Changes of Tsunami: A Journey to Thailand (cont.)
by Christine Creel

Page Two

There is so much to share that my thoughts will randomly flow out. There is so much to share that my thoughts will randomly flow out.  Please forgive the erratic nature of my [entry] as I try to capture for you what I am experiencing. And the keyboard has funny symbols on the keys so sometimes I am having to trust my typing skills as to how things are spelled. (Don't worry Christine...I spell-checked for you!)

We met with Reid this morning and learned more in-depth of his accounts.  The immediate needs for his efforts are taken care of.  He is now working with others on developing the long term infrastructures to get people back to their lives and working to sustain themselves.  His group is doing interviews within the tent villages to determine specific needs (fishing supplies, boat motor, materials to repair equipment, a motorcart with a cooking set up so one can cook food on the side of the road to sell - it is amazing how many locals do this and this is one of the places we are buying water/fruit from).  We stopped at a road side shack and bought fresh pineapple.  The gentleman not only cut off the rind, but cut off EVERY pit and then put it inside a plastic bag to chop it up into bite size pieces (flies swarmed the entire stand and were resting on everything) - all for 5 baht .  40 bahts = $1.00.  I about cried.  We gave him more than he asked and said we'd be back for more.

Back to breakfast with Reid - since he didn't have any immediate need for physical labor, we decided to seek out another organization.  We left at 5am this morning to head north two hours to the Takuapa District of Phangnga - the hardest hit of Thailand .  They have two meetings a day - 8am and 8pm . They are providing room and board for three meals a day to all volunteers and only asking for donations of 160 baht per day (again 40 baht = $1)  It is in located just outside of Khao Lak in what I consider to be an amazing jungle type of atmosphere.  The accommodations are basically bungalows w/o air conditioning.  I keep being reminded of why I don't live in TX.