Phuket Reports

I will be in BKK on business in March, and want to go to a nice resort first (bringing a girl from BKK with me, of course!). I am looking for the VERY best in snorkeling, sailing/kayaking/canoeing, restaurants (preferably buffet), etc. Bungalows or water cottages would be preferred; crowded beaches are to be avoided. Quality, not price, is the only consideration beyond the establishment not objecting to my bringing a Thai GF.

I am guessing that Samui is better than Phuket for this, given the terrible tsunamis. Is that true? What do people recommend for resorts?

I really hope all our monger brothers are all safe down there in Andaman. I am really worried about 2 of my hunting pals down there who I cannot make contact by fone calls anymore since the tsunami. I just hope they just had their mobiles and all their money swept away by the tides.

If anyone down there know a young man 29 years old, name Adriaan Vogelsang, nickname Adi, he called me from Patong on the night of 25 X'mas. He was hunting in Tiger disco that night. I did not hear from him since then.

And anyone knows another guy name Olaf Bildt, 32 years old. He nicknames himself Ugo to other friends. He was in Andaman somewhere with a Thai lady for X'mas. Lost contact since then. If anyone know and see any of them, please tell them to contact RCA somehow. Thank you.

Hi Adi and Ugo, if you guys are stranded without money and fone in hotel or hospital somewhere, and somehow see this forum post, please contact me somehow. I do not have your e-mails.

Great tact Trav Man, you're departing in March and will have plenty of time to plan your trip, now it doesn't feel right to talk about this, bruv.

For what it's worth, I take the opportunity to add my condoleances to those involved.

[QUOTE=Producer]
...
A Thai friend told me recently that some years ago, a Thai minister was talking about the risk of Tsunamis hitting Thailand and he wanted a warning system set up. He was forced to shut up because his motion was considered as harmful for tourism.
...
[/QUOTE]
Producer,

you refer to a case that happened about 5yrs ago.
There had been an earthquake close to Papua New Guinea and the national meteorological department issued a warning about a possible tsunami. Later on there had been massive complaints of the national tourist department that such a warning would be harmful to tourism.

I also heard, that there were warnings this time but were downplayed by local radio stations. I guess now they regret their behaviour.

Jackson,

If there is a Board collection I will give another $ 100.00 to it if you start it up with details, please advise.

[blue]Hi Canada008,

I appreciate your offer, but I'm so totally occupied managing the Forum and with my charity here in Buenos Aires that I don't have any time to properly administer another organization.

Thanks,

Jackson[/blue]

Hello all who are in the area. My apologies if this gets printed twice the system seems to be acting up.

MY request of you all is this. Please help the Thai people. Stay and help them clean up and do what you can. Most of us reading this have the mean and decent health and great skills and we are able to help out. I sincerely wish I was there and I am considering travelling there to help out.

I have been to Phuket 2 times. I love Thailand and the Thai people I owe them. Today I contributed $ 500.00 Canadian personally to the Red Cross, my company will match and I hope my staff will match as well.

If you do choose to leave then leave everything of value behind, First Aid supplies, Soaps, footware, clothes etc, what is needed? I saw video of people fleeing with full suitcases. Lets help out the Thais and everyone else that needs it, I know they have been good to each and everyone of us and we can afford it thanks to our good fortune.

Even those lucky enough to survive have lost their entire businesses, cash inventories, staff, it is hard to imagine.

Lets not talk about what could have or how the Thai government could have, lets focus on helping the Thais in their time of need.

Lets use this board to bring good to others who are not us!

Jackson if you set up a fund I have another $ 100.00 Canadian if it can be well spent, surely someone there can lead. Do not go home. Call home tell them you are well then do everything you can to help our friends in Phuket and undoubtedly there are other areas in need.

008

My prayers and condolences for the people of Thailand. What a sad and horrific tragedy. The best times of my life have all been spent in Thailand. May Lord Buddha bless all those affected...Thai and farang, my heart goes out to you all.

