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Thailand's Phi Phi island, three years after the tsunami {Gadling}
Jan 27th 2008 12:38PM And for what it's worth, if you're interested in Phi Phi post-tsunami you might find my article Phi Phi Reborn for Asian Diver magazine useful originally written back in 2006
http://divehappy.com/thailand/koh-phi-phi-reborn/
I also wrote about diving the Similan Islands, Thailand's most famous dive destination, a couple of weeks after the tsunami in January 2005
http://divehappy.com/thailand/similan-islands-after-the-tsunami/
Thailand's Phi Phi island, three years after the tsunami {Gadling}
Jan 27th 2008 12:34PM If you want to find out more about the extensive work that's been done to restore Phi Phi's coral reefs, check out http://www.phiphidivecamp.com - set up by Andrew Hewett, a British scuba instructor who lives on Phi Phi with his wife and kids (they survived the tsunami). Andrew was instrumental in organising 100s of volunteer divers to remove debris and monitor the reef damage, and is still working to restore them. (Don't get me wrong - they are still great to snorkel and dive - I was there last December). I am a little baffled he's not cited in the SF Chronicle article - it's not difficult to find the site online
How safe is Thailand? {Gadling}
Jan 9th 2008 10:53PM I think the problem with these sort of arguments are - "safe compared to what?". Tourists do have to be careful in Thailand, like everywhere else in the world. I think it's dangerous to extrapolate from a horrific incident like this that all tourists in Thailand are therefore at risk.
The number one source of danger for tourists in Thailand is themselves. Hundreds of tourists die every year in Thailand due to motorbike accidents - they hire a bike with little experience, no helmet, no protective clothing or even shoes and usually drunk. You can guess the end result.
The second highest cause of death for tourists in Thailand is bedroom activities. I am not making this up. See my post for the full info:
http://travelhappy.info/thailand/is-thailand-safe/
It's about halfway down the page after the stuff about the (then just happened) military coup in Thailand.
Palau: the ultimate dive-spot? {Gadling}
Dec 30th 2007 3:07PM Palau is indeed one of the most awesome dive spots in the world - I went there for the first time back in June this year and wrote up my 3 day liveaboard here
http://divehappy.com/palau/palau-scuba-diving-liveboard-day-one/
However, there are several other dive edens in Asia. Raja Ampat in Indonesia has been declared as having the greatest marine biodiversity in the world, with its remoteness greatly contributing to its pristine reefs and spectacular marine life. But you don't need to go to the ends of the earth (with the expense that entails) to find great diving in Asia - the Philippines still has many areas that have also been protected, like Sogod Bay in Leyte, where the untouched coral attracts whale sharks
http://travelhappy.info/philippines/in-the-water-with-the-biggest-fish-in-the-world/
Lankayan Island in Borneo, Malaysia is a model of recovery from an area previously ruined by dynamite fishing.
http://divehappy.com/borneo/lankayan-borneo-paradise-under-threat/
Global warming is destroying the world's coral reefs and industrial fishing methods are wiping out the fish population - but there are plenty of examples in Asia of underwater environments that have recovered and flourished when they've been given a chance. Great diving can still be affordable and open to everyone - and it's only if more people come and snorkel and scuba the reefs that we can inject some urgency in trying to save them.
Big in Japan: How to rent an apartment in Tokyo {Gadling}
Dec 29th 2007 11:23AM oops, screwed up posting the link - it's here
http://www.travelhappy.info/japan/a-very-short-walk-around-a-tokyo-apartment/
Big in Japan: How to rent an apartment in Tokyo {Gadling}
Dec 29th 2007 11:20AM Great post Matthew. Your apartment is certainly bigger than my girlfriend's former Tokyo pad from when she was an English teacher - check the pictures on A Very Short Walk Around A Tokyo Apartment to see what I mean
The past and future of the Lonely Planet founders {Gadling}
Nov 6th 2007 12:09PM The thing that's funny (funny strange not funny ha ha) about the Wheelers is that they seem to have a peculiar resentment of having created such a huge company. They've done a lot of interviews where they bemoan the fact LP is now full of Mercedes driving lawyers and people whose names they don't even know. I imagine semi-retiring has been a huge relief and lets them get back to doing what they really enjoy.
I wrote an in-depth review of The Lonely Planet Story, the Wheelers' autobiography-cum-business biography here:
http://travelhappy.info/travel-books/the-lonely-planet-story-tony-and-maureen-wheeler-book-review/
It's pretty dry but it's fascinating none the less. Tony Wheeler's Bad Lands (which I also reviewed) is more of a real travel book - The LP Story reads like an itinerary rather than a biography at some points.
http://travelhappy.info/travel-books/book-review-tony-wheelers-bad-lands-a-tourist-on-the-axis-of-evil/
Today's Bad Eng(r)ish {Gadling}
Sep 20th 2007 11:49AM I see you and raise you:
http://travelhappy.info/fb.php/Engrish/china-nutricious-beef-penis/
World's Scariest Shark Dives {Gadling}
Sep 19th 2007 2:45AM Oops, screwed up the link to my great white shark videos. This should work:
http://divehappy.com/australia/great-white-shark-videos/
World's Scariest Shark Dives {Gadling}
Sep 19th 2007 2:39AM South Australia is definitely the place to go and see great whites - I was there a couple of months ago and it was one of the most awesome things I've ever done. (I took pretty shaky video of the great whites which you can see here).
At the risk of being pedantic, the MSNBC article gets it slightly wrong - Dangerous Reef does exist, but it's not in the Neptune Islands. Rodney Fox used to go to Dangerous Reef, but now goes to the Neptune Islands which are much further away from the South Australian mainland, as there is more chance of seeing sharks out there.
