On the 21st (which happened to be my bday) we went off to Krabi – to see if we could help with the tsunami effort. We took a bus there (definitely the cheapest way of getting around)

Left to Right – (Mandy, Me, Aaron)

We got the address of the regional HQ (in a Chinese temple area) and off we went to find it. It was – disturbing – to see the boards with pictures of bodies recovered. Brings it all home a bit. You see, you’d *hardly* have known that anything had happened to the area. Well, where we were at any rate. There was some construction going on – but it wasn’t obvious that it was reconstruction after a tidal wave. It was little things – like one place we often went for breakfast (BoBo’s) only has 2 menus left as all the others got washed away.. But really, for the most part it’s just as perfect as ever it was. And it’s really sad for them as it’s the height of their high season and the numbers just aren’t there. Though it was heartening – in the two weeks we were there it was definitely getting busier towards the end.

So yes, we went to give them our water purification gear (which they loved) and medical supplies, and to see if we could help. Perhaps if we’d been able to help for a month or two it might have been different, but in the event they did not call us.

It took me a minute to realise what all the boxes piled up were for.

But on the whole everyone is getting on with it (as much as they can anyway) and really pitching in and putting it all back together again. All they need – indeed the best way to help is really just to go there and spend your money.

The next two weeks were quite a bit of a blur really… days mostly consisted of getting up at around about 8am (depending on how many buckets (Rum+Coke+red bull)) had been consumed the night before.

So generally there’d be a few routes climbed in the morning. This pic is me on a really fun 6a+ (I did write the names down, but seem to have lost the piece of paper). Had a really fun bouldery start, where you had to grab onto a big stalactite and then thug (if you’re me) your way up and onto the climb proper.

I’m just going to put a very few pics up on the weblog, but I will make a slideshow with all the pics (well a good few) later on.

This one is Aaron flashing (a climbing term ;) a 7a+ I think it was – on Dums Kitchen Wall (I think)

Then generally it’d be a break for lunch. Aaaahhhh the food, worth mentioning it really. It was fantastic all the time. Especially the lassis and shakes. Just the best coconut and watermelon shakes *ever*. Or pretty much so. I really am missing the food already. Fresh ripe pineapples and oranges… ahhh.

Clockwise from me is Scott, Jesse, Aaron and Kyle. (and yes, I am wearing a skirt, most comfortable things ;)

After lunch it was back out for more climbing.. This pic is of Simon (A Kiwi living in London that we met up with) I think it was a 6C on ‘The Keep’ wall that he was climbing.

The rock itself really was interesting. Limestone really is one of my favourties, as long as it’s not too polished from too many ppl climbing on it. But RaiLay was great, as it’s just so varied.. big juggy steep climbs, quite technical balancy pockety climbs, and then lots of stalactites to bridge off :) Fun.

This next pic is of Jesse, but not quite sure what he’s on.

Course it’s not all easy, there are times when you fall

So yes, that was pretty much the shape of most of the 2 weeks of climbing. Perfect holiday though. In the evening we’d come back, have a swim in the ocean, and then play volleyball / Frisbee / whatever before having a delicious dinner.

Up and to the airport at 7am, and flew down to Krabi. In the airport a German guy (GeGe) comes over and asks me am I going to RaiLay (it is a climbing Mecca after all) and so we teamed up and then found another guy – so the taxi ride was really quite cheap ($6 each for a 40 min drive..)

There we got a longtail (the wee boats) over to the peninsula.

I knew that Mandys friends Jesse and Aaron were supposed to be in a partic room.. so I went along and there was a note saying that they’d gone climbing to 1-2-3 Crag, so off I went to find them.

Actually, it was kinda funny, on the way I bumped into a face I knew (or thought I did) and yes, it was a lady called Rachel – who was a friend of Eliza Sprechers that I’d met climbing in Rumney – New Hampshire about 2.5 years ago now.

Then I did head on and find the others..

This was Aaron climbing a 7a. And from here the trip only got better and better. It was quite simply one of the best trips I’ve ever had. Definitely the best climbing spot I’ve been – at least sport climbing wise. The group worked together really well. We picked up an American (but a cool sort ;) ehem, Kyle. He’s a hiking guide mainly.. dream job – works hard for 6 months (with no accom costs, getting to eat posh dinners and stay in nice hotels, and paid well) and then free for 6 months to travel. Perfect. And totally sound. They all were.

