T.I.C.D.: Narathiwat coast & islands
The shores of Thailand's southernmost coastal province, condensed.
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Entering Narathiwat province…
Narathiwat provincial coast, islands and inland reaches
The roughly 80-km coast of Narathiwat extends between Pattani to the N and Kelantan state of Malaysia in the S. ‘Nara,’ to use the shortened name, has only 8 islands, all of them estuary or barrier isles. Still, the most Malay part of Thailand attracts some cyclists, road trippers and wildlife enthusiasts.
Due to the persistent conflict in Thailand’s far southern reaches, martial law and a curfew has often been imposed on Narathiwat (as well as Pattani, Yala and parts of Songkhla). It was here, in Tak Bai, where the deaths of 85 local protesters in 2004 sparked upheaval in an area that has long resisted the authority of Thailand, which is viewed as a colonizing power by some in the region. Indeed, if the Colonial-era negotiations forced on Siam by the British had gone a little differently back in 1909, Narathiwat may well have been part of Malaysia today.
The ethnic Malay Muslim majority shares many similarities with the people on the Kelantan side of the border, from religion to language and even the types of boats that are preferred. Malaysian flags are commonly flown in places like Hat Narathat, a leisurely beach lined with seafood spots in the provincial capital.