Description

Artist: Jonas Hornehoj 5266 x 6583 Koh Panyi (Flag Island), is a fishing village built on stilts in the Phang Nga Bay, It’s also the only Muslim settlement, in an otherwise Buddhist region. It started building its stilt roots in the early 19th century as 3 seafaring families from Java, Indonesia were looking for a place to settle and fish. Thai law didn’t allow foreigners to own land, so they built homes on stilts in the shallow waters at the foot of the limestone rock, and then marked the peak of the rock with their flag to invite other Javanese families to ‘The Settlement’. This village is now the permanent place of residence for 360 families, with the older generations still speaking Bahasa Indonesia. I met a fisherman in a nearby village in order to make my way out to Koh Panyi. I was fascinated by the size of what had been built here. Homes, schools, even football pitches, all built on stilts. Impressive is an understatement, and capturing this from above was spectacular.