Job Discussion Forums

[loko]

as some of you posters already know, I've been a volunteer with the PO TEK TUNG foundation in Bangkok for a number of years.

In light of "the wave" I've been in Phuket/PhangNga/Kow Rlat for a number of days now, working 'relief'. A few Thai friends (same foundation) made it soon enough to do actual 'rescue' work.

If anyone is missing in your network, please feel free to call me: 06-300-1927, or email: [email protected], with a description, etc...and I can get it published over the Thai search and rescue radio lines, and/or fwd. it to searching teams, etc...

there's talk of going to Lanka, next.

good luck to all

PS: Does anyone know a "greg dahl" ???...and/or his whereabouts?

Cheers,
andy

[loko]

my travel log:
-arrived in Patong 20 hours after waves hit. (after seeing Laguna resort = gone)
-worked at Patong Hosp. translating/helping some injured and alternatively went on a few body recovery missions with locals/volunteers.
-searched for missing friends (got their names/specs out on Thai radio lines.)
-travelled to PhangGa/KhaoRlat and was just overwhelmed with the utter destruction. (one small lake/lagoon purportedly had 40- cars and a bus lying at the bottom) Many bands of volunteers roaming about without enough organization/communication between them, yet doing all they could. I met two Canadians who had lived through Patong and signed on with a rescue team...nice job guys...sorry I was out of steam by the time I met up with you.
-checked on blood needs in PhangNga (was in constant touch with a friend in Bkk with Thai Red Cross).<<<had blood sent
-listed three people as missing, ' and scoured through hundreds of barely recognizable faces (most real, some photos).

I can't...I couldn't keep up with these foundations. Hats off to those that can fish for the dead for hours and hours without a break. Grisly work, that the families needing closure will appreciate. I tried to help I the �fishing� several times, I couldn't continue, they understood.

Hats off to the locals for donating much, keeping the pace, and making sure everyone had eaten.
Hats off to the Thai family (somewhere in PhangGa) that insisted I eat and lie down for an hour, after I ran into fog and my bike ran out of gas at 4am.
Hats off to the tourists, for remaining there afterwards, pitching in whenever they could, (even if you were 'in the way' sometimes, your presence was needed and highly appreciated). And hats off to the tourists that decided to stay and continue with their vacations, despite the many rumors of further waves.
Hats off to the thousands of Thai foundation volunteers that poured into So. Thai following the waves. You guys are better than supermen and women. How do you do it?...God! That smell!

-Back to Patong. Took two days near the beach (with wife) to unwind.

I learned that relief efforts (surrounded by bloated bodies) is simply not my forte.� I�m glad someone could do it though. One friend of mine (also with Po Tek Tung) arrived in record time and supposedly got a number of �saves� under his belt,�diving under swamped hotels, etc�.He was one of the first rescuers to arrive on Phi Phi. KooK: YOU ARE THE MAN! <<<he�s STILL there, mopping up.

Quote of the week for me was a farang buying meat on a stick in Patong with an angry, menacing face.

Farang: Why the fuk are you smiling? <grunt>

Thai street seller: (without missing a beat) �cuz I�m still alive!� <bigger smile> �you want some grilled liver?