Khao Lak 2004 Blog

The project has been a great success. The map has been downladed about 5.000 times. The printed map has been sold and given away about 1.000 times. It has been handed out to all who attended the Swedish and Norwegian official cermonies in Khao Lak.

Together we made it possible to pay the print (approx 1300 Euro) and a trip I am going to make in April. This means I no longer need to sell the map. The printed map is now free. Just send me a note if you need it.

So… to everybody who helped out with this project, bought the map or gave inspiration and strenght to contiunue the work… a huge thank you!!!

MAP UPDATE
Hi! Its been a tough last month for many of us. But I hope that you all came out of it resonable ok anyway. Last month I published a map update, but forgot to mail you about it. Today I made yet anohter update and did not forget you. Here is some of what is new:

- Sabai Sabai Restaurant on Bang Niang Beach added.
- Sabai Bungalows on Bang Niang Beach added.
- Baan Sanetra resort on Khao Lak Beach added.
- Point of Interest the building of family Krull added on the cape.
- Made several design changes.
- Added a few POI.
- Changed Ludda Resort to Ladda Resort
- Corrected some minor errors
- Added mapp key.

I think thats all updates…

GOING TO KHAO LAK IN APRIL
At last I will have the chance to see Khao Lak for the first time! I will stay for a couple of nights in beginning of April. So if anyone wants me to do anything for you when Im there, just drop me a line.

New map uploaded today.
- Made several small design changes.
- Added a few POI.
- Changed Ludda Resort to Ladda Resort
- Corrected some minor errors

The latest map version is now 051226.
hmm I think thats all…

A major update is published today. Here follows a brief list of what is new:

- Altitude above sea level in 40 meter increments starting at +20 meter.
- Villages added
- Many lakes, mountains and streams is named.
- Two more resorts added. Fair House and Toni’s Lodge in Bang Niang.
- Design changes. Inset and colors.
- Corrections of typos and data.

During the months since the first version the map has become better and better, with errors and mistakes being corrected and new data being added. But there always will be things that needs to be changed. And now, when the map is printed in its first edition, the need for a Errata list is evident.

If you have suggestions or if you find errors, dont hesitate to contact me! (Thankg you Alex for the heads up!)

On the map version 051011 (last printed map).
Ban Bang La on is wrongly called Nang Thong Village. (Read more in the post below.)
The Volunteer Center has moved into the entrance to Ban Bang La on.
Tublamu Pier could (or should) be called Thap Lamu.
Pak veep waterfall is normally called Pakweeb Waterfall

General errors
Text overlapping and other problems seems to occur if you use older Adobe Acrobat Reader then version 7.

A major part of the map turned out to be bad prints. I have trashed about 90% of them.

It seems the problem was the that the paper. It is a "plastic" paper called polypropylene that is very tough and durable, and this is of course why I choose it. But it turned out to be a very difficult paper to print on.

The print shop promised to make up for the bad print and make two reprints, one in December and one in early spring. This is good, because that means I can make two more printed updates! I need to change to another paper… but that is not a bad thing.

Hi!

A very short note…

Last week I got the map prints from the print-shop. The map is finally finished and I am so happy.

The map can be ordered from the www.khaolakmap.com for 12 euro (about 14,5 USD) using any major credit card or Pay Pal.

Please spread the word to who ever you think might be interested.

Sincerely

/Axel von Matern

(all tough the map is printed, the PDF will be regularly updated)

On the map version 051011 (last printed map) Ban Bang La on is wrongly called Nang Thong Village.

I got this very informative mail from Alex B from Khao Lak. Thank you!

The real name for the village (that is commonly referred to as Khao Lak and you named it on your map as Nang Thong Village)-  as it appears in roman alphabet and Thai letters (not only) on the road sign-  is: "Ban Bang La on" Translated in English: Village (Ban) small (Bang) of La on. All the locals call it this way and I asked some long-term residents again: They all agreed on the name La on. The Nang Thong family, as described in my last mail is a very influential family in La On, but has not named the village (yet ). So I would suggest you name it Ban Bang La on, or just Ban La on. I quote Lonely-Planet here on the Post-Tsunami update of their travel book "Thailand – Island and Beaches" (available on the www) from 07/2005:

"Back from the beach in Bang La-on (the town commonly referred to as Khao Lak), most of the buildings on the higher parts around Highway 4 survived or sustained bearable damage."

This morning I read Charlotta Ölanders very moving and interesting book "…himlen var oskyldigt blå", (in Swedish) about what happened to her and her fiancee during the chaotic days in Khao Lak and Phuket. It paints a very different picture of how the situation was form what was presented to us back home by the media and the Swedish Foreign Affairs. Thanks for a great book, Charlotta!
You can find the book here (in Swedish).

The first version of the map is printed. 1,100 prints are delivered to RSOS. But I have not seen the prints myself yet. I had hoped to get a sample by mail yesterday, but there was nothing in the post. A tad disappointed. But I am sure to get it on Monday.