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 colors, while decorative cloth and flowers often crown the bows—Buddhist blessings meant to safeguard both the boat and its crew.
Harbor and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand
Today in History
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Giving Tuesday
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75th anniversary of the Spruce Goose
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National Hispanic Heritage Month
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A day of death and rebirth
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Bridge of Hillsborough County
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Snow aglow in central Japan
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Wandering Watkins Glen
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International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
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World Architecture Day
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Hen Galan
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Frost-covered dunes on Mars
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Waiānapanapa State Park, Maui, Hawaii
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Tremola Road on the Saint Gotthard Pass in Airolo, Switzerland
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The Big Blue of the Sierra
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A Portuguese fort takes a star turn
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The long and wiggling path
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How do ladybugs winter?
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International Tea Day
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Mountain hare hopping into Lunar New Year
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World Otter Day
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Mute swan
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Porto Cathedral, Portugal
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A bison preserve
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World-class art comes to Arkansas
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Winter scenery near Kuhmo, Finland
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A red fox on the Swiss side of the Jura Mountain range
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Ocean City, Maryland, at sunrise
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

