Panyi Fishing Village
Phang Nga Bay
Aerial View of Panyi Fishing Village
Panyi Fishing Village is a magical floating hamlet nestled adjacent to a gigantic limestone mountain also known as Koh Panyee in the
Phang Nga Bay
area of southern Thailand. The village is home to about three hundred Muslim families who settled here around two hundred years ago. They built their wooden homes on stilts above the shallow waters surrounding the southern end of the rock. Koh Panyee itself is actually a very small island with no real land to speak of. Most notable is the single towering cliff around which the homes are ever so delicately arranged. They appear to be fairly fragile too so you may need to take a little extra care when wondering around here. When the tide is at it's lowest around the rock you can see muddy parts of land emerging. This is the time when home owners can do any repairs or alterations that need attention. The labyrinth of wooden walkways and the network of stilts have to be constantly maintained not only for the people who live here but also for the huge influx of tourists who have become daily day trippers.
Koh Panyee Island
Islanders living on Koh Panyee live a very simple life with fishing being their chief trade, but ever since tourism had gathered such immense pace, many restaurants have now been established. They cater for the daily lunches needed to feed the hungry visitors who stop over on their way to and from the islands in the vicinity. If you travel from Phuket on tour as I did, your lunch will be included in the price. Try to finish your meal with enough time to take a stroll through the village where you'll find lots of stalls selling all sorts of handicrafts and souvenirs amongst other things. Stalls also sell vegetables and fish. Dried shrimp, fish sauce and the spicy shrimp paste called Nam Prik Kung Siap are freely available although not free.
Handicraft and Souvenir Stalls
If you have the time, you can enjoy a more tranquil experience by joining one of the overnight boat tours from Phang Nga Town. Tours include accommodation at a modest quest house, an evening meal and a light breakfast the following day. From all over the island you'll be able to watch the sun set and rise over the bay. During the day you can rent a long-tail boat at one of the piers for around 1,700 baht for a three hour trip taking you to the James Bond Island and back again. The boat can carry ten people so if you are part of a group, so much the better. A sea canoe can also be hired at the jetty for about 300 baht an hour which will then allow you to go and explore the island at leisure yourself. As an alternative, why not try a spectacular
helicopter flight
to view the island and village. This way you can incorporate your trip as part of a bigger package.
Koh Panyee Mosque
Return from Panyi Fishing Village to the Phang Nga Bay Page
Return from Panyi Fishing Village to the Ko Yao Noi Island Page
|
