Spread the Word
"If you are wondering where the Red Cross, donations, or other aid organizations are, they are not here," said one of the HiPhiPhi volunteers currently taking a leadership roll.
They are not here.
Those millions of dollars we donated?
Not here.
Boats came from Krabi and Phuket on the 27th of December to take the people off the island. Trash was left piled on the road.
In broken ENglish, I think I understand that an organization from Australia and Miami came for about a week to look for more bodies.About a month later (again, broken English-not sure of exact info), the government dropped off a couple f bulldozers and a barge to get rid of some trash.What has been done, which is A LOT, has been all volunteer, and by hand.
Yesterday, we worked on Chilli House Bar, a 4 month old place owned by a Thai-Aussie couple. The Aussie had a friend and his wife visiting during the tsunami. The owners lost their four year old girl, the friend lost his wife. As we scrape and clean, to get it ready at least somewhat ready for paint and the return of the couple in a week's time, we are instructed not to touch the back wall. Bud, the director of this project, is not sure what will happen with this wall, but for now it is a dedicated shrine to the yound girl, with a little shelf full of candles and a picture of the child.
Bud introduced me to Lek, a woman who, like everyone on the island, has her own story. I have been reluctant to ask for these stories. But she takes Jamie and I to her room, where she was asleep when the tsunami hit. She woke up underwater. SHe tells us what happened that day very matter-of-factly. She hurt her leg very badly. I can't tell by looking if she had stitches, or what happened for healing, but her leg is very infected. 6 months later, and she may have to have it amputated. Her guesthouse was condemned by the government, and although these are the people the HiPhiPHi is designed to help, their hands are tied. If they help, they anger the government. SO they spread the story instead, and other volunteer tourists do what they can. Jamie and I sat with her for while, and when I handed her 6,000 baht (roughly 150 US, thanks to your donations), her initial response was "ahh...too much!"But I insisted, and she wai'd me (like a bow).
As I sit here, itching mosquito bites, listening to the motors of longboats, and some horrible music playing in the cafe, I want to break down and cry. Please spread the word- our money never came here. Please check out http://www.hiphiphi.com/. Read it all. look at the photo journals. Look at what the children have accomplished, how the people are bouncing back. Read about the Thai government's plan. ANd most of all, DONATE. Every dollar counts. And our dollars translate to much much more in Thailand than at home. They are doing good things here. Even if the government's plan to build high end resorts here go through, the money we send now helps all of the locals rebuild their lives. Everybody here lost many people. So many, that they can list them very matter-of-factly. Spread the word, please!-Rebecca
Relieved!
Sawasdee from Ko Phi Phi, Thailand.So, and, um.....how many days has it been? 10 hour flight to Japan, 5 hour layover (including a foot massage and a shower), 6 hours to Bangkok, overnight in a hotel, 1 hour flight to Phuket, 40 minute taxi to the pier, 2 hour boat ride to Phi Phi- and somehow neither Jamie nor I have jet lag. At all.
Coming into the pier at Phi Phi was exactly what I had read- you can see the devastation right away. Yes, it is masked a bit by new buildings, and friendly faces, of course. But as we were walking through those narrow passageways to check out hotels, it became more and more apparant, with cement mixers right on the beach, sandbags everywhere, people painting, cleaning, and of course touting. We didn't arrive until almost 5:00 pm Tuesday (left SF 9:00 am SUNDAY-Yikes), so we haven't checked out the relief efforts yet. Although not jet-lagged, we are definitely tired, and going to spend a day being tourists and getting things organized before we do. It is definitely more clear to me now, what it means to spend money here.
Jamie and I sat inside the boat for most of the boat ride from Phuket, until I could see we were coming close to Phi Phi. Even inside, we could see islands all the way to the horizon. Approaching Phi Phi, we decided to go up to the top of the boat with the suntanners to get a better view. Jamie was in absloute shock- probably much like I looked when I saw it for the first time. HUGE cliffs seem to vanish into the sea, here. The tops of them are covered in palms, the sides, several different shades of beige and white that contrasts both the sea and the jungle in a way that is somewhat indescribeable. Being limestone, there are also stalagtites that look as if they are wax dripping down the cliffs, creating just enough texture to convince you that, no, this is not a poto- you are here, right now.
Relieved- that is how I feel right now. I was so worried about being here, but I am enjoying it immensely. We found a relatively inexpensive, but very clean place right off the beach (600 Baht, which is about 15 dollars). Last time, it was high season, and very difficult to find a place. This time, along with general tsunami slowdown, it is also low season, so there are far far fewer people here. Besides, this is a great way to sort of get accustomed to the pace of Thailand, and chill a little before we have the more cultural experience in Ranong.
