Escape from Ko Samui, Thailand, Mar, 2011
27 MAR 2011
I arrived to Ko Samui exactly when other people just run away from the island.
28-30 MAR 2011
It was raining all days long. I have heard that in Lamai and Chaweng water was about the level of roofs, but in Bo Phut it was higher then my knee and some tourist stayed without electricity. Roads were partly blocked and I have even seen buried excavator. In some places several bungalows collapsed, some people lost, some died.
There was no way to escape the island, no ferry, no plains.
From tourist agent we received information that the government evacuates people from Ko Tao and Ko Phangan and then we would better go to Naton port as a navy vessel could arrive every minute.
I do not know whether tourists on the island knew about this navy vessel.
Some local drivers made a profit out of the disaster and asked 10 times higher prices for transportation.
30 MAR 2011
People are waing on a pier for any information
Ko Samui's government organized a shelter for all tourist who had arrived to the Naton port just in front of the pier.
Provisions supply organized by government of Thailand
31 MAR 2011
We all were waiting for a navy vessel to be moved from the island towards Bangkok.
We knew that nearest town on the mainland (Surat Thani) is flooded and fool of people on the way to the North of Thailand. It was quiet clear that there were nothing to do in Surat Thani, we all were waiting for evacuation to Bangkok.
On the next morning officials of port said that navy vessel will not come and that we have to go to Don Sak by ferry. Majority of people "obeyed" and left Ko Samoi towards Surat Thani by ferry. I hope they are fine, but I think that their stuck in Surat Thani at least for a week as we heard from mails that roads around Surat Thani destroyed and in the air port about 10000 people were waiting for their queue.
It seemed to me that officials of Ko Samui or at least workers of Naton port tried to get rid of tourist in any way.
We decided to keep patience and wait for the navy rescue boat.
In all this bustle appeared a man who showed all the best of his characters and negotiated with the captain of navy boat to rescue us from the Ko Samui.
We were asked to write down all our names before we entered the boat.
Goodbye Ko Samui
Anti sea sickness pills, but you know, the waves were so big that almost everybody despite their healthy view were vomiting during all the trip.
Inside of the navy vessel.
After 6 hours of our trip through storm we approached the earth.
Rescue team was waiting for us on the earth.
At last we steped on the ground.
А
These brave navy seamen got wet all 6 hours watching for our safety.
Free bus and snacks were organized by Thai travel department.
Thanks all for their collaboration and patience.
I arrived to Ko Samui exactly when other people just run away from the island.
28-30 MAR 2011
It was raining all days long. I have heard that in Lamai and Chaweng water was about the level of roofs, but in Bo Phut it was higher then my knee and some tourist stayed without electricity. Roads were partly blocked and I have even seen buried excavator. In some places several bungalows collapsed, some people lost, some died.
There was no way to escape the island, no ferry, no plains.
From tourist agent we received information that the government evacuates people from Ko Tao and Ko Phangan and then we would better go to Naton port as a navy vessel could arrive every minute.
I do not know whether tourists on the island knew about this navy vessel.
Some local drivers made a profit out of the disaster and asked 10 times higher prices for transportation.
30 MAR 2011
People are waing on a pier for any information
Ko Samui's government organized a shelter for all tourist who had arrived to the Naton port just in front of the pier.
Provisions supply organized by government of Thailand
31 MAR 2011
We all were waiting for a navy vessel to be moved from the island towards Bangkok.
We knew that nearest town on the mainland (Surat Thani) is flooded and fool of people on the way to the North of Thailand. It was quiet clear that there were nothing to do in Surat Thani, we all were waiting for evacuation to Bangkok.
On the next morning officials of port said that navy vessel will not come and that we have to go to Don Sak by ferry. Majority of people "obeyed" and left Ko Samoi towards Surat Thani by ferry. I hope they are fine, but I think that their stuck in Surat Thani at least for a week as we heard from mails that roads around Surat Thani destroyed and in the air port about 10000 people were waiting for their queue.
It seemed to me that officials of Ko Samui or at least workers of Naton port tried to get rid of tourist in any way.
We decided to keep patience and wait for the navy rescue boat.
In all this bustle appeared a man who showed all the best of his characters and negotiated with the captain of navy boat to rescue us from the Ko Samui.
We were asked to write down all our names before we entered the boat.
Goodbye Ko Samui
Anti sea sickness pills, but you know, the waves were so big that almost everybody despite their healthy view were vomiting during all the trip.
Inside of the navy vessel.
After 6 hours of our trip through storm we approached the earth.
Rescue team was waiting for us on the earth.
At last we steped on the ground.
А
These brave navy seamen got wet all 6 hours watching for our safety.
Free bus and snacks were organized by Thai travel department.
Thanks all for their collaboration and patience.