

An ocean of stars above the desert
One of the oldest parks in Quebec
Jan. 24, 2024Diamond Beach, Iceland
What are these ancient animals?
Oct. 2, 2024Autumn in the Ogilvie Mountains, Yukon
Jul 22, 2026Coral Reef Awareness Week
King of the jungle? Nope
Aug. 27, 2023Jeju Island, South Korea
Sep. 21, 2023International Day of Peace
Oct. 13, 2024Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain
The oldest way to fly
Dec. 3, 2024Amber Fort, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Dec. 1, 2025Antarctica Day
Jul 26, 2026International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
When just a pinch of salt won’t do
Jul. 13, 2025International Rock Day
The other great barrier reef
Apr. 30, 2026Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands
High above the Aegean Sea
Nov. 21, 2025World Hello Day
Apr. 12, 2026International Day of Human Space Flight
Jan. 28, 2025Short-eared owl
A curious little otter pup
Floating mailboxes
King of the ocean
Jan. 6, 2025Flooded crypt, Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Italy
Among the most photographed in the Rockies
Aug. 3, 2024Three Natural Bridges, Wulong National Park, China
Holiday hues
Apr. 3, 2026Armbrug bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands