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:

Nov 8, 2024Glacial rivers, Iceland
A herald of summer
Have a merry little Christmas
Jan 19, 2026Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
Apr 28, 2024Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, USA
Oct 14, 2023Ring of fire solar eclipse
May 25, 2024Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
Sep 19, 2025Thousand Islands region, St. Lawrence River, USA-Canada border
Jul 23, 2024Methoni Castle, Messinia, Greece
Jun 9, 2024Bardenas Reales Biosphere Reserve and Natural Park, Navarra, Spain
Apr 19, 2025Zion National Park, Utah, United States
Regal Radiance
Mar 8, 2025International Womens Day
Sep 22, 2023World Rhinoceros Day
Feb 27, 2024Polar bear cubs
Mar 2, 2024Modica, Sicily, Italy
Jan 3, 2024Virupaksha temple, Hampi, Karnataka
Jul 10, 2025Guru Purnima
May 29, 2024World Otter Day
Nov 19, 2024Tasmans Arch, Tasman National Park, Tasmania, Australia
Oct 12, 2023Old barn and canola field, Palouse region, Idaho
Oct 19, 2025Apples ready for harvest, Minnesota, United States
Dec 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Rocks rock!
Stop and smell the sakura
Dec 1, 2024Antarctica Day
40 years of recovery
Dec 31, 2023New Years Eve!
Nov 6, 2025The temple of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun, Thailand
Jun 16, 2026World Sea Turtle Day