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Green Season begins - The weather is changing, many of the foreigners have left and its nice a peaceful again. We continue to plan our next big fishing trip for the elusive Blah By, aka Sail fish. I love this time of year. -04/25/09 |
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Laanta Lanta Festival - The dates for the 2009 Laanta Lanta Festival have been announced as March 7th, 8th and 9th. This annual event is Held in Old Town and is a showcase for the diversity of the Islands inhabitants. Many food and beverage stalls, traditional arts and crafts. 2 large stages are built with nightly shows offering everything from traditional Sea Gypsy song and dance, to Reggae and Jazz! My gallery will be open with new works and Batik. Come have a look. -01/31/09 |
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high season - sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, and new website here: www.lantaoldtown.com -12/07/08 |
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Lanta old town is all about culture - On October 11- 13, 2008 we celebrated the annual Vegetarian Festival with the local Chinese-Thai community. All local residents of Chinese ancestry observed a 3-day strictly vegetarian diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit making. Vegetarian food was prepared and eaten communally 3 times a day in a tent in front of the Chinese Temple. Everyone was invited to refrain from eating meat and join in the vegetarian meals for three days. On the last day, processions of worshippers paraded down the main road playing their drums and chanting. Later in the evening, worshippers engaged in a spiritual trance and walked barefoot over hot coals in front of the temple................................................. .................. On the full moon night of Oct 14, 2008 we celebrated Loy Rua or also know as “Setting Adrift of the Chao Lay Boat". This bi-annual animist festival takes place on Ko Lanta during full moon of the sixth and eleventh month in the lunar calendar. This religious rite is performed by the Sea Gypsies (Chao Ley), who gather on the beach near Hua Laem in Lanta Old Town and Saladan. Two main music areas were set up. One with a large PA system feturing popular Thai music for dancing and the second under a “sala” where the Chao Lay men played traditional instruments and sang. We danced with the other partygoers to their famous "rong ngeng" around the communally built boat to be set adrift at the first break of day. -10/23/08 |
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Eastern Promise - Nice article about Ko Lanta's East Coast / Fah Thai Bangkok Air Inflight Magazine http://fahthaimagazine.com/2008/07/01/eastern-promise/ -08/05/08 |
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Khao Phansa - As the seasonal monsoon rains descend over the kingdom, it marks the beginning of the Buddhist rain retreat and the Buddhist Lent, or Phansa. -07/18/08 |
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Moonrise - The Big orange moon is slowly rising over Ko Poh. -02/22/08 |
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Swedish Publishing Company Under Scrutiny - A disturbing story written here several months ago about the exploitation of twelve year-old Kay Sayluu from Lanta Old Town has done little to convince the Swedish parties involved to clear the air. Kay's family house and two long tail boats were smashed by the tsunami which was detailed in a Swedish-language book entitled "Kay from Koh Lanta", published by LL Forlaget Publishing in Sweden, a company partially funded by state grants. Swedish author Johanna Starkenberg-Frojd and photographer Anna Rehnberg arrived on the island shortly after the December 2004 natural disaster looking for a real life survivor's story and found Kay (and family) a perfect subject. The family never signed an official release form of permission to publish Kay's story but trusted that the benefits would eventually flow back to them. The editor promised Kay a trip to Sweden which never materialized but the family assumed a small amount of the books proceeds would be forthcoming to help jump start Kay's education. LL Forlaget Publishing, which sells the book online for 120 SEK (562 Baht), have refused, after several polite requests by locals, to make a donation to Kay's education fund. Now locals are seriously considering legal action to right this injustice. They point to Section 35 of the new Thai constitution, that states "Assertion or circulation of a statement or picture in any manner whatsoever to the public and disclosure of personal information without the consent of the information owner, which violates or affects a person's family rights, dignity, reputation or the right to privacy, shall not be made except in the case which is beneficial to the public". Because it's clear the publishers did not receive written consent from Kay's parents to use his story for commercial gain locals claim the publishers are deliberately choosing to manipulate tsunami victims for financial advantage. Anyone interested in making a donation to Kay's education, which will be managed by Kay's father can contact them at helpkay@lantalongtail.com. This will allow Kay to have private English lessons while he continues to work in the family fishing business, so that one day he can work as a longtail boat guide in the tourist sector. -01/27/08 |
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sunny and warm - high season on koh lanta begins! -01/19/08 |
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- "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of Buddha that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." -10/26/07 |
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The low sesaon really - The last 3 weeks have been stunning.. Sunshine- blue skies and not a farang in site. Yet, this low season is very busy - there is a buzz in the air I’ve never heard before. Construction everywhere. This morning we awoke to many long tail fisherman off to get Gung, (shrimp) we anxious await their return home to eat fresh shrimp with my new bag o wasabi. We finally secured a crew to remodel the "new" house. -06/10/07 |
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fish fish and more fish - Meow and Ko Mi have very very big grins today. This morning they came home with over 300 kilos of fish. Mostly small to medium sized snappers skip jacks and monkfish. Sayan is helping as they rush to get them off to the market via the tuk tuk. Pe Dam looks very happy today. Tourist season is really slowing down as the weather is changing and we are experiencing after noon thundershowers. -03/23/07 |
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happy new year 2550 - With love, strength and peace to all! Susanna, Sayan & Lulu -01/02/07 |
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burial - Burial for 422 tsunami victims PHANG NGA: Three religious ceremonies - one Buddhist, one Christian and one Muslim - were performed October 16 in preparation for burying 422 unidentified tsunami victims in Baan Bang Muang Cemetery. Pol Col Khemmarin Hassiri, Superintendent of the Thai Tsunami Victim Identification unit, told the Gazette, “These 422 bodies have not been claimed and we have no information about them, so we will bury them at Baan Bang Muang Cemetery. Normally we would return them to the relatives, but we are unable to identify the families of these victims. “As a part of this process we will place each body in a bag with a code number, and put that number on a plaque on the outside of the coffin so we can go back and identify any of the victims if we need to later. We are also going to submit DNA samples from each body to Chiang Mai University for analysis.” Col Khemmarin said the victims will be the first buried in the new 15-r ai cemetery. “We will finish burying them by the beginning of December; we must have completed this by the time the cemetery opens on December 26,” he said. “We are still trying to identify them, but we must keep the bodies in refrigerated rooms until they are ready to go into the graves,” he added. Brought to you by: The Phuket Gazette -10/20/06 |
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Lulu - A new arrival at our house. Miss Lulu. She is pure white with brilliant blue eyes. Ive been chasing a big red tomcat out of our house every day. -10/11/06 |
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Bangkok bound - Today a little fling up to bangkok with C and V and a few beer's with Ricardo. Boat rides around the canal. -09/26/06 |
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Summer Thunder Showers - Just returned from a fantastic trip to Bali and Kuching, in magical Borneo. I just added many new Watercolor's and Batik's on my site. Have a look -08/02/06 |
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Lantas new houses on the hill - Today we were invited up to the lions club tsunami village that sits near the Wat (local monastery) in old town Ko Lanta Thailand.. The lions club presented 25 or so neighbors with ceremonial keys (even though houses are not finished). We sat with Uma in her new place (somewhat wheel chair friendly, bathroom un accessible) and even though she was happy with the house we were all choked up when she had to say she would occupy her house alone. Her husband Son passed away a few months back. He survived the tsunami but did not live long along to see any aid turn up aside from the little local grass roots operations. Meanwhile little bits of gravel and cement has turned up and minor repairs are beginning to start on the oceanfront homes. From what we have been told neighbors are allowed to have both a house on the hill and one by the sea. We'll see.. -06/18/06 |
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Ubud Bali - we are having fun- working in the garden and doing a little decorating - we are extending the tile patio for more outside living area and shopping for stone carvings for our green t house. Sayan planted more Thai herbs-and we both like the salt water pool. -05/16/06 |
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Happy Thai new year - Happy (Thai) New Year!!!!!!!! it was April 13th the full moon- the new year- we spent a crazy day in Phuket with Richie and Pia , we had a full day of water fights- It was truly fantastic. but first we went to KHAO LUK. which was really wiped off the map last year- we feel so lucky. tomorrow we are off to Bali for our escape. -04/15/06 |
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Laanta Lanta Festival - The festival was a smashing success. March 10 -12th. Old Town was BEAUTIFUL. The weather has turned HOT now, as the tourist stream trickles down. A distant thunderstorm is approaching this afternoon. -03/16/06 |
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Just married - Valentines Day 2006 http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/wedding/PhotoAlbum54.html -03/16/06 |