So we did a few routes there, unfortunately not the easiest place to take pics from really. This one is of Scott on a 6b I think it was (really should have taken all the names down…)

So, my Thailand trip started with a wonderful flight up from Christchurch to Auckland.. The view out over Taranki (Mt. Egmont) was incredible..

My checkin guy had been really great – giving me a window seat on that flight, and then the isle for the long(ish) haul flight to Singapore.

Now that *was* a fun trip.. I was seated beside a beautifully dressed Indian lady. I think belching might be a sign of good manners over there. Will have to see when I get there. I was quite unimpressed with their choice of films… Wimbeldon I’d seen before (not an incredibly terrible film, but still) the others were ‘Princess Diaries 2’ – about a girl who ascends to the throne, and then suddenly has to choose a husband. The other was arguably worse, being Cellular. How that film got 6.5 on imdb I’ll never know – the plot being Kim Basinger is kidnapped, picks up a phone and randomly dials a number and gets the guy who pics it up to somehow turn into a super hero and risk all to save this total stranger (including getting shot at quite a lot).

Me, being far too cool to watch those films, settled to listening to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix read by Stephen Fry. A far better way to spend the hours.

Soon enough it was into Singapore Aiport. Definitely a good airport to have to spend a few hours in – free internet, films and Glynn tells me there’s a free swimming pool somewhere too. Guess I’ll just have to get back again.

Into Bangkok and tried to check into the airport hotel. Full. So took out my guide to find another place to stay. There was a hostel.. so took a taxi (he wanted to charge me 300Bat – far too much as it turned out – I got him down to 100 and off we went). Got all the way there, only to find that place was full. So I just asked to be taken back again (I was feeling swindled and tired and quite sorry for myself :) hehehe and was just going to sleep on an aiport bench… However, upon getting back to exactly where I started half an hour earlier, the guy in charge(ish) of the taxi rank asks me if I want a room … for 500 Bat (actually very cheap for the area).

So off we went down a little side alley in behind the posh aiport hotel, and there I found a place to sleep for 7 hours, and the decor was perfect. Mind you, it was a wee adventure and all the more of an authentic start to my travels I guess!

Hectic week, for sure for sure. Spent quite a bit of it working fairly hard finishing up a project, and also tidying up loose ends so that when I head to Thailand I don’t have to worry that things might break! (famous last words or what)

On Wed I think it was, met up with Mandy (the Canadian climber I met here that I’m heading to Thailand with, and her boyf Scott – cool guy – an engineer too ;) ) aaanyway – she’d been in touch with the red cross, and told them where we were going and asked what we could do to help.

They said, that if we wanted to, we could head to Paan mam khem (or something like that) it’s 50km North of Phuket…and help out. They also said that as they couldn’t guarantee water / lodgings etc.. that it was really up to us to see what could be done. They also suggested some things that we could usefully bring over to help.

So very much last minute we had a sausage bbq in work (which my friend Bex organised magnificently) and managed to raise $208.. which is pretty incredible really. I cycled off around town – and at most places I went (Bivouac 30%, High Country 20%, Simpsons Pharmacy (10%… hmmmm…) and the last one – who’s name I’m afraid I forget – had a *very* helpful lady, who rang the wholesaler (as I’d pretty much run most places out of water purification gear) and got their contents – or quite a lot – shipped over – and they gave me everything at cost price.. so that was great. Really, an incredible response.

Also – Maeve who works in the hospital managed to procure some odds and ends.. so you can see here what we ended up with.. not bad for 24 hours work really.

So it is all quite exciting… no idea what I’m really getting myself into here.. nor really how I’m going to meet up with my friends down in Krabi (I have a hotel address…) but I’m quite sure twill all work out. I definatly feel happier that we’re going to try to help out for a week (yes, will still climb for a week too). We may get there and find that they don’t need us.. but it’s right to try (methinks)

And then to make the week even better! A friend of mine from primary school (Linda Tormey) arrived into ChCh.. so has been just lovely hanging out with her.

Today we (Linda, Glynn, Emma, Dave, John and I) headed to boulder at castle hill, and we also took in Cave Stream – a fun 30 min caving trip – really nice on a hot day (which it was)

Here Glynn’s attempting a V4 I think (which John eventually got)

Anyway, that’s about all from me probably for the next fortnight.. but ‘cha never know!