The Moken (Sometimes called "Sea Gypsies") are an ethnic group with about 2000 to 3000 members who maintain a nomadic, sea-based culture. Their language is originary from Malaya and likely immigrated to the Myanmar and Thailand areas from China 4000 years ago. The group is unrelated to the Gypsy culture of Eurasia. Communities of nomadic people move from place to place, rather than settling down in one location. ... The word culture comes from the Latin root colere (to inhabit, to cultivate, or to honor). ... A Gypsy may be: any member of any nomadic people (the term is allegedly considered derogatory), especially: the Rroma and Sinti, found worldwide but mainly in Europe; and Travellers found mainly in Great Britain, Ireland and the United States. ...

Their knowledge of the sea enables them to live off its organisms by using simple tools such as nets and spears to forage for food. What is not consumed is dried atop their boats, then used for trade at local markets for other necessities. During the monsoon season, they build additional boats while occupying temporary huts. In biology and ecology, an organism (in Greek organon = instrument) is a living being. ... Monsoon in Vindhya in centre India A monsoon is a periodic wind, especially in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia. ...

The Burmese and Thai governments have made attempts at assimilating the people into their own culture, but these efforts have failed. The Thai Moken have permanently settled in villages located on two islands: Phuket and Phi Phi. Phuket (Thai ภูเก็ต) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Location of Phi Phi Islands Mahya Beach on Ko Phi Phi Lee The Phi Phi Islands (Thai: หมู่เกาะพีพี) are located in Thailand, between the larger island of Phuket and the mainland. ...

The Moken during the Southeast Asia Tsunami

Those islands received much media attention in 2005 during the Southeast Asia Tsunami, where hundreds of thousands of lives were lost in the disaster. Animation of the tsunami caused by the earthquake (see also the full-length version) The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC (07:58:53 local time) on December 26, 2004. ...

The Moken's knowledge of the sea managed to spare all but one of their lives - one of an elderly, handicapped man. However, their settlements and about one-fifth of their boats were destroyed.

External links

• Moken: Sea Gypsies @ National Geographic (http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0504/feature4/) (Subscription Required)
• Moken: Sea Gypsies @ National Geographic (http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0504/feature4/online_extra.html) (Tsunami Extra)
• Phuket Magazine: The Moken - Traditional Sea Gypsies (http://www.phuketmagazine.com/html/Andaman%20Region/Mergui%20Archipelago/The%20Moken-traditional%20sea%20gypsies.htm)
• ProjectMaje.org (http://www.projectmaje.org/gypsies.htm) - Burma "Sea Gypsies" Compendium
• Mergui Archipelago Project (http://www.mapraid.net/)