Thailand Diving with Sea Bees - Adventure in good hands

Sea Bees Diving Charity

Khao Lak - Today

Dear Friends!

Already six months have passed since the tsunami swept into Khao Lak. We would like to give you some information about the conditions in Khao Lak and also help you answer the question, whether it is advisable to visit Khao Lak.

Khao Lak is much emptier. Today, places where once hotels and bungalow resorts existed are now empty and one can even see from the main road the turquoise ocean, a view that previously was not possible.

Slowly but surely rebuilding is taking place and already several resorts and hotels are beginning to appear. At the beach front over the next few months there will certainly be increasing activity to repair the damage. However Khao Lak centre and all of the area to the east of the main road remained undamaged by the wave. Here there is no trace of the tsunami and life continues as normal. Restaurants are open and bars invite you to a "sun-downer". The shops are open and offer everything that the holidaymaker requires for a relaxing stay.

Our resort, the Palm Garden Resort - Khao Lak, is located on this side of the road and also remained undamaged. As one of the first in Khao Lak, we resumed our building activity in the new resort and are planning to open before October this year.

Other hotels, such as Le Meridien, La Flora, Wanaburee, Similana and the Merlin Resort suffered only light damage and have similar plans to us. They will be opening punctually to greet their guests in the coming season.

This season we do not expect to see the same multitude of hotels, small resorts and bars, but many old friends of Khao Lak consider that Khao Lak now looks like it was ten years ago, before the large package tour companies discovered it. Maybe now is the time to experience some of the old charm that Khao Lak once had?

To be realistic, in many places there will doubtless be much building activity and consequently noise and disturbance. Due to this we have decided to offer only hotels and resorts that we know will be finished, have no adjacent construction activity and, in some cases, for example Le Meridien, have their own beach.

A word about the locals. Many Thais in Khao Lak had exclusively concentrated on the tourist industry and overnight lost their entire business. They are doing all in their power to encourage guests to come to Khao Lak. Every day spent by tourists in Khao Lak goes a long way in helping these people recover from their losses.

However, we do understand that not all guests want to spend their whole holiday in Khao Lak, and so, in addition to our normal program, we are offering several interesting packages. For example a few days in Khao Lak coupled with day trips to the Similans, a three day cruise to the Richelieu Rock and then a week in Phuket.

Summary

Khao Lak is definitely worth visiting, the beaches have lost none of their beauty and the dive sites are mostly intact. Khao Lak and its people will greet you with a warm and heartfelt "Sawadee Krap".


	Dear Friends,
	We are pleased to give our very good friend Klaus Orlik from Poseidon Diving in Rawai/Phuket a donation of 180,000 Baht (about 3,600 Euros) for his tsunami aid program in the region of Khao Lak. Klaus Orlik helps families who have lost everything in the tsunami, their homes, possessions and their jobs. With his aid he is helping these people, some of whom are living with up to ten others in refugee accommodation, to rebuild their homes by purchasing the building materials. For many, this is the only chance to get back on their feet and start rebuilding their lives. It was for us very important to actively help and support these families. Families, who have lost everything in the tsunami; houses, jobs, friends and relatives. We trust that you also agree to that this is a very worthwhile cause. We will keep you informed of any further news.

Tsunami Donations

Our tsunami relief effort for Khao Lak is now complete and we are pleased to announce that through your generous help the unbelievable sum of EUR 33,526.84 has been reached. Below we describe what has been done and what is to be done with your donations.

As we have already written in previous articles, in the last few weeks and months we have looked at a number of tsunami aid programs and carefully considered where your donations can best be used.

Thanks to your exceedingly generous help, which exceeded all our expectations, we are now able to make a real contribution in helping the people of the affected region. There was much to organize and, although the international aids programs were receiving a lot of support, this money was unfortunately not yet reaching those who really needed it. As a beginning we have decided to help with the following project.

Rat Pra Cha Nu Kror 35 - School

In Khao Lak, in the area of Bangsak City, under the patronage of the His Majesty the King, a complete new school complex is being built. The so called "Rat Pra Cha Nu Kror 35 - school".

	A project under the patronage of His Majesty the King.
A beginning has been made.

This is not conceived as a normal school, but will have facilities for orphans who have lost their parents in the dreadful catastrophe. It will also allow parents to live with their children, so that they will not be separated.

It is a large building project, as you can see from the pictures, and is already fully underway. After His Majesty the King took over the patronage (and who is also arranging accommodation for his visits) this project appears to be serious and worthwhile. There are still a number of formalities to take care of and all the contact people for the future are not yet known. However, as soon as we have more information, we will begin with the purchasing of school material, equipment and other necessary items. Naturally we will also contribute towards the purchase of other requirements.
		Through this project we hope to give many children a new future.

We do not want to simply throw money into a big pool, but will discuss and agree with the directors of the school how your donations are best spent. We are sure you will agree, that this is the best way.

School for life

This is a project, which has already demonstrated how one, with feeling and understanding, can help victims and other people in hardship - in this case the tsunami victims - to find a new life and perspective.


A view into the temporary home.		A bed is a new beginning.

In the village of Baan Nam Kem, north of Khao Lak, the "School for Life" is currently building a new home for these children. There are several houses planned and we want to help by financing one of these homes, each of which will cost EUR 7,000.

At the moment we are waiting for the architect's plans and drawings. As soon as we have received and approved them, we will be able to make a final decision. Naturally we will keep you informed at all stages. On Sunday, 8th May 2005, the "School for Life", together with the Governor of Phuket, organized an auction of paintings by Thai artists as well as by the children themselves. The proceeds went directly without bureaucracy into the hands of the "School for Life". We also bid for several lots and will give them to schools and people who made donations.		The excitement of the new occupants.
For more information please see www.school-for-life.de

Child Care Center - Lions Club

Another project that we are able to support through your generosity is the Child Care Centre project of the LIONS Club Phuket Andaman Sea.

The main goal of the Child Care Centre is to find homes for the orphans from Phuket and Khao Lak, to give them new perspectives, and to equip daycentres for children. We will also become patrons for one or more children and actively help them to have a new life. In close cooperation with the LIONS Club Phuket Andaman Sea we will continually update you, so that you can see what benefits your donations are having. For more information please see www.andamanlions.org.


	Children need care Child Care Center Project in Phuket / Thailand from Lions Club Phuket Andaman Sea supported by Lions Club Niedernhausen und Lions Club Mülheim/Ruhr - Hellweg

As you can see, there are many things that we are doing. We consider that in this way we can make the biggest difference in helping the victims of the tsunami in this area. The motto "People for People" was, and is, always the best way to demonstrate that we care and are ready to help and support. We hope that you will agree with us.

Also in the future we will continue to contribute help to bring things back to normal, in so far as it is possible. We will actively look for areas where we can make a difference, and will fully inform you about our activities.

We would like to take this opportunity of thanking you once again for your extremely generous donations and also express one more wish: In spite of all the world wide donations, the many aid programs and other international and national activities, what Khao Lak urgently needs is YOU! With your return to this uniquely beautiful place, you will be doing the biggest favour for these people. All the money in the world does not counterbalance your actual presence. You know the people here; they are waiting to welcome you once again!

In the same way, we are also looking forward to greeting you in Khao Lak and once again a big THANK YOU for all your help.