Tsunami Reverts Beaches to Natural State
Correspondent:: joseywales@outlaw.nospam (David James Polewka)
Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2005 02:36:54 GMT
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http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/science/AP-Tsunami-Paradise-Regained.html
Tsunami Reverts Beaches to Natural State
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 7, 2005
Filed at 3:18 p.m. ET
PATONG BEACH, Thailand (AP) -- Many believe the tsunami that devastated
this tourist hotspot and killed thousands had one positive side: By
washing away rampant development, it returned the beaches to nature.
Greg Ferrando glistened with sweat and sea water as he went for a
barefoot jog up the immaculate white sand beach, where the tsunami has
wiped away almost all signs of humanity.
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``This whole area was littered with commercialism,'' said the
43-year-old from Maui, Hawaii. ``There were hundreds of beach chairs out
here. I prefer the sand.''
The beauty of Thai beaches is the stuff of folklore: pristine, clean and
untouched. That was 10 or 20 years ago. More recently, they have been
swamped by development.
``Everyone is talking about it. It looks much better now,'' he said.
``This looks a lot more like Hawaii now, where vendors aren't allowed on
the beach.''
Phanomphon Thammachartniyom, president of the Phuket Professional Guide
Association, said when tourists return to Thailand for their second or
third visits, he has to recommend new beaches.
``They will complain, 'Why has this place changed so much? I don't like
it anymore. I want it to be like it once was,''' Phanomphon said.
Phanomphon fears politicians and organized crime will steer development
in the wrong direction and hopes care will be taken when the area is
rebuilt. ``Nature has returned nature to us. I want it to be this way
forever,'' he said.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the tsunami swept away unplanned
and possible illegal building, creating an opportunity to regulate
growth.
``I have sent a team to collect information on damaged buildings,
including hotels, resources and guest houses,'' he said. ``We need the
quick restoration of the tourist facilities there, but we also have to
establish restrictions for building.''
Some on Phi Phi Island agree.
``They were just building and building and building. It was too much.
You couldn't even walk around,'' said Moriel Avital, a 24-year-old
Israeli who lived on the island for four months.
``It was all gone in one wave -- it's telling people not to mess with
nature,'' she said. ``Paradise should be paradise and should not become
this civilized.''
Surin Kaewjan, a 44-year-old fruit vendor on Patong Beach, is suffering
financially because of the tsunami. But before the huge waves came, the
beach was littered and the sand was black and dirty, she said.
``Honestly, I love this nature,'' she said. ``Twenty years ago, it was
like this, and full of trees. I haven't seen the beach this white in
ages.''
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"Endeavor to persevere"
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Correspondent:: just john
Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2005 12:56:24 -0500
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In article <41df47ac.10966917@news.east.earthlink.net>,
joseywales@outlaw.nospam (David James Polewka) wrote:
>
> PATONG BEACH, Thailand (AP) -- Many believe the tsunami that devastated
> this tourist hotspot and killed thousands had one positive side: By
> washing away rampant development, it returned the beaches to nature.
"Never turn your back on Mother Earth."
-- Sparks
--
* Radio Free Entropy: http://just-john.com/cn/rfe.shtml *