The MV Doulos, built in 1914, 92 years ago, and converted from a freight and cruise ship to a floating book fair, was yesterday docked at the Deep Sea Port at Ao Makham, & for the next few weeks and will be open for visitors until 18 June from 10am to 10pm most days. This is her 3rd visit to Phuket following trips here in 1990 and 1996. The Good Books for All, a private, non-profit, charitable organization, registered in Germany, had an opening ceremony led by its Dutch Captain & Executive Director, to welcome onboard Phuket Vice Governor Poonsak Plaiwate, and other guests including Honorary Consuls and charity leaders. Since 1977, over 18 million visitors have been welcomed on board for tours, programmes and visits. With stops in over 543 ports of call, this unique ship has visited more than 100 countries, with a multinational crew of 45 different nationalities.

They gave a demonstration of the crew’s costumes and a dance show with bamboos, before cutting the ribbon to open the book store on the deck. Doulos carries a stock of half a million books, of 4,000 available titles, covering a wide range of subjects, such as science, sports, hobbies, cookery, the arts, economics and medicine, as well as books on faith in God. (We will have an interview with the Executive Director next week)

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket City, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 8.30am Friday 2 June 2006

& http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=174877

for Mini-video

(Our news text and mini-videos can be freely copied but please give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket and inform us if you can see uncredited copies.)

Essentially, it's a floating Christian church:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0217/p12s01-bogn.html

Yes, be careful. I went aboard her in Melbourne about eight years ago, and was trapped by proselytisng Christians.

I had to light a cigarette (non-smoking ship) to get them away from me long enough to escape down the gangway.