Ragnar

my prayers go out to all who were affected by the tidal wave. i'm just devastated by the news of such a horrific event. be safe and god speed!

travaholic

Hi,

Thanks for the interesting replies. Yeah, the idea that they COULD have gotten the word out to at least some people and didn't is just sickening. I can actually understand why people were hesitant to set up an elaborate and expensive warning system for something that might not happen for 100 years. But for Christ sake, there could have been an informal warning system. Just a few phone calls to hotel owners and the local police (yeah I know the police move really slowly, but anyway) could have saved hundreds of lives. .... anyway, thats what I wish could have happened. Not a call to the FBI, President, or whoever, but to the beach. It would have been absolutely free for NASA, whoever knew the tsunami was approaching, to keep a list of a few major beachfront hotel names and numbers, and police numbers, at all the resorts and towns in SE asia. I know its easy to look back and say 'I wish...' , but Christ, it really would have helped. Maybe its not a bad idea for scientists to compile that list now, so that if this happens again before a system is set up, at least they can TRY to let people on beaches know whats happening.

Sad, but interesting pictures

[url]http://www.pbase.com/gallery?gallery_id=2402580[/url]

Agencies reaching out to help the victims:
_________________________________________

ActionAgainstHunger - 212-967-7800 - [url]http://www.aah-usa.org/[/url]

American Jewish World Service - 800-889-7146 - [url]http://www.ajws.org/[/url]

ADRA International - 800-424-2372 - [url]http://www.adra.org/[/url]

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC Crisis Fund) - 888-588-2372 - [url]http://www.afsc.org/[/url]

Catholic Relief Services - 410-625-2220 - [url]http://www.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=41794[/url]

Direct Relief Services - 805-964-4767 - [url]http://www.directrelief.org/index.html[/url]

Doctors Without Borders - 888-392-0392 - [url]www.doctorswithoutborders.org[/url]

International Medical Corps - 800-481-4462 - [url]http://www.imcworldwide.org/index.shtml[/url]

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - PO Box 372, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland - [url]http://www.ifrc.org/[/url]

International Orthodox Christian Charities - 877-803-4622 - [url]http://www.iocc.org/[/url]

Lutheran World Relief - 800-597-5972 - [url]http://www.lwr.org/[/url]

MAP International - 800-225-8550 - [url]http://www.map.org/[/url]

Mercy Corps - 800-852-2100 - [url]http://www.mercycorps.org/splash/[/url]

Network For Good - [url]http://www.networkforgood.org/[/url]

Northwest Medical Teams - 503-624-1000 - [url]http://www.nwmedicalteams.org/[/url]

Operation USA - 800-678-7255 - [url]http://www.opusa.org/[/url]

Relief International - 310-478-1200 - [url]http://www.ri.org/[/url]

Save The Children - 800-728-3843 - [url]http://www.savethechildren.org/[/url]

United Nations World Food Program - 202-530-1694 - [url]http://www.wfp.org/[/url]

United States Fund for UNICEF - 800-486-4233 - [url]http://www.unicefusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=duLRI8O0H&b=25933[/url]

World Concern - 800-755-5022 - [url]http://www.worldconcern.org/[/url]

World Relief - 443-451-1900 - [url]http://www.wr.org/[/url]

World Vision - 888-56-CHILD - [url]www.worldvision.org[/url]

[quote=trav man]i will be in bkk on business in march, and want to go to a nice resort first (bringing a girl from bkk with me, of course!). i am looking for the very best in snorkeling, sailing/kayaking/canoeing, restaurants (preferably buffet), etc. bungalows or water cottages would be preferred; crowded beaches are to be avoided. quality, not price, is the only consideration beyond the establishment not objecting to my bringing a thai gf.

i am guessing that samui is better than phuket for this, given the terrible tsunamis. is that true? what do people recommend for resorts?[/quote]

dunno about the rest of you guys, but i'm speechless.

Banana Disco at patong beach this week...
Well, not in bad situation as other places around...

Kojack,

Thanks for the pic. It brings back good memories, its present condition notwithstanding. I would head over there in the evenings and listen to the life band out front, while indulging in numerous vodka tonics. They had a hot singer I always wanted to pop. I think she was Japanese.

I think it likely that most of the Phuket working girls have or will head back north to pursue their avocation. I will be curious to know if anybody in BKK or Pattaya notices, in the future, an influx of girls from Phuket.

I'm on the west coast of the US and while in the lobby of a public building, I shared a short conversation with a very striking blonde. It happens that her brother works for NOAA and was on duty when the earthquake occurred. She said that they (NOAA) did attempt to pass word to various countries that a tsunami was likely, but since it occurred on a Sunday, most of their contacts were unavailable. There was no one in those offices to pick up the phone.

I can hardly imagine the sense of frustration that developed as phones rang unanswered and time passed until the first reports started filtering in about the devastation.

Note: NOAA == National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (part of the US Gov't)

Tatoosh