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Allowed to stay - Ban Hualaam (OLD TOWN) is one of two fishing villages that were hit by the tsunami on the non-touristy side of Koh Lanta island. Both villages have been there for over a century, on shoreline land that is now considered public. Both lost a few houses, but the loss of their boats was the more serious problem. Originally, the district administration agreed to let them stay, but later changed its mind and tried to get the communities to relocate to inland resettlement sites. The district even went so far as to start building some new houses for Ban Hualaam on a hill nearby, but the people refused to leave. In February, Koh Lanta became the first test-case for an unconventional kind of participatory, post-disaster coastal planning process. CODI, along with a special planning team and with support from the UN, facilitated a process in which all the local groups (fishing communities, civic groups, district officials, local businessmen and NGOs) sat together, talked about what they would like to do and developed a collective master plan for the island. There were plenty of conflicts to be resolved, of course, but one important aspect of the final plan was that traditional fishing communities like Ban Hualaam will be allowed to stay. With help from the Siam Architects Association, the people from Ban Hualaam have now developed a comprehensive plan for rebuilding their current community and the terms of a long-term land lease from the District are being finalized. Tenure terms at Ban Hualaam Number of families : 231 Tenure terms BEFORE : Long term occupancy (without any legal title deeds or lease) on public land under control of the National Coastal Zone Department. Tenure terms AFTER : Long-term collective (renewable) land lease to the community cooperative, through the local district administration. Houses : Many houses were damaged by the waves, but only 14 completely destroyed. These are being rebuilt collectively by the community for 100,000 Baht ($2,500) using donor funds and community labor. Souce: Asian Coalition for Housing Rights -01/13/06 |
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Camping trip Ko Nui - Last night the bright stars were fantastic. Then the tide came up further than we expected and we got our bedding wet while camping - but that was o.k. because the phosphorescence in the water was incredibly brilliant. -01/07/06 |
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Sa was Dtee Pee Mai 2549 - all the best from Ko Lanta Thailand! Susanna and Sayan 2549 -01/03/06 |
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Baan phra phum - On the Full Moon DEC 15th- we erected our Baan phra phum or Spirit house. Most Thais believe that spirits, called phra phum, may inhabit the land around a house. Though these are considered guardians, they can cause trouble if they spend too much time in the house. To ensure that these spirits take up residence in their own house, we erected our Sprit house. It was installed by a Local elder at just the right spot out of the shade of our main home, we will maintain it with daily offerings of food, flowers and incense. -12/18/05 |
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- Travel is fatal for prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness. -----Mark Twain -11/13/05 |
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September - High season is approaching. Many of our neighbors are getting ready for the Pla Muk (squid) fishing season. They modify their long tail boats with homemade wooden outriggers, that look allot like large crosses that you find on a Christian church. We have yet to greet the monsoon this year, it’s been an unbelievably mild low season with very little rain. "Bow" stopped to invite us to a local celebration being held for the children in the village tomorrow. The Thai day laborers continue to work and pick up rocks and debris left by the tsunami. They have built a little barge and they float the debris out into deeper water. They are also re-planting mangroves. -09/10/05 |
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For the Kids - 15,000 baht per child. That is what the government is giving out to all the children affected by December's tsunami in Ko Lanta. K my little friend is very happy and been playing with a new Truck ( toy) he bought. Back home in my country, A Mayor from Mississippi quoted "This is our tsunami," My thoughts go out to them. I know what it's like to lose a home. -08/31/05 |
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Finally - They sent some day workers to clean up the mess the tsunami left us last December. Many rocks and debris washed in. Big thanks to Ed for helping us build our kitchen. We couldn't of done it with out him! Ed and Joyce run the best resteraunt on the Island. http://www.redsnapper-lanta.com/ -08/29/05 |
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smoke from sumatra - It's an annual ritual. Late summer comes and farmers in Sumatra decide to clear new land. The farmers set fires. The fires get out of control. The smoke drifts across the Straits of Malacca into peninsular Malaysia, now its here in Ko lanta. Thailands health authorities issued air pollution warnings......Cough........ cough... -08/16/05 |
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SUMMER PROJECTS - FISHING NET PROJECT: Helped 17 fishermen and their families. June 27th to July 1st. Khun Meow -single man -Buddhist Khun Ko Me -wife, 2 kids -Buddhist Khun Ko My -wife, grandson -Buddhist Khun Moo - wife, 1 daughter-Muslim Khun Ko Nut (prefer shrimp net) -wife, and 1 daughter 1 son -Muslim Khun Ya Quat- single man -Muslim Khun Bangman known as "Maan" -wife, and 1 daughter 2 son’s -Muslim Khun Ko Loy -wife, and 3 kids-Muslim Khun It -wife, 1 son -Muslim Khun Jan –wife, 2 children grown -Buddhist Khun Bow -wife and son -Muslim Khun Mack- wife no kids -Muslim Khun Bangsert -wife and 7 daughters most are grown and live nearby -Muslim Khun Bat, -single -Muslim Khun Chart, -wife and 2 kids –Muslim Khun Ko Mee- wife and small daughter from Baan Chi Le- Muslim Khun Nok- wife and 4 children from Baan Klong Nin- Muslim MOTOR PROJECT: Purchased and given away on July 1st to August 1st Khun Sanaan, wife and son -Muslim Lives in Hua Laem, fisherman with wife and 2 kids. Lost boat, motor and house by the sea in tsunami- luckily his wife’s family have a big house on the hill, which is where they now live. 2nd hand 15 HP Honda Motor Khun Asid (NONA) and her two kids -Muslim Fisher-woman Lives in Saladan. Boat was capsized and she lost motor to the sea, Boat was repaired. She likes to fish in the big river (Klong) her husband works in a bungalow. They have 5 kids. New 9 HP Honda Motor Khun Sulan, new daughter -Muslim Fisherman lives in Klong Nin. Lost his boat and motor in tsunami, luckily he escaped injury. Only hurt his leg trying to save his boat. Lives in a very communal area in Klong Nin with big extended family- fishes for everyone in the family. New 9 HP Honda Motor Khun Ko My -wife, 2 sons from Hua Laem -Buddhist Khun Ko My and his family are the local fish merchants. They help organize the villager’s catch and drive the fresh fish to the west coast of Ko Lanta on his motorcycle Taxi. The bigger fish are sold to the resorts for a good price. The smaller fish are sold to the locals here in Hua Laem and Amphur Gow. Purchased a Yanmar 26 from Krabi. Khun Joy -widower, children grown from Hua Laem -Buddhist Khun Joy is fisherman who works closely with Khun Ko My. Most often these two men fish together and keep an eye out for each other. On a recent trip they told me they noticed the water was still very cloudy and the fish not as big since the tsunami. Purchased a Yanmar 125 from Krabi. BOAT PROJECT August 1st 2005 Khun Bang and his family live in a Muslim commune between Klong Nin and Klong Hin. Khun Bang has 2 sons and 2 daughters. He usually fishes for smaller fish, which they mostly consume themselves. He will share this boat with other family and neighbors. Purchased an 8-meter boat from Klong Tom. Other related gear, batteries and more nets. Communal battery charger: Will share with neighbors in Hua Laem. It’s really wonderful to see these 20+ families get back on their feet. -08/07/05 |
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July 25th - Well, what a night, last night! A major earthquake in Nicobar. Another tsunami warning- the whole town fled again. I stayed by my trustee computer to read USGS warnings! We turned on the spot light and watched the sea, very surreal cause we had a full-ish moon. Just like on Dec 26th. Thailand cancelled the tsunami warning at 2 am. -07/26/05 |
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Back to eye hospital - Suai-Me has grown a lot, but he is still very shy and he acts much more clingy to his mother and she towards him since our last trip. A lot has happened since then. There was a funeral for Jeng -Who was killed when the "new" Ko Lanta pier washed away in the tsunami- Be-ah‘s husband and Suai-Me’s father. Then they moved into their new free house. It was built by the Royal Thai Navy, on Jeng's parents land. Be-ah also received some compensation for her loss. Around $2000 U.S. dollars. She promised me, she is saving it in the bank. Suai-Me, Mother: Be-ah, Cousin: Pook, Sayan and I returned for a follow-up on July 4, 2005 at Rutin Eye Hospital in Bangkok. Our overnight train ride was long and bumpy, we arrive at Rutin, the big, shinny hospital in Bangkok early in the morning. The first eye test they try to administer on “me” is inadequate. He squirms and cries and the technician can't get any results. The second test, to dilate his eyes is completed after many piercing screams. We finally see the chief physician. She is able to look into his eye with her camera, but because little “me” wont talk or cooperate she is not able to get a comprehensive diagnosis. More medicine is given for infections and we are told to come back in another 8 months. After the exam, I have another chat with the doctor. She reiterates that his left eye could possibly be removed and a prosthetic could be made at around age 10-12. If, the Muslim family agrees. His right eye seems to functioning O.K. That is, he can recognize shapes and objects and he can get around on his own. But she said, we need to keep monitoring the white spot on his eye and if by the time he reaches 10 years old, and the white cloud is affecting his vision in any way, it could be removed with the help of laser surgery. Suai-Me and Be-ah are given more educational material to practice with at home. I feel deflated and frustrated. But we have no choice but to return to Ko Lanta with the hope that our efforts were not in vain, and Be-ah will continue to work with her son to develop his good eye and give him the best possible chance at a full happy life. -07/10/05 |
