Banana Boat Fun
Nestled in the sparkling emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, the tiny tropical island of Koh Hey is well known for its stunning white sand beaches, dramatic limestone cliffs, and lush jungle interior. However, there’s one particular spot on this remote Thai island that holds a fascinating bit of lore and has become a popular attraction for intrepid travelers – Banana Boat.
Sitting just offshore from Koh Hey’s main beach, Banana Boat is a peculiar wooden vessel that appears to have run aground on the shallow reef, its bow permanently anchored in the sand while the stern bobs up and down with the gentle rhythm of the waves. At first glance, it seems like just another shipwreck left to succumb to the forces of Mother Nature. But upon closer inspection, you’ll find that Banana Boat is still very much intact and functional, with a simple but cozy living quarters built onto its wooden deck. So just how did this curious little boat earn its name and become a unique island fixture?
The history of Banana Boat dates back to the early 1990s, when the live-aboard vessel was first discovered washed up on Koh Hey’s shores after a storm. Its engine had failed and the boat had clearly seen better days, with its faded yellow paint and battered hull telling tales of a rough life at sea. Some of the first foreigners to explore the untouched island, a group of backpackers and adventure guides, theorized that the boat had been abandoned by fishermen or may have once transported goods and produce between the remote islands of the Andaman.
With its odd banana-like shape and appealingly shabby persona, affectionately calling it “Banana Boat” just seemed to stick with that initial group of visitors. Over time, more tourists began making their way to Koh Hey to experience its secluded paradise. While camping on the island, many took up temporary residence on the Banana Boat, stringing up hammocks and mosquito nets on the deck or finding shelter inside its modest living quarters. Even after all these years, little has been done to refurbish or alter the primitive living conditions on the boat, allowing it to remain a rustic relic of simpler times.
These days, adventurous folks from all over the world make a point to seek out Banana Boat as part of their Koh Hey island experience. Some come to admire its unique charm as a photogenic backdrop, while others channel their inner swashbuckler and actually spend a night in the cramped quarters to live out their pirate dreams. For the latter, it offers a wonderfully lo-fi taste of what it might have been like for sailors centuries ago to traverse these remote waters.
Just don’t expect any deluxe amenities – the reality of Banana Boat remains decidedly primitive, with no electricity, running water, or even proper beds for sleeping! Some might call it roughing it, but for those seeking a detox from the stresses of modern life, there’s something alluring about disconnecting and reconnecting with nature in this simple, off-the-grid fashion.
While very little is definitively known about Banana Boat’s origins or history before arriving on Koh Hey’s shores, exploring various legends that surround its past has become a fun island pastime. Was it part of a two-boat pirate rig, with the matching second vessel never recovered? Did it serve as transportive housing while working on the construction of Bangkok’s iconic Grand Palace in the 18th century? Or did it perhaps belong to an eccentric recluse who briefly set up his own outlaw society on one of the hard-to-reach Andaman islands long ago?
The possibilities are endless, ensuring that the modest little boat soldier’s on as a permanent piece of the island’s quirky lore and landscape. Whether taking cheesy tourist pics in front of its whimsical shape or spinning fanciful theories over a few Changes around a bonfire, Banana Boat continues to enchant all who stumble upon it with a sense of adventure, mystery, and simpler times. Just remember to bring your best pirate impersonation!
