User:Jschrade5/sandbox

Locations
Floating villages are most common in areas with a large amounts of water. Lakes, harbors, lagoons, ports, and oceans are the most popular locations for these villages. Although most floating villages are located in Asia, they can be found all around the world. In Asia, the most popular locations for floating villages are in Hong Kong, where the Aberdeen floating village is one of the largest in the continent. In Southeast Asia, floating villages were a thing of the past until the 2005 Tsunami brought an influx of Borneo Gypsies, who in turn created their own village. Other villages in Asia have been found in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Cambodia has one of the largest populations of floating villages in the world, mainly because of its location off the Gulf of Thailand. In addition, throughout Cambodia there are hundreds of lakes, rivers, and harbors, making it a prime location for floating villages. Vietnam is also a very popular spot for floating villages, with the majority of them located in lagoons deep in jungles. Vietnam has an abundance of water sources throughout the country similar to Cambodia’s, adding to the popularity of floating villages. In other parts of the world, floating villages have become very common in Latin America. Peru, a Latin American country, is located on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, making it a very popular fishing destination. In turn, more and more floating villages are popping up so villagers can take advantage of the vast fishing and natural resource opportunities. Around the world, the locations of floating villages are all very similar. Since the villages are mainly in waterways, this limits the number of places that can support them. For the most part, Asia and Latin America are the most common places to see floating villages.

Tourism
Tourists are flocking to floating villages in order to experience an entirely new way of life. Visiting a floating village is an experience in itself, as very few people have the opportunity to see one firsthand. Popular vacation spots in Asia and Latin America have seen an influx of visitors interested in touring the local floating villages. Reviews of some of the villages can be found on various tourism websites, with most being positive. A lot of tourists have commented on the peacefulness and tranquility of the villages, as well as the kindness of the people that reside in them. Of course, this can vary by the type of village and location, but it seems for the most part that villagers are more than happy to introduce their style of living to outsiders. When visiting a floating village, tourists may have the opportunity to see what a normal home in a village looks like. In most of the villages, there are common places such as markets where the inhabitants can buy and sell goods. Tourists can experience this as well, possibly buying their own goods. Some of the villages even have their own schools, restaurants, and monasteries, appealing to tourists and the money that comes with them. Tour companies have picked up tourists interest of floating villages, making trips to local villages available as part of their services. Aside from the tour companies, locals have quickly learned that visitors will pay good money to see the floating villages. According to TripAdvisor.com, tourists should practice good safety when traveling to these areas, as scams involving tours of the floating villages are common. The areas where floating villages are located are generally poor, economically challenged places. Because of this, tourists are sometimes targeted during their visits by con artists and locals looking to make extra money. Good judgment should be exercised.

Architecture
The floating Village homes can be made out of many different materials. Some style homes one can see are homes made out of wood, thatch, and metal sheets. The homes and shops stand on poles or stilts above water, and have ladder leading to the inside of the home. Also, some homes are built on small riverboats, which hold the homes from flooding. In addition, some homes are made on top of rafts, which would prevent flooding, as well. Each home is unique in style because each home may look the same, but are painted different and the inside of the home have their own style. Most of these floating homes have windows, but almost all of them do not have doors and just have openings in front, back and side. Inside the homes, it is usually one big room and there is no air conditioner or heat. Some homes are built with walkways that are built from wood, so people are able to walk from home to home without having to use boats. The tops of the homes are triangle shaped and made out of thatch and metal sheets. Many of the homes have a porch, or a deck. Some floating schools have a two-floor complex, one floor being used as the recess floor with just a big open space, and the top floor used for class, which is filled with desks and a chalkboard.

Consumerism/Industry
The main source of food is fish. The vast majority of the people that live on the floating villages are fisherman or fish farmers. Fishing nets are hung from the homes of the villagers. Not only do the villagers eat the fish, they are sold to fish markets, or to seafood restaurants. Fishermen drive their boats out to different areas at least once a day to catch fish, by which they attach a net to the back of their boats to scoop up fish. Fishermen are able to catch enough food for them to survive. The common fish that people eat are small fish and catfish. During the winter season and rain season, walkways are built so fisherman can walk under the roofs that are on stilts, to fish.There are restaurants in a floating village, which serve fish, shrimp, gill and other types of seafood. These restaurants are mainly for tourists. The chefs cook a traditional style of seafood, so the taste is that of the floating village. Floating restaurants usually have bright lights and have a great vibe to them.Floating villages have marketplaces that sell whatever the villagers need. Marketplaces sell a lot of fish and vegetables. They also sell water, soft drinks and ice. Fisherman sell fish to the market places, which in turn, sell the fish the people.