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Settling In - I am truly savoring the decorating process, well... really the unpacking process. It’s the first house I've ever owned. We are taking the train tomorrow with little "me" once we get a final diagnosis I will share it. -07/02/05 |
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- 1 year, 6 months 1 tsunami later....... WE moved into our new (rebuilt) house. Still many houses are partially destroyed next to ours. Still not sure if they will tear them down or rebuild. Internet is hooked up and- I’m ready to rock! About our old house, we decided to give it up. It was damaged by the tsunami and my Thai /Chinese’s landlord wants a fortune to buy it. We are very, very happy with the house we just got to build our kitchen now.....ARG! Anybody want to fly over and help? -06/30/05 |
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Books for local children - I contacted the principal and hand delivered the books to the other elementary ( primary) school. He was so grateful! What an impressive array of books. So creative and cool. And all the games were fantastic! I was so proud to see these precious books go to many familiar faces. Faces that I have seen very little tears, allot of smiles and definitely fear in since that day in December that we will never forget here in Ko Lanta, Thailand. http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/relief/PhotoAlbum40.html -06/20/05 |
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Shopping for fishing gear - We just returned from Songkhla. It's on a peninsula between the Gulf of Thailand and the Thala Sap Songkhla (inland sea). Should help about 16 families. I can hardly open my front door to get into my house. -06/18/05 |
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- Our little friend, "Me" is looking very well. We will return to Bangkok on June 27th for his follow up with the Eye Specialist. It's been delayed numerous times due to scheduling conflicts but the last one is ALL GOOD! His family moves out of the shelter and into their new "free" government home early next week. Me's Mother, Be-Ah seems very pleased. -06/12/05 |
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rainstorms - Been staining the wood pole house all day. We have an electrician installing all our lights. The little bedroom up stairs is FINISHED. We just Teak oiled the floor. Just have to finish sanding downstairs; it’s a big job. Then a powerful rainstorm came in yesterday on knocked out the power. So we came back and found Sayans boat it was parked in the Klong (river) hung up on a bunch of debris that was rushing down from the hills. It’s was a bit scary watching Sayan jump in the water to help free the boat. -06/09/05 |
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Aid arrives at Lantas High school - Today I went by the school and helped Un-pack the computers!!! http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/relief/PhotoAlbum38.html The books were locked up safe in an extra room so we will go back next Monday so I can dig through all the books. The plan is we’ll split them up with 2 or 3 more local elementary schools. The teaches have a network specialist ready to help set everything up, and I will go help set up the Mac. The other pic is of the first 2 new free houses that will be finished very shortly. And not a moment too soon. The temporary shelter has been full with 200+ people. Thanks to everbody who helped! -06/02/05 |
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Lanta Rains but still warm - Home in Lanta. LOTS TO DO. We finish the house in the next few weeks and MOVE!! Also we return back to Rutin eye center in Bangkok with little “me" and help set up the library at our local high school. Bali was -sigh- fantastic I will be back soon. -05/28/05 |
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Ubud Bali - We rented a fab place 7km from the center of town in the village of Lutunduh. Krissy, Sayan and I spent the day boogie boarding near Kuta. http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/PhotoAlbum37.html -05/14/05 |
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Temperatures still are rising - After May 1st all the tourists have left. The Thai Navy is still here busily working on the roads and new housing. The new computers and library are in route to Ko Lanta’s school. We pick them up in Krabi very soon. Khun Annawat is helping with the paperwork. We are going down to Bali for a few weeks where it’s cooler and for some Birthday celebrations. The house is almost finished. We are installing the lighting next week. http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/Lanta_pole_house/PhotoAlbum36.html -05/04/05 |
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Sitting on the cool boat - We are going out on the boat for a few hours to escape the sizzling heat. -04/17/05 |
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Still gathering info - More Ngo's have come by to compile the same info over and over. They all agree on these numbers. But where is the Aid? "Baan Hua Laem- Almost the whole village has been completely destroyed and more than 100 families of Fisher folk who earn their living from catching fish, shrimps and squids are affected. Damage of boats, thus far, 75 boats have been found damaged and the rest is being Investigated Almost 86 houses completely destroyed, and 27 partially destroyed houses." -04/16/05 |
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Warm In Lanta - Back from Phuket with more building supplies. Nice to see my neighbors warm smiles again. Susanna and Sayan -04/15/05 |
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Songkran - HAPPY NEW NEW! It's time for water fights in the street. Tomorrow begins this 5 day festival. Even the police are wearing rain gear here in Phuket. Susanna, Pia, Apple, Bung, Sayan and Richie. -04/12/05 |
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The House - It’s so exciting to see my house coming together. It really looks nice. My friend said the proportions are much better and he is right. As I walk down the street I’m greeted with lots of smiles and hard working people . Everywhere there is rebuilding. The Thai Army is here again, building the 1st permanet houses on the hill. -04/03/05 |
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Chaing Mai - Having a blast drivng around the city on bikes and shopping. Glad to be away from Ko lanta for a few days and the thoughts of earthquakes, waves and rebuilding. Summer is here. It must be 99F in the shade. xxxx -04/01/05 |
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Chaing Mai - Last night we sat in shock and watch the BBC (again) Tess and I are up in northern Thailand 1000's of kilometres from Ko Lanta. After the quake the P.A. system worked and they evacuated all of Old Town. Sayan loaded up the truck with all are important stuff and sat on the street waiting. 90% of the town fled. This morning everybody is back home and safe. Im sure this will put a spin on the village and the Governments plans to relocate us. Any remaining tourist's I'm sure are packing their bags. Chaing Mai is really beautiful and I'm happy to be on a mini-break. It seems the warning system has worked this time. -03/28/05 |
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The honor of helping - Last month grateful villagers (Sea Gypsies) from Nai Rai and Klong Dao (The west coast of Lanta) threw a big party for all westerners of us to say thank you. In the morning they took us to sea, fishing for squid and crabs on boats that had been repaired by us. Later they cooked tons of fish, crabs and rice and such for everyone. The local shaman sat in, smudged and blessed everything too. Traditional music and dancing went on for hours. The headmen gave long speeches thanking us for our help. Finally we foreigners gathered and Bill said a few words thanking them for allowing us into their lives and the honor of helping. http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/Tsunami/PhotoAlbum32.html "Me" stopped by and looked really good and healthy. His Mom swore that they were practicing with the eye chart and agreed to return to Bangkok with us. We set the date for early June. I posted a wonderful story about our village written by Julia on my web-log. Please have a look if your interested. -03/22/05 |
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Luangpoo Buddha Isara - The Monk Luangpoo Buddha Isara has built a beautiful Sala (outdoor meeting area) for the people of my village. It sits at the far end of my street. His presence here assures the locals a powerful voice in the ongoing struggle with the government since the tsunami. to learn more about him see: http://www.dhamma-isara.org/eng/eng_index.html More thanks go out for the kind donations made by Mary M., Clarkie, Mapasha, Anne P., Reyna L., Dan R. and Amy B. It was great seeing Erick W., Jeff T. and friends, who hand delivered some great books and CD’s for the kids. And a special Thanks to Denise and David you are so thoughtful. -03/21/05 |
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Thailand fishing villages - "In the affected coastal areas of Thailand, 386 fishing villages with a population of around 120,000 people have lost about 4,500 fishing boats, or their fishing gear has been seriously damaged. Most fishing boats are owned by small-scale, traditional fishers. The total damage to marine capture fisheries alone is estimated at around $16.6 million. " -03/16/05 |
