Bad News Tuesday

Yesterday - Monday 29-Nov
With about four and a half months left until we depart from the states, I figured that I should shoot Kim (Koh Ra Owner) a follow up/check in email to see how things were going on the island. With hopes of good word and a bit more info on your duties on the island I awaited his email response with great anticipation. Having requested a day off from work for a trip to the Thai consulate to see which visa will allow us 5 months worth of stay on Thailand have already been granted. Our dreams of island life as we know it were within reach.

Today - Tuesday 30-Nov 9:00am
 "Hi Aaron, Things have changed here majorly. I cannot say if I will be here after April, including next year, so I cannot offer you a place here. I'm sorry, but I have no control over that and what has happened. I hope you still make it to Thailand but please don't base any decision on Koh Ra situation. Again, I'm sorry.
Kim"

The one versatile word that begins with the letter "F" was the only word that came to mind. The dreams of discovering, documenting and co-existing with nature has vanished, for now.

A few weeks ago, I brought up this scenario with Keri and asked her what we would do if the island fell through? We didn't come up with anything as extravagant as island care taking, but none the less we still have ticket to Bangkok. In theory we shouldn't have invested ourselves completely to the idea of the island, but was impossible not to.

I'm an honest believer in that everything happens for a reason, and if it the island wasn't ment to be then so be it. We now have to pick up our cards and start dealing again. Moral is down but hopes are always high, just another bumb in the every adventurous road.

Namaste

Mapping and Ideas

The last month or so, I have been compiling a list/map of adventures/destinations that we will hopefully be taking advantage of. Google maps help me, itemize ideas with little icons that designate what will happen in these areas.

If you click on the icons, a little bubble will pop up and give some info and links that I have added for the areas

The icons may not make sense so I will give a little run down of that they mean.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=210544611686653146042.0004906511f9159316ff1&z=2
Volcano - These icons aren't necessarily Volcano's (some are) but mountains that will involve either extensive trekking or technical mountaineering.

Landslide/Rocks - Were this strange icon is supposed to resemble rock climbing location

Swimmer - The swimmer represents areas worth surfing at

Camera - Areas that have historic/religious/educational relevance

Hikers - Hiking trails

Tent - Represents either camping or areas where we will be wwoofing (we will be wwoofing everywhere)

Sunburst - KOH RA ISLAND, where we will be caretaking

Boat - Ferry to island

Yellow Pin - Cities/Countries of Interest

Soccer Player - Stadium in Bangkok for Muay Thai events

Green Line - Trekking Map (specifically Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp)

Blue Line - Driving Australia idea


This weekend we will be appling for our passports, and we will soon need to go to the Thai consulate to figure out what kinda of visa we will need for the island.


More to come probably not until after the holiday
Cheers