BEFORE AND AFTER ...

JANUARY 13, 2004. A satellite picture over Khao Lak, Thailand

DECEMBER 29, 2004 Satellite picture taken 3 days after the disaster

Photos: SPACE IMAGING/CRISP-SINGAPORE/REUTERS

Wow- thats certainly puts things in perspective! Kao Lak is a mess and obviously the hardest hit spot in Thailand from those SAT images.

Is that beach normally covered at high tide, or is it just gone?

cv

I'd say gone- don't think high tide would come that far up. Anyone confirm this?

I'd say gone- don't think high tide would come that far up.    Anyone confirm this?

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You can see where high tide reaches by looking at the 'before' photo and noting where the color of the sand changes from bright yellow to a darker shade. Seems like the beach was normally a gentle slope and has been mostly wiped out.

this is the Pankarang Resort nort of Khao lak

and this is a higher up pic of blue village resort khao lak

Here is a wide view, the blue village resort is just above the middle of the picture.

The hotels can be rebuilt, the tourists can come back...

but no Thai will work in Khao Lak.

- and hotels don't function without staff.

The hotels can be rebuilt, the tourists can come back...

but no Thai will work in Khao Lak.

- and hotels don't function without staff.

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Prob take more dosh, but Thais will work again I'm afraid!

The hotels can be rebuilt, the tourists can come back...

but no Thai will work in Khao Lak.

- and hotels don't function without staff.

I couldn't help but notice this old post.

Well, I now make Khao Lak my home. And right now I can look out the window and see a plethora of hotels rebuilt. And guess what? They are staffed...well-staffed, with Thais. In fact, they offer better pay packages than Phuket to lure them up. And I also see tourists. And the volunteer backpackers are gone. Its business as usual and growing fast!

If you (re)build it, they will come.

And they have.

geez it makes me want to cry looking at these photos - I went up to Khao Lak a few months after the tsunami and couldn't believe what I saw... matchsticks...