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story by Julia Cumes - The Hua Laem Tsunami Relief Effort Koh Lanta island, Thailand -01/31/05- The road to Hua Laem, a small fishing village on the east side of Koh Lanta island in Southern Thailand, is a snake of red dust, pocked with potholes. Few tourists travel this way as most come to Koh Lanta to go diving in the Andaman Sea's exotic reefs or lounge on the exquisite beaches on the island's west side. Through a cloud of copper dust, motor scooters buzz past us, some with veiled drivers and families with as many as three children squeezed onto the seat. We pass water buffalo lazily chewing in the midday heat, each one accompanied by a white egret, sharing polite company. While no road signs mark the village, we know we're there when we see a cluster of bright blue and orange tents and the metal-clad dome of a mosque opposite them. A canopy provides some reprieve from the sun and five or six villagers sit under it, talking quietly around a communal table. We can hear the the whisper of the ocean close by and we know this is the place. My husband, David Karam, and I were about to head to Southeast Asia on a long-planned trip when the Tsunami struck Southern Asia on December 26th, 2004. As the images of horror and devastation quilted the newspapers and played out on news broadcasts, we began to rethink our plans. David, who has a Design-build business on Cape Cod, MA, has skills we thought might be of some use and, as a photojournalist, I thought I might be able to bring some attention to a community otherwise ignored. We talked at length and finally decided we would head south and look for a community that was not receiving the kind of attention it needed. Bangkok's newspapers were full of stories about the Tsunami's effect on Thailand's tourist industry. Money was pouring into Phuket, Thailand's most popular resort island; volunteers were already reconstructing damaged hotels and beaches. Finally we read an article about fishermen in Southern Thailand whose longtail boats had been severely damaged or completely destroyed. These men and the communities that depended on them had lost their source of income and were receiving little aid because they were not as central to Thailand's economy as tourism. This is the thread we followed from Bangkok to Krabi where a Thai Baptist Minister happened to mention Koh Lanta island and we began our journey on the dusty red road down to Hua Laem. The first day we visited Hua Laem and assessed the damage, the power of the Tsunami was made tangible to us. Most of the village's homes had been built on stilts right on the beach and what was left of many of them was a collection of wood, concrete, clothing and household items strewn about. Septic pipes and children's toys, school books, shoes, fishing nets, plastic tubs, longtail boats beached like dead whales. Villagers seemed dazed, walking around in the rubble of their homes, picking up occasional items and then dropping them as though not sure what to do with them. I watched two little boys play with their home-made carved wooden boats in a ditch of water. Picking up a board of wood, one cried out "Tsunami Tsunami" and began creating great big waves that soon overwhelmed the toy boats. I knew from my psychologist parents that children often play out their traumas in their games and that this was most likely evidence of post traumatic stress disorder. An old man pointed to the trees above us. We could see the leaves below a certain height had turned brown from the salt water. This was how high the waves had come. Everywhere one looked--from the skeletal remains of boats and homes to the weary expressions on villagers' faces--one could see the destruction the Tsunami had wrought on Hua Laem. The village of Hua Laem has been around for generations. The men traditionally fished, two or three to a boat, in their longtail wooden boats while the women raised the children and looked after their homes. Like the rest of Koh Lanta, the villagers are primarily Muslims with close families and a strong sense of community. The Mosque sits on the hill above the town and one can hear the sonorous prayer call rising up five times a day. Before the Tsunami hit on that Sunday morning, December 26th, someone in the town received a call from the other side of the island warning that a big wave was coming and everyone should get to higher ground. Parents gathered their children and miraculously almost everyone in the town made it up the hill just in time to watch the first wave crash into their village. While the first wave alarmed them, it was the second and third wave that did most of the damage. Villagers describe watching their longtail boats get pounded against their homes. One fishermen had run to the pier after the first wave to see whether he could save his boat. He did not anticipate the size of the second wave and his body has yet to be recovered. Villagers also describe seeing a woman--a "farang" as they call foreigners here--who was standing on the pier taking a photograph. Her body has not been found either. What's left of the pier is a series of twisted reinforced steel and broken concrete pilings and a section that miraculously survived the waves, eerily continuing out to sea as if it still serves a purpose. After the waves died down, villagers stayed up on the hill above the town. The first few nights, they slept at a nearby school. The non-governmental organization, World Vision, set up blue and orange tents. Donations of food, water and clothing arrived from the Red Cross and various sources. "Everyone was terrified to go down the hill," says Susanna Bachman, an American woman from California who lives in Lanta Town which is joined to Hua Laem. Bachman and her Thai boyfriend were the first to return to their home to sleep after spending two days cleaning out the mud, sand and debris. Some villagers whose homes were not completely destroyed cautiously followed suit. Many stayed up on the hill, salvaged what items they could and made the best of the small space the tents provided. Some of the tents' occupants added makeshift canopies of wood and cloth to extend the living space and provide reprieve from the sun. Like all the villagers who lost their bathrooms to the Tsunami, Hyron Mon, 84, hobbles to the Mosque across the road on crutches to shower and use the bathroom. His 87 year-old wife, Yit, has carefully hung clothing racks to create some sense of privacy from their neighbors. A few rows back, Korntip Leamkoh, 22, lives with her husband, two young children, mother, brother, sister and brother-in-law in two tents joined together. Her father, Jeng, 40, was the man who lost his life trying to save his longtail boat. "We've had a small ceremony but we can't have a proper funeral yet because we don't have his body," says Leamkoh. "We're all getting sick from the dust and heat," she adds, wiping her daughter, Gitnmaree's nose. Despite the heat and challenges of tent-living, she and her two-year-old daughter continue to wear their traditional black veils, as if holding onto some semblance of their previous life. A short while after the Tsunami hit, the government approached villagers who had lost their homes and offered to move them to another location away from the ocean. The idea was that they would build temporary houses for the interim and then move villagers to permanent housing within three months. Villagers would be safe if another Tsunami came, the government reminded them. Ten families signed on and the Thai military in conjunction with World Vision began erecting temporary housing on property behind the Buddhist Temple, a mile inland. Since then, villagers got wind of the government's plans to build a marina where Hua Laem's homes once stood. The temporary housing is almost complete--rows and rows of 12'x12' prefabricated single-room units--baking hot in the midday heat and lacking any kind of privacy. The villagers call the development "the hog farm". To make matters more complex, most of Hua Laem's aproximately 1,000 villagers are Muslim and the temporary housing is built on land belonging to the Buddhist Temple. The villagers decided to dig in their heels, determined to stay in the village they grew up in next to the ocean whose waters they are dependent on for a living. Referring to their long sea-faring heritage, the village drafted up a letter to the Minister of the Interior, explaining the reasons for their intentions to stay near the sea. With a renewed sense of purpose, villagers began to rebuild. They were encouraged to do so by a Thai social worker from Community Organization Development Institute (CODI), who suggested that the more effort they put into reestablishing themselves on the beach, the less likely the government would be to force them out. A village-wide clean-up began. Children picked through the debris, collecting items still usable as though it were treasure. An English volunteer named Scotty Lee showed up one morning after hearing about the effort in Hua Laem. In his youth he'd been a rugby player and grunting, he lead teams of men as they pulled up embedded support beams and dragged destroyed boats away from the houses to be burned. Bonfires rose up everywhere so that Hua Laem soon looked like a war-zone, made surreal and distorted by the heat waves. Earlier in the week, David had negotiated prices for lumber, metal sheeting and tools from a local lumber yard and purchased enough materials to repair and rebuild 10 homes. Other Westerners, some of whom lived on the island, raised funds to help fishermen repair their fishing boats. Hua Laem was filled with the sounds of hammers and saws. After ten days of exhausting work, David, on a trip to the other side of the island to get more supplies, ran into a group of 14 disaster relief workers from Oklahoma. Veterans of the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11 relief effort, the experienced Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief team was anxious to start work. They'd been traveling through Southern Thailand for a few days looking for somewhere to help but had been turned down everywhere as communities waited for government intervention. Two of the volunteers, Bob and Jeannie Spear, had lived in Thailand as Baptist Missionaries for 39 years and spoke the language fluently. After discussing the logistics, David celebrated his good fortune and took them to Hua Laem. The day after they arrived, the fourteen Oklahoman volunteers, most of them between the ages of 65 and 80, were sweating in the hot Thai sun from 9am to 5pm with few breaks. One could not miss them in their yellow shirts and caps against the bright blue ocean, breaking up and hauling concrete on Hua Laem's low-tide flats. Bob and Jeannie Spears, who had brought their own reconstruction funds raised by their church community and friends, ordered more building materials to be delivered. Slowly the houses rose up, one after the next, their tin roofs gleaming in the late afternoon sun. Despite the many organizations and volunteers who came to support the efforts in Hua Laem, one afternoon an official from World Vision stopped by and warned David that he and the other Westerners should not be helping rebuild the village in its present location. Supporting the villager's wish to stay where they had lived for over 100 years, David responded politely and the men continued to work. On the last day of our time in Hua Laem, something extraordinary happened. The day was exceptionally hot and few people were moving about. The villagers had opened sweet young coconuts for the volunteers at lunch, just one of the many edible offerings they'd made to show their appreciation. Having wrapped up their work framing the walls of the last house they were working on, the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers bid farewell to the villagers. David said his goodbyes and finalized his list for the last order of lumber. Just then, a motorcade pulled into the village center with several news channel vehicles following closely behind. Within minutes, the villagers began to emerge from their shelters and form a circle in the town center. When a young Buddhist monk emerged from one of the vehicles, many of the Muslim villagers