HISTORY & TRAVEL
and alerting all local authorities of the danger. The
NDWC sends warning via text to every phone of all
people who have downloaded their app. Remote areas
are notified via a loud speaker warning system and a
series of hand radios which are permanently set in key
locations, businesses or farms. Even in the remotest
areas of Thailand’s provinces the warning will reach
the people within 15 minutes maximum of a tsunami
forming and probably the alert will reach those areas
faster. It’s a very sophisticated with a single purpose to
save lives. If you are worried about Tsunamis at least
you may find comfort in knowing that great care has
been taken by Thailand to ensure they do not face
another 2004 disaster in the future.
There are a series of islands which surround Phuket
that are a must see. Many of them are controlled by the
government but not all. Some like this bat cave even
have a family living inside only to protect the area.
Accessing many such sites requires special permission,
however diving, snorkeling and swimming off the boat
is perfectly ok. There are open sea areas as well as
lagoons which you can swim, snorkel, dive and so on.
Some people are afraid of such activities but myself I
was one of the first off the boat. Once in the water I
did look at ‘what lies underneath’ and all I saw were
fish – good enough for me!! It’s when I don’t see fish
that I would be worried. Believe it or not many of
the fish absolutely go bananas for bananas (yes that
was cheesy but true). If you want to see the fish up
close and personal, simply get in the water and bring
a banana with you. Peel it and you will instantly be
surrounded by a school of fish struggling to get the
tasty treat out of your hand. Yes you have to relax
and no the fish have no interest in you at all – only
the banana. This makes for some great memories and
photo opps as well. Forgive me for the photo quality
as I am not a professional underwater photographer
but at least you get the idea.
Traveling from island to island I was very much
reminded of what it would have been like to be a pirate
back in the day. Much of the scenery is undisturbed as
it would have been a few hundred years ago. I have
no doubt that somewhere out there on at least one
of those islands there must be some buried treasure.
I know, I know and no I wasn’t drinking either. I did do
an internet search on buried treasure in Phuket but as
most treasure hunters do, I turned up empty handed. It’s
just the feeling you get when you’re traveling around
to these islands and witnessing what they look like. I
had a great time jumping into the water everywhere
we went and any chance I had anyway!
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1961 Magazine Fall 2016