The Fishermen of Ngapali Beach

Sunday, February 3, 2019

From our accommodation right on the beach, it was only 1-2km to a fishing village slightly south. The route is perfect for a short morning beach walk.

In the morning shortly after sunrise, we could watch the fishermen bring their catch ashore, just as they have probably been doing for centuries.

All the men chewed 'betel', a mildly stimulating drug made from the betel nut palm. This helps them tolerate the cold and humidity better.

The catch was spread out on large tarps and an older gentleman counted the baskets. The fish are then taken fresh to the capital city or processed into fish meal. The larger ones were placed on the side. Some of them went directly to the hotels on the beach.

On the way back, we were accompanied by a Burmese girl. She said she was 14 years old. Hard to tell.

The world here is different from China or Germany, slow-paced and focused on the essentials. If you imagine the resorts (which are thankfully discreetly built here) are gone, all that's left are a few primitive huts, fishing boats, and the beach.