Krabi A Forgotten Land
As an ex-inhabitant of the Phi Phi Islands, I worked as a diving instructor on Long Beach for 3 years, I felt it only right that I should give something back to an Island, and its people, that gave me so much! When hearing the news of the Tsunami I planned my trip to Thailand, being fortunate enough to take the time off work. I arrived in Bangkok almost a week ago and was suprised to see that Ko San Road was the quietest I have seen it in a long time. That was nothing but a pre-cursor for the situation in Krabi. Krabi town is largely unaffected, in fact it seems fine, save for a serious lack of tourists. Next stop was Ao Nang, where the situation has been replicated. Ao Nang has most definately felt the force of the Tsunami moreso than Krabi town, though save from the occasional Long Tail Boat, moored on the wrong side of the road and a flotilla of boats being repaired on the beach visual damage is at a minimum! Yesterday I joined the local Kayak compaines in an organised beach clean, we visited Ko Hong and cleaned the local beaches here in Ao Nang. The local business owners are actively promoting the fact that Ao Nang has suffered, yet life is back to normal and unless the tourists return soon the suffering is sure to escalate. Most businesses in Thailand, unless extremely well funded, live hand to mouth and those bigger establishments shed staff when times are hard.
Many on Phi Phi have lost everything. Those who managed to escape with their lives have been less fortunate with their posessions lost to the tsunami and its ensuing looters. Lucky to be alive, left with nothing but haunting memories that many will never forget. They greatly appreciate the show of support from their friends and as all those who have visited Thailand know, everyone here is your friend! For those who cannot offer hugs and an ever listening ear, which does rule out the large percentage of people, a small financial donation will go a long way. Donating money to such people as Suchard means that the money goes directly to the people, as opposed to the government. We can be sure that he shall divide it amongst all that he knows.
I managed to catch up with Suchard last night I can assure you that he is well, though run down. He has been very busy trying to sort himself and his business out. We did not have time to really talk as he had just returned from a government meeting and had to attend a further meeting. For those of you who know Kiang, he was there too and the stories which he told were frightening to say the least. They both remained on Phi Phi to help for a while, a traumatising experience to say the least. Today they have returned to see if they can be of any further assistance. They are still uncovering bodies on the island, few and far between thankfully, yet two weeks on there is still lots of work to be done. I shall be heading to Phi Phi tomorrow, they asked if I would join today, yet I was not mentally prepared for what shall be witnessed. I can assure you I shall lodge another account on my return to the mainland, and keep you informed of what is happening. Till then please give what you can, no matter how small, it goes a long way out here in Thaialand. Also if you know of any people in Thailand or who plan to visit Thailand, send them to Krabi and Ao Nang, along with other areas unaffected,or recovered, from the tsunami as the lack of tourists poses as much a threat as the tsunami itself!

The Return To Phi Phi!
The sheer force of Mother Nature blew me away, when the ferry that I had been travelling on arrived at Phi Phi. It was the first time in years that I had been able to see the whole way across the Isthmus to Lo Dalam Bay. The destruction of the Island was almost as harrowing as the boat ride there.
I was one of very few westerners on the ferry that day, though quite possibly the only person present who had not witnessed the arrival of the Tsunami, having been in the UK. The Thai passengers, usually such cheery and noisey people in their gayiety, had been revoked into deadly silent isolation. The usual cacophany of Thai shouting had been replaced by the low humming of the engine and the occasional mutter amongst passengers. For me, my emotions ranged from overwhelming joy at seeing familiar faces to an undesrcibable sorrow, knowing that some of the faces I had not seen, I would never see again. With tears in my eyes and a throat so dry it could not be quenched, I endured the longest boat ride to Phi Phi, my home of three years, I have ever experienced.
On arrival at the Island I made about heading toward Long Beach. Luckily my old place of work had escaped much of the damage of the Tsunami, save for a few broken legs all of the staff and guests had been safe and well. The bungalows on the Beach had been washed away, one belonging to Magnus, the Swedish Climber, whom some of you may be familiar with, I can assure you he is well and continuing to drink in pure Magnus fashion.
As Maralise mentioned previously, pretty much everything to the left of the peir, which you arrive at, has now dissapeared, save for the Cabana resort, which no longer has windows or doors in the lower floors. The rest of the area has been turned in to a builing site full of trucks and large mechanical machinery. This building site continues over the whole of Lo Dalam Bay (the back beach) to the resevoir, almost the steps leading to the View Point. Much of the front of town still exists, many shops are looking structurally unsound, and shall have to be pulled down at some point. At present many shop owners have returned to empty their shops, out in to the street, after which the Thai government have arranged a team of people to deposit the waste on barges heading for Krabi. The situation looks pretty bleak, with so much rubbish to remove, rebuilding of the Island shall not be starting any time soon. Suchard was lucky, at Phi Phi climbers; as they had opened the shop doors the building has not been structurally damaged. They have lost all of their equipment though and it is the loss of business which shall be most damaging to all people on the Island. High Season has been written off for this year, thus many inhabitants of the island must find a way to survive for the following 11 months along with the cash to restock and possibly rebuild their shops.
I stayed on the Island for a few days helping friends clean the debris of glass, stone, paving, sand and any other items thrown up by the wave. A freind that I helped on the first day there has nothing left other than the empty shell of an Internet shop and the clothes he is standing in; which had been donated by Thai locals. His home, where he had been sleeping, till his friend kicked the door in, travelled five hundred metres up the street, depositing its contents along the way. He now has nothing! Many of these people have no insurance, no bank accounts, nothing but their shop which now stands redundant.
Suchard, Kiang, some friends and I removed the remaining objects from his shop. He has now closed Phi Phi climbers for the immediate future until he can return. Once again all income has ceased. He has rented a room in Ao Nang and has kindly put Kiang and Theep up for the mean time. They plan to open a shop in Ao Nang just to have some form of income till Phi Phi opens again. All inhabitants have been through a lot, phsically and mentally and haaving the support of friends such as yourselves is greatly appreciated.
In Krabi Suchard and I visited Soleil (I am unsure of the spelling of his name). For those of you who are unaware, he has broken his hip. A Swedish contingent managed to raise enough money for him to have 3 titanium bolts placed in his hip as the initial operation which he had had, was seriously out of line and would have set very badly. Suchard has asked for you to help with some funds for Soleil to keep during the healing of his hip, and has asked for any that know him to make a donation.
I myslef shall be returning to Phi Phi in the next few days to continue helping in the cleaning process, there is much to be done, and the sooner it is cleaned the sooner we can rebuild the island. I wish you all well and hope that all friends on the island at the time are accounted for and saved from harm.
Peace, Respect and Compassion.