placed their hands together and bowed their heads in a show of respect. A Thai translator told us the new visitor was Buddha Isara, a highly esteemed Buddhist monk from Wat Aw Noi, a monastery just outside of Bangkok. Within Thailand, Isara is seen as a modern-day Gandhi figure, thus his presence in Hua Laem would give the villagers a powerful voice. After the meeting, Isara walked through the village, stopping to ask villagers questions as he assessed the damage to homes and boats. Unlike the other dignitaries who had visited Hua Laem in the weeks we'd been there, Isara stepped away from his entourage and climbed down from the upper road to the tidal flats. David and I exchanged glances, pleased as we watched Isara carefully make his way through the remaining debris. We knew this perspective would allow him to see the full scope of the damage. Our greatest concern was whether there would be an ongoing volunteer effort after our departure. Watching the revered monk move gracefully through the rubble, we both knew the villagers were in good hands. Hua Laem, which has made this exquisite piece of coast its home for so many years, will remain where it is. While the villagers still face an uphill battle after all the volunteers leave, those gleaming roofs, we hope, will send a message of determination. Images of the Tsunami may haunt its inhabitant for years, but perhaps with time, what they remember will not be the waves that destroyed but the good will that followed. As we head into our final days in Thailand, I think about how I've come to love the road that leads to Hua Laem. I think of all the other roads we'd planned to take on our trip and how this one, which every day has turned our clothes and skin copper red with a fine layer of dust, will be indelibly etched in our memories. -03/16/05 |
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Laanta Lanta Festival - We have just returned from a work (boat) trip. Upon return we found the whole town working diligently, in just one week, a temporary pier is standing and many new houses almost complete! We we're also pleasantly surprised by the roof nearly complete (again) on our new pole house. Starting tonight Old Town is hosting the Laanta Lanta festival. -03/04/05 |
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My friend Bill - Bill showed up here about 4 weeks ago. Check out http://www.tsunamihealing.com for Bill's report on the longtail project. -02/18/05 |
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Thanks to West Marine DHL and Greg - Steve Bonar in transportation at West Marine just informed me that DHL is going to cover our shipping for the library and computers. Yeah! He's going to look into what we need to provide in paperwork -- we have to itemize everything, with associated $ value. We're going to put it all on a pallet and shrink wrap it. At least it will stay together until it gets to customs in Phuket. A HUGE Thank You to Greg at Give-a-byte for the 3 AMAZING computers he has put together for the school. -02/17/05 |
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beautiful pictures - These beautiful pictures were taken by an American woman from Cape Cod who is a photo journalist. When she left 3 weeks ago she gave me a c.d. of pictures. She really did a fantastic job and i wanted to share them with all of you. All the other foreign aid workers have left ( but who knows if more will show up) and a monk has returned. He is now leading the Thai's in re-building homes and boats. Today Tess and I will donate a boat to the monk "Isara". http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/relief/PhotoAlbum30.html We call and check on "me" everyday. He is fine and he is still taking his medication. S and S -02/16/05 |
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All about ME - After we settle in our seats we go to eat in the restaurant car, gathering many odd looks. “Me” is slow to warm up to us, he is very shy and so very cute. We arrive in Bangkok in the morning and take a taxi directly to Rutnin Eye Hospital, near Sukhumvit. http://www.rutnin.com Because we had called in advance they have a Muslim man there to meet us and to make the family feel at ease. The doctor runs many tests and performs an ultra sound. "Me" was born with a congenital eye defect. The ultra sound shows a mass around the eye but it’s not behind the cornea. Which is good. The "mass" is not pressing on his brain nor cancerous. The eye though, cannot be saved. She does discover that on his good (right) eye a large white spot is beginning to appear. We are asked to return the next day when a specialist will be in. The hospital books us a nice place across the street at a reduced rate. We are exhausted. The next morning we are off to buy Be Ah some comfortable shoes and pants at the MBK shopping center. We meet up with Ajan Cindy (A teacher/friend from California) and have a fun time shopping for toys and gifts for the family. Poor Be ah is wearing my old hand me downs, as all of her clothing was washed away to sea. At 4pm we return to the hospital and meet with Doctor Pattaramon. She performs more tests and prescribes antibiotics for his "good" eye. The prognosis is the left eye cannot be saved, but perhaps be removed when he reaches 11- 12 years old. A glass eye can be made. (That decision though, is up to the family; being they are Muslim they might have different belief system) His right (good) eye is seriously infected and has an Astigmatism. She wants him to take antibiotics for 2 weeks and gives us some learning materials. We need to help train little "Me’s" good eye for our next appointment. We make an appointment to return in 3 months. Because he is so young there is allot of wait and see on how he develops. The one thing we do know is if WE HADN'T of come to Bangkok the Astigmatism would never of been caught in time and a very high chance “Me” could go completely blind in 10 years. Anxious to get home, we fly back to Trang. “Me” is no longer shy but holds my hand like I am part of his family. I would like to thank my partner Sayan at this time. He was just amazing with all this. When “Me” fussed, Sayan was there to make him smile. When the doctors were poking at him, it was Sayan who calmed his screams. When the doctor explained the scenario it was to Sayan, not to “Me’s” mother Be Ah. I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful caring person in my life. Sayan and I both agree it’s all about “Me” Thanks also go to all of you for being so kind in donating money to help pay for this trip. And special thanks to Cindy who met us and did some "special" shopping with the family. We will return in 3 months for a follow up. http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/Tsunami/PhotoAlbum29.html For those of you in California please note our cut -off date for donations to the school is Feb 18th. Please Email Skippyc@westmarine.com if you would like to help. On a personal note- I am very happy to report that the reconstruction of my pole house is in full swing and coming along nicely. I also happy to report that I am expecting 3 different groups of friends to arrive this week. Sayan and I look forward to some R and R and some work too. Its time for us to make some money. Love Susanna, Sayan and "Me" -02/14/05 |
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a quote from a friend - "This Tsunami has created an unprecedented opportunity for people to step into their magnificence on a global scale. Millions are being magnificent..." Bill Francis -02/13/05 |
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Be Ah and Me - Be Ah and “Me” stopped by so I could gather some more some information. We set the date for Feb 11th to take the overnight train to Bangkok and get "Me" to the eye doctors. Be ah adopted me as her older sister and I adopted her as my younger sister. Ironically her eldest daughter (17 y/o) remembered me as her English teacher years ago. I gave Be Ah some clothes and a backpack for our trip. We laughed and joked about my big western clothing. She has never been anywhere before, let alone a train ride and a city like Bangkok. http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/Tsunami/PhotoAlbum28.html -02/05/05 |
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From The Bangkok Network of Women - Dear Susanna: Dia has been awesome in getting you info. She has kids too that's why I figured she would know. The public hospital you want to go is Chulalongkorn Hospital Dr. Prin 02 256 5197 We hear that he does check up on Tues and operate on Wed. He's renowned and the challenge is getting "Me" an appointment. Dia's relative knows a fellow colleague of Dr. Prin, her name is Dr. Pam from Soontayaluck. Dr. Pam advise for you to call Chulalongkorn Hospital and say that she referred you so that you can get an appointment earlier. Now, what we need from you is the full name of mother and child (in Thai if possible) sent to Dia so that she can relay this to Dr. Pam should Dr. Prin call to ask for a cross-reference. If Dr. Pam does not have it, you may have to wait a while to get an appointment. Dia is trying to get in touch with her pediatrician to get another contact for you at a private hospital. This way, you'll have two options. Cheers, Nui -02/04/05 |
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LANTA SCHOOL - We are running a fund drive to gather books and things for the local school here in Ko Lanta. Skippy is our point person in Santa Cruz, CA. She might have West Marine Products -pick up the tab- in shipping the goods here to me in Thailand. I'm crossing my fingers. You can send or drop stuff at her work or home. Ultimately, She will probably be boxing them up at work. But here's both phone numbers. Whatever is easier. Our wish list is: BOOKS!!!! Simple English books for smaller kids to rebuild their library. Its going to a high school, but they cant read very well. Think 1st grade. Here's the easy list: Children's Encyclopedias (a couple sets) Atlases Children's dictionary Picture books (kindergarten) Basic Internet and computer books (for dummies) Nursery rhymes Game books Nancy drew (or I guess now- its Harry potter?) English as a second languages CD's Learning and, Games CD's World book Listening CD's Basic science books mouse-pads ABC's book cat in the hat Here is the hard list: Projector for a computer. Wow! I know expensive. Like 5000$ but maybe someone can donate an older one A couple Pc's used ok, not too old and keyboards. (Monitors I can buy here, I don't trust shipping that far) Scanner Printer CD burner Im so excited, your excited. I am also trying to find a Network administrator here in Thailand. Our cut off date is Feb 18th 2005. Please feel free to pass this around to your friends. For those who've asked, "Me" is on antibiotics and we are still optimistic we can fly them all up to Bangkok early next week. Love Susanna -02/03/05 |
