A kolae boat ( th, เรือกอและ, , , ms, Perahu Kolek) is a traditional fishing boat used in the lower southern provinces of

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

and eastern coast of peninsular

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

. It is a small coastal boat, between long, the bow and the stern being higher than the hull. Designs on the boat are a combination of Malay, Javanese, and Thai styles, with emphasis on Thai patterns, such as a running scroll design,

lotus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

, serpents, magic monkeys, and heads of birds in literature like "Burong Si-ngo" or Singhapaksi (a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a bird holding a fish with its beak) at the bow. The creature has sharp

fangs A fang is a long, pointed tooth. In mammals, a fang is a modified maxillary tooth, used for biting and tearing flesh. In snakes, it is a specialized tooth that is associated with a venom gland (see snake venom). Spiders also have external fangs ...

and claws, is powerful and is a good diver. Therefore, it has been a favorite of kolae fishers since ancient times. The art on the boat is like an "artistic masterpiece on waves" and is considered art of life as the kolae boat not only shows off the greatness of its design, but is also the primary instrument used by fishermen to make a living. It is said that a Bang Nara villager without a kolae fishing boat is like a person without clothes.

References

{{fisheries and fishing Types of fishing vessels Ships of Thailand Culture of Malaysia Culture of Thailand