Koh Pannyi (Sea Gypsie Island)

The village on Koh Pannyi is inhabited by Chao Nam or Sea Gypsies, who have given up their traditional way of life as sea nomads. The whole of the village (which is mostly Muslim) is built on stilts, with a giant rock monolith guarding its rear. It is the second destination for the tourists, packed on boats to see the James Bond Island, to come and take their lunch. Around midday, up to 3.000 visitors will flood into the small village via tour boats. But as soon as lunch is over and the tourists leave, the community closes up its restaurants and gif shops and returns to the quiet community of fishermen again.