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Me is Jengs Son - "Me" is 2 1/2 years old. His father was killed by the tsunami and now his family is living in the temporary housing "Baan Moo" on the hill. We took "Me" into the local doctor and the prognosis is not very good. He was born with serious glaucoma and now its infected since the tsunami. Ive offered to take him, his Mom "Be Ah" the widow of Jeng and one of her friends to see the best eye specialist in Bangkok. That is, IF I can talk her into it. She is very afraid to travel. She has never been any where in her whole life and now she is alone. Its a 50/50 chance they can save his eye. Today at the doctors office, the grief of all this finally struck me. I had to sit down, but I stayed calm. Now tonight, I am home, writing to you on my fancy computer and it doesn't seem fair. We've given Be Ah a week to think about it and besides she cant leave until the elections are over on Sunday. Unlike America, everybody wants to vote. If they agree to go , I may ask again to raise some more money for the specialist (You will hear from me on that one). Hospital care is good and inexpensive here but eye surgery specialist could chew up all my remaining funds. I also had a meeting with the local school where I taught years ago. Thanks to all of you I've promised to pay for a computer network specialist to get their network up and running. I'm also in the process of doing a fundraising event with my friend Skippy Comins in Santa Cruz. We are in need of school books and supplies to build a library at the high school. I will let you know after we talk to the airlines and courier service on how to get the supplies here. -02/01/05 |
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More from this week - I have been focusing on the human aspect. Children and schools. I’m taking the widows son to talk about some needed eye surgery in Bangkok. We’ve been up at the "Temp Goverment housing" allot, seeing our friends. It’s better than the hot tents, but not much. Sayan is helping our immediate neighbors in fixing their own boats. We are trickling in little bits of wood and paint and lending them power tools already purchased. They are doing the work themselves. Tonight my next-door neighbor will launch his first boat.!!! The Thai's here have been told (rumor or not?) IF they receive a new boat (or any official aid) it's just a loan and they will have to make payments back of 2-3000 baht a month. Which is why they want to try to fix them themselves. There have been many people showing up offering aid and strong backs. There is a whole crew of 20 American men from Oklahoma building houses at the end of my street. I am trying to keep a low profile. Yesterday we had the BEST boat trip. We returned to Ko Ngai (where we were on the "26th") and had a great time snorkeling. The coral looked Ok, but visibility stills a little poor. -01/31/05 |
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Lantas High School - Eugene, Bond, Sayan and I just got back from the local high school. We worked all day trying to help them fix their computers. I left with a long list of wants and needs. I will write a full report later. -01/29/05 |
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Friends of The Hon Tess Smart - Ways to contact Tess: (66) 756 97066 (66) 604 12243 email: sendtotess@hotmail.com -01/27/05 |
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Be Ah - Sayan and I just returned from Krabi where we did some more shopping. “Be-ah” Jeng’s widow recently moved into her new Government house. She and her kids had nothing to sleep on so we picked them up two mattress and two oscillating fans and a refrigerator. Her youngest son is 2 1/2 years old and in need of eye surgery. I believe its glaucoma. I promised to pay for the operation and support her and her family for a few months until she can figure out how to support herself. Sayan asks her what she wants to do? Sell food on the street? Sew? But all she knows is how to fish with her husband. She has fallen through the cracks since she doesn’t have Jeng’s body and therefore she can’t receive any of the widow’s assistance. Jeng was last seen alive running down the pier to help a friend with his boat. 100 feet of the pier collapsed into the sea. I don’t know what the time frame is in Thailand for her to recieve her widow's compensation. But I will find out. -01/27/05 |
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Working together - Last night we joined in a farewell party with the Thai Army. Sayan had become friends with them over the last few weeks and dragged me along to meet them. (The word is...the next shift will show up soon and continue to build the homes on the hill) We joked and laughed and I gave them many of my watercolor prints (slightly sandy) and in turn they gave me an official Thai Army shirt. They were all anxious to get home to their families and were the most gracious hosts; as my glass was always full and belly too. Today, I just returned from a walk around “the hood” I’m very happy to report how much activity I witnessed. Everybody was out working in full force. Houses were being repaired and long tail boats too. My lovely Thai neighbors no longer looking despondent and scared but strong-minded and firm. The sounds of hammers have been clanking all day, and the load roar of long tail boat motors coming to life. The tools I purchased are being utilized so once one family is finished with them we will pass them on to another. Yesterday I was so happy to see the 1st long tail boat sitting out back ready and waiting to go fishing! Have a look. http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/Tsunami/PhotoAlbum25.html -01/22/05 |
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Back from Malaysia - Just returned from a 48 hour Visa Run to Penang, Malaysia. Everything is sorted out for the next 4 months. Here in Ko Lanta, We are still heading in the right direction, we just makes allot of U- turns!!! -01/19/05 |
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Lanta 3 Update - Lanta #3 Update. Uma’s new sewing machine arrived. Mr. Boomsombut and his students have fixed over 100 long tail boat motors. And Ryan, Sayan, Tess and I delivered a new yanmar motor to run a generator at a nearby school. http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/Tsunami/PhotoAlbum24.htm -01/13/05 |
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Lanta - Yesterday, I finally ventured out further to the southern fishing villages. I was shocked to see so many tent cities set up. Many Thai friends are still very scared and look very despondent on what to do next. On the bright side Buch and I organized a fire on the beach to relax and unwind and thank all of our western friends / tourists whom have worked so hard in helping our little old town. -01/13/05 |
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A Great Day - It's been a while since I've had such an uplifting day. Today we hand delivered a brand new Yanmar motor to a secondary school on a nearby Island named Ko Po. Ko Po is a 15-minute boat ride from Ko Lanta that has close to 400 residents and one school with about 70 children. The motor will be used to run the schools generator that was damaged. Smiles and playful children is just what I needed to change my mood. Full update to come in a few days. ---- Thanks to Clarkie and Real Skate magazine in Santa Cruz, CA for adopting us. http://www.realskate.com/kolanta.htm -01/12/05 |
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Re cap of the last 5 days - Buch rounded up the jobless westerners from the dive shops to come over and help clear the rubble together with the owners of some of the worst hit houses. This generated quite some activity, and within five days, most good wood was recuperated and put on dry land (we are talking about pole houses, remember). From the 90 houses on my side of town, I think 40 are totally ruined, 40 partially and the rest took an unpleasant mud bath. We also met up with the head of our village and he took us around to asses the situation in the neighboring villages. Fewer houses were damaged there, but nearly all boats are gone. On the whole south east side of the island, where all the fisherman's villages are, I guess about a 150 boats must have disappeared. We would really like to start rebuilding houses next, however all of them are built on government property (Settler’s or squatter’s land) and they are making their own plans there, so this is something we can’t mingle in. Many rumors are going around like rebuilding houses further inland (a fisherman needs to live next to the sea though, where they can see their boat and the tide), Government housing developments that are offered as a one-chance aid possibility (ugly free house or no house) etc. Will keep you posted on that. I bought tools power drills, electric plainers and circular saws so that people who need to rebuild things can go ahead. Last Sunday, a team of engineering students are coming by to fix any remaining boat engines (free of charge!) and after that we will have an idea of what the remaining needs will be concerning boats. Some boats are already being repaired as we speak, thanks to your kind donations. Because our actions are getting more and more organized, the government officials, who are getting a bit more organized too, caught rumour of what we were doing and so we faced them in a small meeting. Locals are very afraid of corruption and substantial aid is only suspected to arrive within minimum of 3 months, too long for many to wait for, enough time for dishonest people to fill their pockets. Because of the power we have (we have the contacts and trust from friends and family to raise money faster and in larger amounts), no official could force us to put our funds into their account buy we naturally agreed to reporting our actions to them for the administrative records. Clearly some people are running a separate agenda or tripping over their own ego. All we want to think of is getting these people their jobs back asap, because now we just see people left clueless in this whole aid relief program, and they don't know how to cope with it very well. Those hit hardest, get helped first, those showing some initiative are next. Also we try to disappear more to the background and just support and back up other people such as the village head, carpenters and boat builders to take more of a lead and get everybody to work together. Not always easy, but we do our best. Not only the local officials got news of our actions though, we have been receiving some press coverage to. There is a camera team making a documentary for BBC3 that will be following Buch around for few days, I was on the radio in Washington D.C. and in the Sunday Telegraph of Sunday 9th January, you should be able to find an article on Ko Lanta and our actions. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/09/wtsun209.xml . -01/10/05 |
