DirectRooms.com – Experience the Koh Lanta community museum

The Koh Lanta Community Museum took over two years to be completed and was officially opened by Siva Sirisaovalak, the governor of the island, on 9th December in 2007.

The museum shows artefacts as a reminder of the three main communities that inhabit the island, these being Buddhists, Thai Chinese and Muslims. Treasures housed within the building include a variety of Chinese ornaments and furniture, equipment used by fisherman that inhabited the island and a kiln used for producing charcoal.

Visitors can also see a special boat used for ceremonies by the Chao Leh residents also known as sea gypsies. The boat was used for the ‘Loy Rua or Floating Boat Festival’ which is celebrated annually in October. As part of the tradition the Chao Ley men construct a special boat containing wooden statues of themselves and include pieces of their own hair, nail clippings and offerings of food.

The boat is then cast off into the sea and represents a symbol of forgiveness to the spirits of the sea for any pollution or incorrect acts the people may have accidently performed.

People staying in a hotel Koh Lanta can find out all the details about the ceremony and more with a trip to the museum while visiting the island.

Lek Boonlert, marketing head at DirectRooms.com commented: "Koh Lanta is a popular destination with tourists and the museum is just one of the many attractions for people. The holiday season is a busy time on the island as people look to get away so visitors should book places early to ensure they get the best rooms."

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