History
The earliest floating village recorded dates back to Hong Kong with the Tanka (boat people) settling in the village back in the 7th Century up to the 9th. Now there are numerous floating villages around world. Most being in Southeast Asia. Tanle Sap River is the home to many floating villages as well as Aberdeen Harbour, Angkor and Siem Reap. They originated from Hong Kong, but the majority of them are located Cambodia and other parts of South Asia.

Common Uses
Floating villages have many common uses. The first would be the major fishing industry. It's the main use for floating villages. The fishing year is divided into two seasons: being closed and open season. Villages possess what can be called as convienent stores and have seafood shops. All the people apart of the village fish for these places in exchange for little money and to keep the village stocked and fed. All the fish come straight out of the lake it sits on. Also, a common use for floating villages is the tourism industry. Village boaters start at certain wages to take tourists. Locations-

Location
Floating villages are most common in areas with a large amounts of water. Lakes, harbors, lagoons, ports, and oceans are the most popular locations for these villages. Although most floating villages are located in Asia, they can be found all around the world. In Asia, the most popular locations for floating villages are in Hong Kong, where the Aberdeen floating village is one of the largest in the continent. In Southeast Asia, floating villages were a thing of the past until the 2005 Tsunami brought an influx of Borneo Gypsies, who in turn created their own village. Other villages in Asia have been found in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Cambodia has one of the largest populations of floating villages in the world, mainly because of its location off the Gulf of Thailand. In addition, throughout Cambodia there are hundreds of lakes, rivers, and harbors, making it a prime location for floating villages. Vietnam is also a very popular spot for floating villages, with the majority of them located in lagoons deep in jungles. Vietnam has an abundance of water sources throughout the country similar to Cambodia’s, adding to the popularity of floating villages. In other parts of the world, floating villages have become very common in Latin America. Peru, a Latin American country, is located on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, making it a very popular fishing destination. In turn, more and more floating villages are popping up so villagers can take advantage of the vast fishing and natural resource opportunities. Around the world, the locations of floating villages are all very similar. Since the villages are mainly in waterways, this limits the number of places that can support them. For the most part, Asia and Latin America are the most common places to see floating villages.

Tourism
Tourists are flocking to floating villages in order to experience an entirely new way of life. Visiting a floating village is an experience in itself, as very few people have the opportunity to see one firsthand. Popular vacation spots in Asia and Latin America have seen an influx of visitors interested in touring the local floating villages. Reviews of some of the villages can be found on various tourism websites, with most being positive. A lot of tourists have commented on the peacefulness and tranquility of the villages, as well as the kindness of the people that reside in them. Of course, this can vary by the type of village and location, but it seems for the most part that villagers are more than happy to introduce their style of living to outsiders. When visiting a floating village, tourists may have the opportunity to see what a normal home in a village looks like. In most of the villages, there are common places such as markets where the inhabitants can buy and sell goods. Tourists can experience this as well, possibly buying their own goods. Some of the villages even have their own schools, restaurants, and monasteries, appealing to tourists and the money that comes with them.

Demographics
The Tankas or boat people are a special group in China who have lived on junks which are a special type of boat in Asian cultures in coastal parts of chinese provinces. Though many now live onshore, some from older generations still live on their boats and pursue a livelihood of fishing.The Tankas were considered to be outcasts. Since they were boat people who lived by the sea, they were sometimes referred to as "sea gypsies" by the Chinese. Tanka origins can be traced back to the native Chinse who may have taken refuge on the sea and gradually assimilated into Han culture.

Religion
The main religion of the Tankas is Buddhism. The founder of Buddhism was Buddha Shakyamun. The central theme to all Buddhist is the theme of peace. The basic principle of Buddhism are the four noble truths;they are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or a way of life. Modern historians believe the Buddha was born in Nepal, around the sixth century. Buddha, was born a prince and the only son of a King and Queen. After deeply realizing the nature of human suffering from birth, old age, sickness, and death,he decided to leave the palace to look for the meaning of life. Working alone for many years to find out what made life miserabe for those around him.That is why he is called the Buddha, a person who has reached enlightenment.