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Runny noses - Sayan and I are both sick with the flu. But I was lucky and received two phone calls from family and friend’s overseas- always makes one feel better. Thing are still moving along here. Tess and Buch moved the daily meeting here to accommodate us. Monday we'll have a full crew of workers returning. . -01/09/05 |
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A Bundle of Nerves - I was enjoying a peaceful night of much needed rest we were awoken to scream’s of bpai, bpai at 1am. In English it means Go! Go! So there I was in the dark, naked running for my clothes and valuables AGAIN. We raced out on to the street and found the whole village leaving. There was a rumor of another wave approaching and since I live at ground zero (sorry for using that word) I was not about to argue. Wait I’m a Taurus… Of course I’m going to protest- we drove to the other side of the island and found no panic or waves. I then had Sayan call the police and we were assured it was just a rumor. As we returned home everybody was outside watching the Sea. We assured our immediate neighbors it was OK and went back to bed. In consideration for my neighbors I must admit I’ve NEVER seen the sea act this way in January. We have had winds, waves (the wave were about 3 feet high) and cool weather. Its feels like June and July (the monsoon season) yet without the rain. -01/09/05 |
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Lucky Lanta - Today Tess has returned from Krabi where she purchased 3 brand new Honda motors to hand out to 3 Thai Fisherman. Yesterday I purchased more power tools so when we resume tearing down houses we’ll have the right tools for the job. The local government now has gotten involved with our efforts and we are sharing info about whom we’ve helped and we are now collecting the victims Thai ID cards so we don’t overlap our aid. Another note: About 100 engineering students have shown up from Bangkok and have begun the task of rebuilding long tail boat motors. Recovery is in full swing. Lucky Lanta is the coin phrase we are using, When I look at my nautical charts and our proximity to Sumatra its quite incredible we only lost 15 people, but there are still about 12 people missing included our friend Jeng last seen running down the now collapsed pier to help a friend with his boat. -01/08/05 |
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Stats - Today’s stats show 262 homes, 521 boats, 446 boat engines needing urgent attention on Ko Lanta. -01/06/05 |
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Photos from tsunami - http://homepage.mac.com/susannabachman/Tsunami/PhotoAlbum20.html -01/06/05 |
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our story - Our story on the 26th. We were sitting on our 23 foot long tail boat off the coast of Ko Ngai with our Norwegian guests (and 2 kids!) wondering why the sea looked so funny, (this was between Wave #1 and #2.) I saw the first wave and I thought it looked really pretty. I said wow look how cool. :-) Then we noticed our boat dropping with the tide and 8-Chauley fishermen ( Sea Gypsies) left quickly and headed out to deep water. We did the same. Thankfully. 5 mins later the big wave hit. If we would of stayed in the shallow water we would of been capsized or worse. Another funny thing was the night before I had horrible nightmares. That morning I told Sayan I was scared and didn’t want to go. He just laughed and said we have to go make money. And we need to leave by 930am. The wave hit our house at 1040. I felt the earthquake cause it lasted SO long. Being from California and all. But my logical mind said they don’t have earthquakes here. So I forgot about it. I also told my friend the Norwegian, an hour before it hit that I had a bad feeling about today! She looked at me funny and asked if I had my cell phone and lifevests - which I did. Funny... so in the end, we had a wonderful day trip that whole day. We just looked in awe at the strange green black water and ate, drank and even swam off the boat. Not knowing until 5 hours later when we got home when we first saw our 100-meter pier washed away and then our house. -01/06/05 |
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Great Response - I'm happy to announce the great response I'm getting from around the world. And it feels good to see a lot of the Thai people beginning see some hope. Many have been so stunned, but now they are beginning come around. Us ex pats living here in Old Town, Buch, Ricardo, Tess and Duane are all working on collection efforts in our home countries and we are pooling are money together and are collectively making plans and distributions. We meet daily to share ideas and strategies. Today the Prime Minister of Thailand is visiting the hood. Yet I doubt he has any idea what we are up to. For those who asked Sayan is fine. Doctors orders are to stay in the hospital and rest. He came pretty close to having another stroke. But the Cat Scan said he is fine. Minoo has offered us his big beautiful house to stay in and recooperate. We will head back tomorrow. -01/06/05 |
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Donation Details - Thank you for your interest in helping our little Old Town in Ko Lanta, Thailand. After the Tsunami hit 12.26.04. Please see link #1 on my homepage for ways to help. -01/04/05 |
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More - Many big relief trucks were here with rice and food and assorted items. In typical Thai fashion everybody waited patiently and acted very polite. Sayan was called in again to Lanta Rat (the school I used to teach at) to file more paperwork for relief. Since we lost 70% of our new house, he was chosen to receive some special care packages from Racha (The King) He said after everyone received their packages they played the national anthem and everybody cried. The Thai's truly love their King. -01/02/05 |
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New Years Day 2548 - My Muslim friends have come over to help me clean. My good friend (named Man) a devote Muslim was in his 11 foot fishing boat and was hit full on Klong Nin Beach (next to Otto bar). He only scraped his foot. Yet lost his boat. Now he is here with his whole family to help me clean sand out of my house. The Thai people are amazing. -01/01/05 |
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December 31 - Still cleaning mud and sand. More neighbors are starting to show signs of stress and tears. But this is Thailand so you still see mostly smiles. My 8 year old neighbor "A" is still sleeping near the front door for a fast escape. The kittens under the house are fine. My good friend Eugene came over to look at the new house Im building. Unfortunately, the cement poles are messed up really bad, so the WHOLE wood part of house needs to come down to be rebuilt. Yet, I still feel lucky as the news from Eugene in Krabi is the whole town is a nightmare of death. Hundreds of bodies are decomposing in the Sun. The whole town smells of death. Back here in Old Town Lanta Neighbor, Buch has been out looking for bodies in Phi Phi. Tess (who lost her new little longtail boat, it was found in a tree) is buying appliances and giving them away. And I am wearing a dress my Thai teacher friend gave me in a care package. today its so errie here. Bizarre weather. Last night, we had massive winds and today rain. Love to all. -12/31/04 |
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Post Quake News - Hi- I just got off the phone with my friend in Krabi. The hospital is packed with people. most of the people who were killed were young kids and old people. The ones too weak to run fast or swim- its so tragic. ...still cleaning mud while the divers are looking for bodies. two people died 100 yards from my house... The red cross brought us some supplies like food and clothes yesterday... most of my neighbors have come back to sleep at home .. accept the ones who have NO home...they are camping. -12/29/04 |
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New Paint - The "Rua" boat is looking good. We added many new colors of paint and a new canopy. Took a test run to Ko Bubu yesterday with Ajan Eug. The house is coming along too. The walls are going up on the cement ( air con ) room. -10/31/04 |
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Old Town Lanta Again - Back home. Rain storms and smiles. 1st thing I noticed was how little traffic there is here in Krabi Province. Taro and Lyn are here and we just set up the Airport network. Sayan continues to play with the new fishing gear. Much work to do to prepare for high season. -10/08/04 |
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Santa Cruz - I’m back and I am having another show here in Santa Cruz County. My exhibition will be in association with http://www.artists.com and be held at Business with Pleasure 6221-A Graham Hill Rd. Felton, CA from September 23, 2004 to September 30, 2004 -09/26/04 |
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Phuket Magazine Vol 15 num 4 - Tales of the Andamans: Stories abound in the islands of the Andaman Sea! Thanks to Kerrie and Mark for the story about me named "This water - colored Life" http://www.phuketmagazine.com/PM_Issues/Vol.15.4/Tales_of_the_Andamans.htm Things are moving fast around here as we have began constuction on my new pole house! Yesterday I fell through the floor boards!!! Stay tuned. -07/19/04 |
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Krabi - Birthday season is upon us! We are off to Ao Nang for some festivties. We have had some fantastic weather and most of the tourists have left so the prices are sliding. -05/18/04 |
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Back home in the South - We arrived in Chaing Mai just in time for the pandemonium of the Songkra water festival. (The Thai New Year) An estimated 100,000 people were there over April 12-15 for water throwing and dancing in the streets. There was nowhere to escape from a blast of water in your face for 10 days. So now, after a month of driving and 5000 kilometers we are safely home. Its good to be back. -05/04/04 |
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a day on the sea - At 11am the tide came in so we jumped on the long tail to Pi Tio (travel about) Along the way we hooked up a fishing net in our prop so we thought, But later realized it was just the fact the prop had become unbalanced. Probably since it’s always dragging behind us in the sand and dirt. We got over to Ko Talabeng, but then turned around for a swim at Ko Niew. The tide was rushing out during our swim so it helped a lot to cling to the new ladder (the one replaced since I and it acidently flew over board when a big wave hit last week with Tina and Roget) We then just decided to drift, no anchor … just floated around for a few hours. Sayan then pointed out a bamboo stick erect in the water. So we started up the engine to retrieve it, and he was right it was covered in delicious green mussels. So with our big catch of mussels, I painted a watercolor and we drank cold Chang beer and wasted away the rest of the day. -02/21/04 |
