Surin Island

The Surin Islands host two small communities of the small ethnic Moken minority, known as "chao lay" or "sea gypsies. The Moken population of the Surin Island averages around 150 persons.

The Moken are three distinct tribes living on the Andaman Coast of Burma and Thailand: the Moken of the Mergui archipelago the Moklen of Phang Nga Province, and the Urak Lawoi living from Phuket south to Satun. With Austronesian roots, their language, culture, and lifestyle are unique, and they have a history of peaceful coexistence with mainland neighbors. The Moken, proper, have a long history of living in the Mergui archipelago between Burma and the islands of Thailand's North Andaman coast. As sea nomads, the Moken used to spend most of their lives on traditional houseboats known as kabang, moving from bay to bay depending on the wind and weather. During the monsoon rains, families would come together and build temporary villages on protected beaches.