Dear everybody,

Please first let me say how overwhelming it was to recieve so many kind words and wishes and such concern for our well-being during this time.

I am sorry that I cannot write to each and everyone of you individually at this time as you can imagine, but just to let everyone know that we are fine.

My family and I were extremely lucky to escape the waves with just seconds to spare. People running and sreaming outside our shop forewarned us that something was wrong and luckily my whole family was present so I just picked up my children and found a highpoint away from the water. For those of you that met my children you can understand what luck that means for them to have been all in our shop at the time, instead of running around and playing elsewhere on the island as they normally would.

Our guides Champ, Tod, Mut, Chai and Lee are all safe and sound. In fact most of them were out at sea on trips, which was the safest place to be.

Sadly, I cannot say the same for many of my friends around the island that have lost their lives or those that survived only to discover that they had lost one or more of their family.

More harrowing is for those that have had no news of their husbands and wives, children or friends, that have been missing since the tidal wave first hit. Among these was one of our new staff (a small girl named Thai) that was working at our office at the Pavilion Resort. She is still missing.

My thoughts are with them.

The wave has in fact destroyed the whole island. The only buildings that are a still standing are the concrete structures such as the Phi Phi Hotel, Cabana Resort and the buildings in my street. However, even these buildings were totally gutted by the waves and there is nothing left.

In a few months time we may be allowed back on the island to start making restorations, but these will take years.

The Adventure Club is no more. It has taken nearly 11 years to get to this point and only 20 seconds to wipe it of the face of the map.

When all is said and done you could say that I have lost everything, but in reality I have lost nothing, because I still have the most important thing. My family.

Thank you once again, and hopefully someday in the near future I will be able to write to individually to thank you.

Take Care,

Andrew, Je, Kat and Alex Hewett

The Adventure Cub

Tel: (0066) 1 895 1334

Tel: (0066) 1 893 3971

1 Jan, 2005

Meine Antwort

My Answer