Re: [Paddlewise] Tsunamis

I emailed Dave Williams yesterday on the off chance he could check his 
email. I got this in reply:

> All of us at PaddleAsia are fine.  We had a close call in Trang though.
> Two guests were slammed into the rocks by the first wave.  Our guide,
> Gai, got them safely to the bungalows.  They were bumped and scrapped 
> up
> a bit, but not too bad.
>
> Moo (my wife) and I were in Khao Sok National Park for the past ten
> days.  We had no idea that this tragedy was of this magnitude.  There
> are still unknown numbers of missing tourists and locals.
>
> Some beaches on the west side of Phuket were absolutely demolished,
> while others were spared.  Unfortunately, the ones that were hit just
> happened to be the most populated.
>
> On the morning of this monumental day, I was with nine guests watching
> gibbons high up in a tree.  Suddenly, the water in one small area in 
> the
> back of the cove started shifting back and forth rapidly.  A breaking
> wave raced across the surface.  I had no idea that this was related to
> the earthquake.  No water anywhere else was doing this.  It was one of
> the strangest things I've ever seen.  I didn't know that shortly after
> this, unknown numbers of people would be killed or injured.
>
> If you wish to help, you are welcome to send the money to our account.
> We will donate this money at the community level.
>
> Bank Detail:
>
> Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited
> Swift Telex code: AYUDTHBK
> Account number: 356-1-18634-8
> Account type: Savings account
> Thepkrasatri Road Branch
> Tel: +66 76 222183 or +66 76 222301
> Account name: PaddleAsia Co. Ltd.
>
> Please pass this info onto the Paddlewise group.  Countless families 
> are
> now left with absolutely nothing.  Their businesses are demolished and
> most were uninsured.  They are the lucky ones as they are at least 
> still
> alive.  As a large number of the victims were children, I can hardly
> talk.  Further words fail me at the moment.
>
> Thank you ever so much for your concern.
>
> All the best,
> Dave

I asked him if he had any contact with Caveman:

> Hi Nick,
>
> I just got back from a visit to Patong. I wanted to see if I could help
> in any way.  I was amazed at how much was already cleaned up.  I was
> also confused by how many buildings that are right on the beach managed
> to stay in tact.
>
> To the north of Phuket, lies Khao Lak, Takua Pa and some small Thai
> villages that have suffered greatly.  My son in law went up there this
> morning to help and the Royal Thai Navy is finishing up its work in
> Phuket and they plan on heading north shortly.
>
> I haven't been in touch with John Gray for many years.  He runs a
> company called John Gray Sea Canoe now and they still do the hong trip.
>
> All the best,
> Dave

Nick Schade

Guillemot Kayaks
824 Thompson St
Glastonbury, CT 06033
USA
Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/
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