Thursday, February 14, 2013

Lanta Old Town: Where Thais, Muslims, Chinese and Sea Gypsies formed the community

See the locations on Ko Lanta Old Town Google Map by #treasuresofthailand
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Old town

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The old town seen from the pier

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Thais, Muslims, Chinese and sea gypsies form the community of Sri Raya, doing business in old wooden shops and living in homes built on stilts. On Sundays you can stroll through a lively market. Only two restaurants, Mango House and Frogs and Apples, are noted in travelfish.org.

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Two hundred years ago, a group of Chinese from the provinces of Fujian and Hokian emigrated to Koh Lanta and founded the town. They made charcoal from mangrove trees and traded it with some fish in Penang, Singapore and Indonesia. And from there they imported household goods and foodstuffs, especially sugar, salt and vegetables. For fishing they used very big nets. For that they extended the terraces of houses. There they hung the nets. This was the beginning of longhouses. The three longest ones are nearly 100 metres long. Around sixty years ago a fire destroyed the old town. Then the present houses were built. They survived the Tsunami in 2004 wholly. A museum in Sri Raya shows the history of the three communities on the island: Chinese, Muslim fishermen and the sea gipsies.

More informations: Lanta Oldtown on Facebook


Where to stay in the old town

Mango House: The guestrooms reflect the minimalism and dimness, that are characteristic for the town’s houses. They were built on the water to catch the breeze. Like this the rooms are cooled - you need a light cover in the night. Honeymoon Room with a bathroom, fridge and terrace set over the sea is the best room. Mango House i run by the Canadian Duane Lennie.

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Mango House Villa. Picture Gaelle

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Orange House: 15 Moo 2, Sri Raya Rd. There are two suites on the first floor with stunning views over Old Town and the surrounding islands. Each suite has a western style bathroom, large bedroom with king sized bed and private lounge.

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Lanta Pole Houses: Two villas to rent, Coconut House and Lychee House. "Owned and run by a local art teacher, these two oceanfront wooden homes are authentically Thai on the outside, and modern, renovated warehouse-style (think bare cement and jewel-tone local silks) on the inside", writes Fah Thai Magazine. "You can sit on the porch overlooking the water for days. Quiet, and serene the water lapping at the pole supports, amazing sunrises, fishing boats on the horizon, and even next door", adds elbe 57 on tripadvisor.com.

Picture: Susanna
Coconut House



Where to eat in Lanta Old Town

Fresh Restaurant:

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Beautiful Restaurant: 118/1 Moo 2. Not only a Thai restaurant on stilts on the sea at the north end of old town, but also an ocean front guest cottage on stilts (with aircon, 1000 Bath per night). See pictures by ssmmacleaod


Baan Hua Laem - the Muslim fishing village

Ban Hua Laem is a Muslim fishing village with around 80 households. It was severely damaged by the Tsunami in 2004. Afterwards NGOs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) formed the Community Network for Restoration of Lanta Island (CNRLI. The fishermen got new boats, the Chao Ley in Baan Sang Ga Ou got new homes.

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Baan Sang Ga Ou - the seaa gipsy village

Ban Sang Ga U was the original home of the Chao Ley (sea gypsies), Lanta’s first settlers 500 years ago. Today it counts around 500 inhabitants. The Chao Ley seem to have their origins in Indonesia (Banda Aceh). They lived on house boats and Ban Sang Ga U was their first settlement on the land. The Chao Ley record their history in songs. Rong-ngeng, a ritual with singing and dancing, is practiced during festivals, especially the boat-releasing ceremony. Then a boat is sent out to sea to appease the sea spirits.

Sang Kha Ou Resort and Spa: 86 Moo 7, Sang Kha Ou. They have Boat Houses, Tree Houses, Cave Houses, Stone Houses and a Thai House. One critical review on tripadvisor.com. "Ideal location for nature lovers, adventurers and anyone looking for a peaceful stay away from the busier west coast", writes Mojothailand on igougo.com. And the you find a big dsicussion on Thorntree about the rating by Lonely Planet.


Tree House. Picture Dan

Boat Houses. Picture Dan


Koh Po

You can pay a fisherman to bring you with his boat to Koh Po, a small island with sandy beach only ten minutes away from Sri Raya. Koh Por is located between Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Bu Bu. There is a village with a school. Tha Kang Beach is Koh Pors longest beach (in the pier area in the west of the island). On Nai Ban Beach (Northeast of KOh Por) you find a fishermen communicity. Read more about Koh Por. See picture by Miek37

Cultural Homestay Experience: 700 Bath (transfer and three meals inclued). You can experience the life of a local island family. No bikinis and no alcohoil, as you stay with Muslims. Mobile: +66 (0)874 743 247, e-mail: sanae.yamae [at] yahoo.com.



More to find on Koh Lanta:

Koh Lanta เกาะลันตา - what guests discover here: Reviews of resorts and beaches.

Diving around Koh Lanta

Tung Yee Peng Mangrove Forest: Listen to the nature





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1 comment:

  1. Truly a beautiful place and worth while to visit. I have been there lots of time and enjoyed holidays. I will share this to best resorts in philippines
    for the information.

    ReplyDelete