Thai Navy rescues tourists

Why would ferries to Koh Samui operate but not ferries to Koh Tao ? The
sea should be rough around both islands.

In article ,
says...
Thai navy rescues hundreds of stranded tourists from holiday island


BANGKOK Oct 24 - Thailand's navy has sent warships to rescue some 300
tourists from the southern resort island of Koh Tao after a huge storm
and high seas left them stranded, officials said Friday.

The stranded tourists, mostly foreigners, were being evacuated to the
popular destination of Ko Samui, a larger island south of Koh Tao, the
navy's chief of staff Admiral Satirapan Keyanon said.

``Three navy ships are now transporting an estimated 300 tourists to
Ko Samui,'' Satirapan told AFP.

Ferry services to Koh Tao have been cancelled for nearly a week due to
the severe weather and flights to Samui were also suspended
temporarily Thursday.

The poor conditions were hampering a rescue operation for 18 fishermen
missing since Wednesday when the fierce tropical storm hit the Gulf of
Thailand.

But Satirapan said the navy had managed to pull ashore one more
fishing trawler and its crew of seven late Thursday.

Five naval vessels and some 100 navy and marine police officers were
still taking part in the rescue operation, braving mountainous seas
and driving rain to search for those still unaccounted for.

``We cannot find some 18 fishermen still missing. Although we have
support from helicopters, due to the poor visibility they cannot fly
and the rescue operation cannot be fully implemented,'' he said. - AFP

--

Alfred Molon
------------------------------
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Olympus4040_5050/
Olympus 5050 resource - http://www.molon.de/5050.html
Olympus 5060 resource - http://www.molon.de/5060.html

"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
news.com...
Why would ferries to Koh Samui operate but not ferries to Koh Tao ? The
sea should be rough around both islands.
..

Ferry services to Koh Tao have been cancelled for nearly a week due to
the severe weather and flights to Samui were also suspended
temporarily Thursday.
Alfred Molon
------------------------------
Alfie
if you read the post again you will sea it does not mention ferries to
Samui...only flights

On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 09:26:09 +1100, Sister Mary Mary Quite Contrary
wrote:



Sister Mary, Mary Quite Contrary,

Hey Sis , how does your garden grow and does the Pope water your bush?

On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 21:47:18 GMT Alfred Molon
wrote:

Why would ferries to Koh Samui operate but not ferries to Koh Tao ? The
sea should be rough around both islands.

The port at Koh Tao is smaller than at Koh Samui or Koh Phangan, so only
accepts smaller ferries. Also the orientation or protection of the harbour
is different and this influences the roughness of the seas at the wharf.



Sister Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, OPI
mmqc @ convent.opi

Alfred Moron wrote:

Why would ferries to Koh Samui operate but not ferries to Koh Tao ? The
sea should be rough around both islands.

Simple...Samui = big ferry
Tao= small ferry

Alfred Molon wrote:

Why would ferries to Koh Samui operate but not ferries to Koh Tao ? The
sea should be rough around both islands.

Having been stuck on Koh Tao several times over the past 15 years, it's
easy to understand how it happens. I never minded being stuck on a
tropical paradise of an island as my time schedule was completely open.
I could go when I pleased, with no onward schedule made in advance. The
boats that service Koh Tao are relatively small (although the have grown
over the past few years. It used to be that the only way to get there
directly from the mainland was on the midnight ferry from Chumporn,
which would arrive at 6am at the old wooden pier. It could accommodate
ONE car or pickup truck winched across it's bow... You had to climb up
the crumbling wooden pier supports to get off the boat. There wasn't
even a ladder.

These days there are two three newer dockings; a permanent cement dock
with a cargo hoist and two floating pontoon piers. These are what the
newer fast boat from Koh Samui and Chumporn use most often now. During
rough seas none of these smaller vessels can make the crossing. However,
there is a VERY large car and truck ferry that leaves from Surrat Thani
and goes to Koh Samui each day. The rough seas wouldn't affect this ship
very much at all. So, during bad weather, there are ships to Koh Samui
but none to Koh Tao. And foolish tourists who don't take into
consideration the rough weather in the Gulf at this time of year (or
just the difficulties of travel in Asia in general!) during these months
and make onward plane reservations leaving no 'grace period' in their
itineraries, really do get stuck! This is Asia. Flexibility really is
needed when traveling here.

Steve Kramer
Chiang Mai, Thailand
http://www.photoenvisions.com



--
"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons,
but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust

"Steve Kramer" wrote in message
...
Alfred Molon wrote:

Why would ferries to Koh Samui operate but not ferries to Koh Tao ? The
sea should be rough around both islands.

Having been stuck on Koh Tao several times over the past 15 years, it's
easy to understand how it happens. I never minded being stuck on a
tropical paradise of an island as my time schedule was completely open.
I could go when I pleased, with no onward schedule made in advance. The
boats that service Koh Tao are relatively small (although the have grown
over the past few years. It used to be that the only way to get there
directly from the mainland was on the midnight ferry from Chumporn,
which would arrive at 6am at the old wooden pier. It could accommodate
ONE car or pickup truck winched across it's bow... You had to climb up
the crumbling wooden pier supports to get off the boat. There wasn't
even a ladder.

These days there are two three newer dockings; a permanent cement dock
with a cargo hoist and two floating pontoon piers. These are what the
newer fast boat from Koh Samui and Chumporn use most often now. During
rough seas none of these smaller vessels can make the crossing. However,
there is a VERY large car and truck ferry that leaves from Surrat Thani
and goes to Koh Samui each day. The rough seas wouldn't affect this ship
very much at all. So, during bad weather, there are ships to Koh Samui
but none to Koh Tao. And foolish tourists who don't take into
consideration the rough weather in the Gulf at this time of year (or
just the difficulties of travel in Asia in general!) during these months
and make onward plane reservations leaving no 'grace period' in their
itineraries, really do get stuck! This is Asia. Flexibility really is
needed when traveling here.

Steve Kramer
Chiang Mai, Thailand
http://www.photoenvisions.com


Say Hey !!

Our steve@seatraveler has come across once again.

5 year driver's license + 5 Bht for laminating.

It is 1 year driver's licens and 10 Baht at the vendors outside who depend
on their living with these machines. However, nice troll Stevie. Everyone on
SCT now see thru you "U"

BTW - Hear it rumored you are up for the 2003 yellow belly sap sucker award
!! Care to comment?

In article ,
says...


Alfred Moron wrote:

Abuse complaint sent to

--

Alfred Molon
------------------------------
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Olympus4040_5050/
Olympus 5050 resource - http://www.molon.de/5050.html
Olympus 5060 resource - http://www.molon.de/5060.html

Ferry services to Koh Samui include larger vessels than those serving Koh
Tau.
Jim