The longtail is an iconic way to navigate the rivers, coastline and coves in Thailand. These colorful wooden boats at Maya Bay are called ruea hang yao. They are powered by an old car engine. It drives a six-foot driveshaft with a propeller at the end capable of swiveling 180 degrees. Initially used by fishermen, now they are hired by sightseeing tourists. The Thai government closed Maya Bay in June of 2018 when excessive tourism threatened the bay’s delicate ecosystem. Recently, an announcement was made it will reopen on November 1, 2020 but continue to restrict boats.
