NEWS of the SE Asia Tsunami from Phuket & Langkawi.

A LINK TO SOME AMAZING PHOTOS:

<font color="blue">Submitted by Rowdy.</font id="blue"> Thank you.

These AMAZING photos show better than any T.V. footage available just how powerful the Asia Tsunami was.

http://coreykoberg.com/Tsunami/

<font color="blue">UPDATE:</font id="blue"> <font color="red">These photos have since been proved NOT to be of the Asia Tsunami '04.</font id="red">

sv SIMPATICO Michelle Pippen

<font color="blue">Submitted by Lorraine</font id="blue"> Thank you.

Hello admin

If anyone is in contact with Michele Pippen - sv Simpatico - tell her Lorraine and other mates back in Australia are so relieved to read that she is physically OK. So sad "Simpatico" has gone down, her home, her belongings, all gone but it appears her family are safe and that is all that really matters, everything else can be replaced one way or another.

Tell her that if she, or all of them, want some respite in Australia, our new home in Queensland can accommodate them all - and all are welcome. If she needs financial help ring us 07 55224902 and we'll do what we can.

Incredible woman!! Someone put your arms around her because this is a tough call and she will be so busy helping others she'll forget to take care of herself.

[dnelson]

I was speaking to Michele on Wednesday. She is doing remarkably well. Sympatico is not a complete loss. Michele is working on getting her raised. She then plans to put Sympatico on the hard in Rebak where she has a glass man ready to fix Sympatico up.

In the meantime Michele is comitted to using her nursing skills on an aid mission into Sumatra.

More PHOTOS and first-hand report from a yacht that was at Phi Phi when the wave struck:

http://www.alberg37.org/

[tyhp2000]

I am writing from Yacht Haven Marina, Phuket, Thailand to inform all that the marina and all guests within the marina sustained ZERO damage. We are lucky in that the design of the marina allows free flow, hence there was no "cul de sac" to try and block a wave or surge.

Thanks, beyond words, go to a friend who called from Patong to say "all the water has gone". We then heard him being hit by the wave - he somehow survived. This gave us time to call all Superyacht Captains based in the marina who turned on engines of thier vessels and put lines around piles. There was about a 20 minute time difference from Patong.

A huge surge came through at about 10 knots, leaving beam on boats at 40% angles to the docks. Within 1/2 an hour the water level had gone from that of a very high spring to a very low spring tide. The remainder of the day saw chaotic tides and currents.

2 fish farms broke loose and threatend to drag through the anchorage, tangling in 2 small boats. We went with a tender and secured the mess with anchors. No real damage was done to the small boats.

Our hearts go out to all those who lost so very much, especially when we were so incredibly fortunate at Yacht Haven and we are trying, in our small way, to help as much as we can.

Now it is so important to concentrate on tomorrow and not allow the disaster to create further disaster in the collapse of the Phuket tourism.

The beaches are clear and the wiped out places rebuilding, they need our support and we sincerely hope everyone who is able will help, simply by going to the beach restauarnts, buying at the stores thus contributing to the local economy.

Hi,

Hoping to post my story and the fate of Simpatico soon... I have so much to do, work and personal, and another trip to Aceh soon.

I thank all who have shown such concern and kind thoughts.

Someone posted that Simpatico could be salvaged. I WISH!

Though I had optimistic hope that would have been the case after such long and tedious effort was made diving on her and releasing her from the shackles of miles of fishing nets, anchor chains, harbour marker beacon chain and mooring and loads of other debris and destruction.

Her remains are in two pieces at Telaga Harbour and she is beyond repair.

I am still here, and I am going to pick up my pieces and will continue on with more strength and determination than ever!

Kiss and cuddle to all who genuinely care and really know me!

Michele

xoxoxox

Originally Posted by name='Converted Post'

Originally posted by admin

sv SIMPATICO Michelle Pippen

<font color="blue">Submitted by Lorraine</font id="blue"> Thank you.

Hello admin

If anyone is in contact with Michele Pippen - sv Simpatico - tell her Lorraine and other mates back in Australia are so relieved to read that she is physically OK. So sad "Simpatico" has gone down, her home, her belongings, all gone but it appears her family are safe and that is all that really matters, everything else can be replaced one way or another.

Tell her that if she, or all of them, want some respite in Australia, our new home in Queensland can accommodate them all - and all are welcome. If she needs financial help ring us 07 55224902 and we'll do what we can.

Incredible woman!! Someone put your arms around her because this is a tough call and she will be so busy helping others she'll forget to take care of herself.

[rumrunner]

My son and family just returned from a week in Phuket . He said there is not a lot of evidence of the Tsunami,other than the obvious lack of tourists. Cafes are almost empty or if not ,only have one or two clients. The street " salesmen" are a problem, so few tourists which means their income from sales is down , they are doing it hard.

Thailand is enjoying a lot of Muslim tourists from the Middle East,as Europe is not all that welcoming to them, so that at least is a new source of income.Lets hope tourism and yachties going to the Kings Cup this year , pick up.

rumrunner..

[dnelson]

Phuket really didn't get hit as hard as Khao Lok, or Phi Phi, but it certainly got hit with the drop in tourism. Kata, Karon, and Patong beaches are empty. (Did see more muslims - couldn't understand why they wouldn't go to muslim Langkawi instead, where their beliefs are more likely to be catered to.) Phi Phi on the other hand is packed - primarily with volunteers helping to rebuild. That plus the loss of about 1/3 of the housing on the island has made it hard to even find a bungalow for rent these days. In Khao Lok they are making good progress in rebuilding. The army, and an army of volunteers has built a large "sub-division" of housing for the locals. Tourism in Thailand is actually up year over year. I'm currently in Samui on the east coast of Thailand and the island is busy, despite the fact it is low season.

Now making this thread "un-sticky".

Admin

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