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:

Mar. 27, 2024World Theatre Day
May 11, 2024World Migratory Bird Day
Starry, starry night
Nov. 7, 2024Vancouver Coastal Sea wolves in the Great Bear Rainforest
Blue as far as the eye can see
Mar. 21, 2026International Day of Forests
May 19, 2025Victoria Day
Aug. 29, 2024Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
Aug. 20, 2025The citadel in Bonifacio, Southern Corsica, France
Oct. 13, 2024Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain
Mar. 20, 2024Cave Dale and Peveril Castle, England
Go fly a kite!
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Feb. 13, 2024Mardi Gras
Sep. 20, 2025Oktoberfest begins!
Dec. 4, 2025International Cheetah Day
Feb. 1, 2025Rolands Breach, Spain
A salty situation
May 12, 2025An iris garden in Tokyo, Japan
Season of light in the City of Light
May 2, 2025Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil
Oct. 5, 2025World Teachers Day
A peck between penguins
Jan. 8, 2026Starling murmuration over the ruins of Brightons West Pier, England
May 2, 2024Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho, USA
Napping near the North Pole
Feb. 3, 2024Carnival of Venice
Dad on duty
Oct. 4, 2024Nuit Blanche Toronto
Urban planning never stops