World Schooling - Interesting facts about Thai Long Tail Boats

Travel is one of the best ways we teach our children. Through shared experiences and feelings / emotions. As a family, we always learn as we go and create pdf learning recourses for the places we go. We plan to worldschool our 2 children for 1 year of travel then who knows, maybe more if we love that life.

Read these interesting facts about Thai Long Tail Boats that will help in your schooling educating kids through travel. And you might surprise some grown ups with things they don't know too!

When you go to Thailand you'll see these boats lined up along the shores of islands. They're known as Water Taxi's when you are travelling around the islands in Thailand. And you literally use them like a taxi. Hopping from one island to another. They've become synonymous with Thailand.

Thai = Ruang Hang Yao

Eng = Long Tail Boat

These longboats always beautifully decorated & adorned with the most beautiful fresh flower garlands to please and appease a spirit - The spirit Mae Ya Nang or The Grandmother of boats.

It's good fun to look at all the boats with the kids, as each one has different offerings and flowers / garlands.

Thai boatman burn incense each morning on their boats and adorn with fresh flowers, food & drink to pay respects to the grandmother / goddess of the sea.

The spirit Mae Ya Nang or The Grandmother of boats is an ancient Thai deity who looks after travellers. She is the guardian Goddess of boats and protector of fisherman. And by making an offering, garlands and burning incense, the boatmen are asking for her to keep them & their passengers safe each day.

There is a shrine dedicated to Mae Ya Nang in Phuket Town Thailand - The Chaome Ya Nang Temple open 6am - 6pm and entrance is free.

The story of Mae Ya Nang:

Chaome Ya Nang was a real person that lived 1500 years ago in Fujian (China). Whilst she was alive she was believed to have magical powers. Her spirit is present in trees. When a tree is cut down and used for wood to build the boat, her energy and guardianship lives in that boat. Fisherman and boatman make offerings to welcome her onto their boat and keep them safe from harm or provide them with bountiful fish.