COGNAC SAILING: Khao lak

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Khao lak

Khao lak is a seaside place that sits on a long stretch of coastline with attractive beaches. The big draw in the season are the live abroad diving trips which explore the stunning Similan ( meaning 9 as there are 9 islands ) and Surin Archipelago.

The power of nature is very evident here...

We stayed in a rather attractive resort for couple of days and explored the small town as well as the empty destroyed by tsunami hotels – quite ghostly.

What used to be...3 large resorts
Totally destroyed by tsunami
They will never
be rebuilt.
Sad feelings around here
with dead stillness
and the nature taking over
what used to be...

A tribute to an european family
with their picture
held to a coconut tree
and protected.
Marked with a small coral rock...
still after so many years

A small house
that is built outside of the shade
of the large house
for protection
from bad spirits
giving them somwhere
to live.
Each house in Thailand
has at least one
small house like this.
Offerings are placed daily.

This town was hit really hard by the tsunami some say that it was hit the most. A police boat was brought by the tide where it currently stands 2km inland when the giant wave hit. The boat remains on the hill as a monument to those lost and a reminder of natures raw power.

We went trough the small villages on the coast and wondered how anyone would possibly make it to safety if another tsunami hit. The villages are right on the beach and the closest high ground is kilometers away. We followed a trail of the tsunami safety signs and the signs led to a mosque on the main drive trough road 5 km away. We feel that it might be a rather long run for safety. We have seen couple of tsunami towers and we are not sure how they are supposed to work. It might be look and see arrangement.. There are so many areas in Thailand that were hit so much harder than Phuket and had higher loss of life than Phuket yet they are not mentioned.