And so we are, enjoying the here and now. We had a great Thai meal (Jamie's first), and originally had plans to go watch some firedancers or Thai kickboxing, and as we finished dinner and walked across the path to our hotel, recognized how exhausted we are. So internet and bed it is for us, with plans to go on a tsunami walk if we get up early enough, sit around, get ANOTHER 6 dollar, hour-long massage, and eat some good food, until we go to the HIPhiPhi meeting at 7:00.WIll this all make sense after a full night's sleep after so much travel- I don;t know. But I do know that sleep is the goal right now, so I say, "goodnight!".-Rebecca
36 hours and I am ready to go!
June 24, 2005
Flashback…February 26th (?), 2003. I arrived in Bangkok after a week alone in Beijing, China. My good friend, Emily, just happened to be spending a year in Thailand when I decided to travel there. Emily and her mom met me at the hotel, and the next morning, her mom went back to the states at the same time Em and I boarded a short flight to Phuket. I really wanted to see Koh Phi Phi. Before heading out to Thailand, I rented every movie I could find to see what it looked like. I had rented The Beach (not one of Hollywood’s finest) and desperately wanted to see the island it was filmed on. I knew it would be overrun with tourists. I knew that there would be things there that would make me cringe, but the beauty of what I saw on film had to be seen.
We boarded the ferry, and found a spot at the front of the boat, feet dangling over the side. It had been snowing in Beijing, and 12 hours later, I was slathered in sunscreen, hotter than ever. The ocean was more beautiful than I had imagined, with monolithic limestone karsts jutting straight out of the azure water, tempting fantasy. As we approached the harbor of the island, I was dumbfounded with the beauty that was in front of us. It seemed unreal. So did the amount of tourists! There were no cars on the island, so the ‘streets’ were narrow. One souvenir shop was followed by another selling the same goods, then a restaurant, and another, and another. It was amazing how many businesses were operating in the same breathing space.
It was also high season, so a bit of a challenge to find a place. Eventually, we ended up following a friendly Thai man, carrying our luggage, across a narrow footpath to our little oasis- a bit of a hike from the main area, but that’s about my style. The brochures we had looked at pictured our hotel, cabanas standing alone, decks facing the bay.
Aesthetically, I was pleased. I took a deep, wet breath, and could smell the plumeria caught in the dense heat, the salt in the air.I stood out on the rickety deck for a while, listening for the gentle sound of the ocean, the wind whistling through the palms, birds chirping amidst the hibiscus and bouganvillea. We were on a hill, and could see the flat stretch of land that met the bay. The water was so clear, it started out white at the shore, and gradually became green, then turquoise, and finally blue as it reached the coral reef. Decorated longtail boats bounced around ever so slightly, anchored several yards off the shore.
I really could hear all of those things if I concentrated hard enough, but many of those sounds were somewhat trumped by the motors of the boats, and an inconsistent “fwap fwap fwap” of the ceiling fan in our room. It was hung at a rather odd angle, giving us respite from the oppressive heat, yes, but I couldn’t quite figure out where on the bed I would have to lay to make sure it wouldn’t land on me if it chose to be airborne. There was no mosquito netting over the bed, yet I could see the ground below the cabana through the slats in the wooden floor. Now, I am a ‘when in Rome’ kind of girl, and giggled at these oddities. That is, until Emily went to take a shower. I heard a grown, and figured it a response to a cold shower, which I was anticipating indifferently. “Is it cold?” I asked her.
“Hardly. It’s quite warm….and salty.” Hmmmm….ocean water. Sounds refreshing.
we checked out the nightlife, and decided that one day was enough. Phi Phi is one of the most beautiful places I have been, but I didn't love the tourist life there. I am a little nervous to go back. But I know it will be a great experience, and I look forward to creating new memories (and a hotel with a freshwater shower!).
I wanted to make sure there was something to compare and contrast once I actually get there.
Less than two days to go, and counting…..
-Rebecca
P.S. I caught glimpse of the Sunday Chronicle, and I think Phi Phi is on the front page. Check it out.
Happy Birthday to Me
Wow! What a day! Bombarded with beautiful flowers, and poems, and….purple? I felt so loved and appreciated- thanks to all of my students and their families. The flowers will make great arrangements at my house for my visitors this weekend. And my end of the year gift will be treasured and used in the Land of Smiles. I love when the giving just keeps giving. THANK YOU, GENEROUS FAMILIES!!!
Must go to bed, now.
See you tomorrow for our pajama day Unbirthday party.
-Rebecca
First internet homework
This is a first for me! I have never assigned internet writing, but I think we are all going to like it :).
I got to visit the new Ocean Shore school today. It is beautiful. You will all be surprised.
Well, not too much more to tell you all at this point. I mentioned today that my cousin (her name is Jamie by the way) and I will be living with a Muslim family. I am excited to learn some new things, and to share them with you.
Hope you are enjoying your evening and I will see you tomorrow.
SIncerely, Rebecca
