via Forbes, 30 January 2024: The Moken sea nomads, residing between Myanmar and Thailand for millennia, face unprecedented challenges due to modernization and environmental threats. The Edges of Earth team, led by Andi Cross, embarked on a mission to understand and aid the Moken, aiming to preserve their unique maritime culture amidst rapid global changes.
The Moken people, living between Myanmar and Thailand for around 4,000 years, lead a life unlike any other. Known as sea nomads, their entire existence revolves around the ocean, a lifestyle that’s now facing significant challenges. They are some of the last people globally who live this way, renowned for their extraordinary free-diving skills and living on traditional kabang boats. But the world is changing, and so is the life of the Moken.
Currently, the majority of the Moken have settled in the Mergui Archipelago, off Myanmar’s coast, with a smaller presence on a Thai island. The Edges of Earth team, led by the adventurous Andi Cross, embarked on a mission to these islands to understand the Moken’s daily lives and the issues they encounter in a rapidly modernizing world.