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tempatures rising - The weather has begun to change, more clouds and heat. Talk begins to surface of where to go during low season with my friends. Today a muslim wedding will take place and many locals have put on their finest to attend the party. A large tent has be erected in the middle of old town. We will go have a look.... -02/19/04 |
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Fishing in the Andaman - Just back from yesterdays trip to Ko Ha (5 Islands) fishing trip on Sayan's boat. The boys and me caught lots of little guys and a few big ugly sea snakes. Today marks the 2-year anniversary of leaving the U.S.A. for this big adventure which has now turned out to be my life. I laugh now thinking about how scared I was. Life is what you make it -01/19/04 |
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Wan Dek - Today is Wan Dek (means kids day) and it’s a big party for all the kids, paid for by the country. In the town square here in Old Town there is a big stage built and kids perform dance routines all day, from very traditional to the latest Thai pop songs. My friend "O” puts on her dance that she and her friends have been practicing here all week. Later the kids all eat and play games like climbing greased poles and riding around in the police trucks blasting the horn. Its looks like Sanuk Sanuk! -01/10/04 |
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San Wa De Pi Mai - Happy New Year! Today its 2457 and we have bought heaps of cookies and a giant Panda to give the local children as gifts. Sayan organized a party and we are expecting lots of kids tonight. The monks just finished chanting and they are now cruising down the street. Kinda like Dick Clarks Rocking in the New Year! Well Kinda.... -01/03/04 |
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Merry Christmas from Lanta - All is still VERY good here..We decorated a palm tree with santas, snorkeled in the beautiful Andaman sea and we are having a bbq-ed turkey and a camp-out with a bunch of friends on Ko Rock. -12/25/03 |
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Back Home In Old Town - eating lots of fish, watching the rain slowly fall, fixing up the house and enjoying this life. -11/03/03 |
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ko lanta - After a day of rest and cleaning the house, my friends arrived from Germany and we've been having a blast ever since. The day before yesterday we circumnavigated Ko Ngai. We stopped for some lunch and a few hours at the beautiful beach. As we all drifted off in glorious sleep I noticed the tide quickly going out. We all jumped to go push, 1000 kilos , 3 Farang's and 1 Thai. The tide won. So, we rented 2 bungalows on the beach for the night, and I truly enjoyed the isolation. It seems its taken me longer to come down from the fast pace I left behind. -10/15/03 |
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Back in Asia - The US cell phone has been turned off for good, round smiling faces surround me. After I woke up on plane I seemed to attract lots of new friends. Sitting here in Taipei waiting for my next flight to Bangkok. Asia dose not seem so different anymore. It almost feels the norm. How strange is that? -10/07/03 |
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Watercolor Show - Hello Friends, I'm back in California for 4 weeks and I'm excited to announce my Watercolor exhibit: Reception is Friday September 12, 2003 5-7pm at BARGETTO Winery - 3535 N. Main St Soquel, CA 95073 My show runs from Wednesday, September 3rd through Wednesday, October 1st 2003. See ya there! for more info call me at 831-278-2052 http://www.bargetto.com -09/10/03 |
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Santa Cruz California USA - A crystal clear day for sailing with Capt. Mac and friends. It's wonderful to see everybody again. I've truly missed this place. Last night we danced all night to fantastic African Band in Berkeley. And, I finally got my true mexican food with Jen, John and Tom at the Taqueria. -08/31/03 |
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Oakland California USA - One year, eight months, 7 days, later say no more... Warm and fuzzy, mixed emotions, happy.. B.A.R.T was fantastic, Im now going to eat a chili dog in a tortilla at Jen and John's. Its really good to be here. Ahh, Soquel Vineyards Trintity Merlot....its like baby's juice. -08/29/03 |
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Ko Lanta Again - Its overwhelmingly beautiful here, I almost forgot how much. I feel I know many local people here, many familiar faces and laughs on the bus from Trang. Stay tuned -08/23/03 |
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Leeds England - Exploring the Yorkshire Dales with Joanne. Last night we camp along the river wharf in Appletree Wick. Found our way into the New Inn Public House. Off to the David Hockney Gallery in Bradford. Tomorrow a long coach ride back to London. My last night in Europe. Asia is calling me home. -08/17/03 |
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Dublin - Sitting by the Ha Penny bridge drinking a Guinness watching the Liffy slowy pass by. Next week we take one of the great walks of Ireland in County cork. We will be walking about 15 miles a day along the South West Coast. Bought some new colored pens, hope there is enough time for some drawing. Cheers -08/08/03 |
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London - It's hot and it's fantastic. Rode the Eye, Swam in the sea in Brighton, Took a cruise on the Thames, explored the Tate Modern and Minded the Gap on the Tube. Thanks to Karen and Andi! -08/06/03 |
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Sweden - Arrived yesterday from Berlin. Stockholm is one of the most beautiful nantional capitals in Europe. Tina and Roger showed me a great time last night and today we will explore the Gamla Stan the old town from the 13th century, near the center. Many warms smiles greet me here. -07/25/03 |
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Prauge - Arrived here last week. Its a beautiful city with over 900 years of architecture. Im really attracted to the Art Nouveau styles. I will attend a Baroque concert at the Bazilika Church, there are so many concerts, and tourists, its hard to choose one. -07/09/03 |
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GERMANY - Well, Germany is working out quite well! Some friends have given me an Apt. to use (for free!) in the middle of the old town in Nürnberg, in Barvaria, so I am happy about that, and saving lots of money. Next, I think I will go over to Prague for a few days. stay tuned... -06/30/03 |
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A Song about Old Town Lanta - (Written and performed by; Kasha, Hayden, Susanna and Whit at the Old Fishmerchants house, Koh Lanta) Down in the Sea Gypsy Town, The tide goes up and the tide goes down. Meet new friends where the old road ends, Say “San Wa Dee Ka” and you walk right in. Christmas, New Years in Old Town Lanta, There ain't no snow, there ain’t no Santa. The sun shines red through the wings of a hawk; while Susanna’s headless chicken is frying in the wok. CHORUS Free, in Old Lanta Town where the sprits go up and they never come down. Free, in the land of smiles, No one seems to mind if I stay for a while. Never go hungrey in Old Lanta Town; Sun’s Cow Pat Gai is the best around. Bluegrass harmonica on the dock by the bay, Parfon Coffee and all night to play. Power goes SNAP! Candlelight void. But it's Thailand and it’s my land so I ain’t paranoid. -11/28/02 |
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Back in Langkawi - Just finished a week on a 43 foot Gibsea where I passed my Day Skipper's course. Fantastic views of 104 Islands, light winds and warm water. I learned so much about navagation, tides, interpreting forcasts, mooring and emergency situations. It was well worth it. Tuesday I fly off to Phuket to meet an old friend from the states. -10/27/02 |
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from Nothing to Decalre - "As a traveler I can achieve a kind of high, a somewhat altered state of consciousness. I think it must be what athletes feel. I am transported out of myself, into another dimension in time and space. While the journey is on buses and acrosss land, I begin another journey in my head, a journey of memory and sensation, of past merging with present, of time growing insignifficant" -10/15/02 |
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Lanta - Back home in Thailand and back to school. It feels good. Today I taught my 1st art lesson about light and shadow. The childern love to draw. We wrap up the school term later this week. Then, I will have some free time to explore this Island myself by motorbike. I look forward to creating my own Artwork again soon. Susanna -09/17/02 |
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Langkawi - Where the Indian Ocean narrows down to the Straits of Malacca. Langkawi is made up of 99 Islands. Sailing, Diving and shopping duty free are the main attractions. Tomorrow, I will go in search of the mighty Whale shark on a snorkle dive trip to Pulau Payar. I'm only an hour from the Thai border and with my new Visa stamp until Dec 8th, I'm good to go! -09/12/02 |
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Penang - Off to Malaysia to exit and re-enter Thailand. It's a 5 hour bus trip and I will stay a few days and sitesee the Old British Town and Chinese temples. -Susanna -09/07/02 |
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Back in Koh Lanta - At the Fish Merchants House in Old Lanta Village. Today, I gave Anna a watercolor lesson. We painted landscapes of the outer southern Islands. It's a glorious sunshine filled day. -Susanna -09/06/02 |
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Sept 2 2002 - Howdy! I'm on Phi Phi Island. Chillin with Karen and Andi. Today we went on an all day snorkelling trip to "The Beach" from the movie. Life is Grand! -09/02/02 |
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Krabi Southern Thailand - I'm here, I'm sweaty, and I'm going to Railay Beach to paint. Enjoyed Bangkok very much! -08/13/02 |
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kuta poolside - waiting for the airplane. Feeling better, trying to have all my ducks in a row before faceing a huge Asian city. Last night had many Geckos. -08/01/02 |
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Kuta Bali Indonesia - Today I have a slight cold and I am strung out on Larium - anti Malaria Drugs. Tomorrow i fly to Bangkok..Yummy Thai Food!!! -08/01/02 |