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cigars much. At the
instigation of the British they became
opium-consumers
and as a consequence, they become
outcasts in
social, education, and economic affairs.
Most of
them are addicted to
intoxicating drugs, alcoholic and
smoking since the young age.
As they do
not remain
permanently on one location, they have
no interest in cultivation and
live-stock breeding. When they have
enough supplies they do not work. Only
when they have nothing to eat they do
something.
They are indolent by nature;
only
young men show some activities, collecting natural food
stuff, though endorsed with natural
resources they remain miserable poor.
They are
very sincere to their masters or elders
of the tribe and are obedient. Although
they are skillful to certain extent in
handicrafts they are past-masters in
building Kaban boats, means dugout and
house boats where they usually
live.
Fishing is the main means to get
food and some are even still
doing pearl diving although this
has decreased dramatically after
they started pearl culturing in
the area. Where beautiful gold,
silver and white pearls are
raised. |


Adventure
tours
into the
Andaman
sea
via live
aboard |
Building dugout boats
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Building
dugout boat |

Salone boy in a dugout |
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collecting marine
products and art of navigation are their
special qualifications. Women folk are
expert
in barnacles searching, mats
weaving and household affairs.
The
Andaman Sea, the Islands, the Sea
Nomads
and the terrific
Underwater World
are the topic of
our book
more at e-books
, our book is
unique, pls. buy it, its worth it, do a
real adventure tour afterwards.
All this is
a bit more relaxing in terms of tourism
but it is still very difficult to access
the south. Maybe one of the reason
is the government leased huge tracts of
land to some private companies and they
do everything to keep this hidden
actually nobody really knows what they
are doing. Considering that this is a
large part of the country at a very
sensitive political and economical area
they better open the |
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information
about a bit, don't they
have some direction into
democracy? |
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Fiesta dancing at the beach
and pretty sea gypsies
 
Passenger ship connects the islands
with Yangon or Rangoon
From the end of British colonial times
until recent days no foreigners have
been allowed into the Myeik / Mergui
archipelago, the area off the Myanmar Tanintharyi / Tennasserim coast.
The ocean all the way down to Phuket is
dotted with more than 1000 untouched
islands
, densely forested with jungle, usually
a frontline of white beaches and
sometimes rocks. One of the very few
“virgin” places on this planet, above
and under the ocean surface.
In our book on this adventure travel you will find comprehensive
up to date information about the area and the seafarer, for the casual
traveler and also from a ethnological
point of view.
.....Facts about the Salone were first
discovered in the travel
diary of a Frenchman published in 1675.
In Morris
Collis's "Siamese White" they were
called Silita.
In 1891 census report of Kaw Thaung
Township, they were called Silone.
Many years ago, they lived in
Malay
Peninsula and now, on the islands of
Myeik, Botepyin and Kawthoung Districts.
They are called Besing by the Malay.
Thias called them Chao Talay or Chao Lay
( men of the sea ), Chao Nam ( men of
the water ) and Chao Ko
( men of the island ).

Sunset in the Mergui Archipelago |
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If you ever might go to the islands, don’t be shy to
ask if you can stay in one on the houses. Pls. keep in mind to pay accordingly.
Since the
end of the 90 - ties some Thai diving
companies got permission to explore the
waters via live aboard trips.
Have a look at our e-books about it.
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