Khao Lak 2004 Blog

UPDATED MAP
New PDF published on the web site.
- Added the memorial with the first names (and it came out very nice I think)
- Added Andamanai Beach Resort (just meters south of Grand Diamond). 
Thanks to Mattias H, who actually was in Khao Lak collecting data about the resorts for helping out relatives visiting the sites. He helped clearing the confusion and mix up.
-Added Baracuda Resort (was preparing for the opening December 27 2004)
- Added Reveenas Place (not open yet at December 26 2004)
- Added Baracuda Bar on the beach front
- Added Mattias H on the thanks list.
- More typo corrections and other relatively small errors. (Phuket Airport got a new icon too…)
- Made many small graphic changes.
- Added credit to Heinrich Grosskopf for the research. (you are great!)

NO TRIP TO THAILAND
Yesterday I learned that I am for sure not going to Thailand on Monday. I had hoped and hoped… well… thanks for trying (you know who you are

PRINT
The pre-orders are coming in very slow. Please go to www.khaolakmap.com to make a pre-order if you want a nice printed version. We need many more pre-orders to afford the print. I am still trying to persuade the authorities and companies to help out.

Thank you

/Axel von Matern

Hi everybody!

REAL PRINTS
I just had to tell you about the printed map I got from Norway today. The policeman P.O. Torkildsen is leading a group of relatives to Khao Lak and Phi Phi next Monday and made a print of 200 of our maps for this trip. And I just opened the envelope and had a look on the print he sent me… and it so nice! I am so happy, because it really is something different to see it printed in a real press then on a screen or a ordinary color printer! THANK YOU P.O for this!

ORDER FORM NOW WORKING
Many functions, including the map ordering button, haven’t been working… since I don’t know… many weeks… But thanks to some of you, I got a warning about this and now it is working. So if you tried to order a map the last couple of days without success… try again please.

Bye!

Yours sincerely

Axel von Matern

From today I am taking pre orders for the map. There is a form on the website www.khaolakmap.com

Hi everybody

MAP UPDATE
Got a long list of, mostly typing errors, from Heinrich G the other day (thank you!). I also got a better English text from someone. So the PDF map is now updated accordingly.

Now is the time to nail as many errors, big and small, as possible. Please help me out, if you have time, to proof read the map and send the corrections.

HIGH QUALITY PRINT
I have decided to try to make large (50 x 70 cm), high quality prints of the map. A price of about 10 euro would finance the printing and further work with the map and the future Khao Lak projects. But first I need about 250 pre-orders to dare make the rather large printing order. So if you would like a printed map, don’t hesitate to drop me a line. The print will be made within the next four weeks, if I get enough orders. There will be a ordering form on the website within the next couple of days.

TO HONOUR OUR LOVED ONES
And this one is a sensitive issue… On the last update, I put the name of my deceased friend in the text. I felt very good about this… To honour her in this, rather small, way. It is going to be a even nicer thing when the map is getting printed, I believe.

Now… I am thinking this map is for all of us… and all who lost some one over there. So I would like to give the option to all who want to have their loved ones name on the map. I actually got a mail today from someone asking about this. So what I am thinking is that I will print "In the memory of… "and the first name of the person.

I know this is not for everybody. But it is very important for me. And maybe for some of you.

Sincerely

/Axel von Matern

Hello again!

PRINTS
I have been working alot with the map the last few days and I really wanted to make it good now because Norway police is making 200 prints on Monday. I am so happy about that!

The map really wants to be printed in a big way. It do need those 50×70 centimeters. This is expensive. It costs like 40 euro for one print in that size. So what I am trying to do is to get Swedish authorities (spelling!) to pay for a thousand prints. This way I could give away the map to whom every want one. If you have any contact with large corporations, government or organizations that would like to help out with the printing.. don’t hesitate to contact me!

NEW VERSION
A new version of the PDF map is published. It is another big update I think. Mostly design changes this time. But well worth another download I think.

KHAO LAK MAP BLOG
Also, some of you might be interested in reading my blog from December 2004 up to now. There is a link from the web page, but here is a direct link http://tallasen.blogs.com/khaolakmap/

KOH PHI PHI DON
If anyone of you is interested in Koh Phi Phi Don, I have made a map. Send me a mail, and I’ll post a PDF to you. I really need feedback on this one, co use it’s so new and I really don’t know much about the island… It is kind of rough.

Bye!

Sincerely

/Axel von Matern

Again a very brief note…

There is a new updated PDF map on the site. It’s a major update with many changes. Unfortunately not all is for the better! I found out that some of the new colors was not working out well… I had hoped that I would have time to make another update within a few days. But I had all my computers and stuff stolen last night, so I am not sure when I will be able to do the changes… probably still within the week.

Anyway… please download it and come back to me with your opinion.
Here is what’s been changed:

- Map size is now much bigger: 50 x 70 cm.

- The font size is also increased, so it should be easier to read in smaller formats too.

- The color scheme is changed. It is much less saturated then the earlier versions. There is some problems with the new colors thou, that will be fixed in the next update tomorrow hopefully.

- Bang Niang beach and Nang Thong village got themselves special inserts, where the scale is much larger, making it easier to read the texts etc.

- Added many points of interests in above areas.

- Added Uli’s Bungalow in Nang Thing village

/Axel von Matern

Norwegian athorities are printing 200 copies of the map.

Tried to persuade two major Swedish organisations to make prints too…

I have been trying to figure our how to get what I need to complete the next version of the map. I need 2000 – 3000 Euro to purchase recent satellite images and the same amount to buy me a ticket for ten days work on location in Khao Lak.

Now it seems it would be possoble for me to get help to at least get the later. Just 6 days, but that would be better then nothing tho!

Keep yer fingers crossed!

I just wanted to write something about a very positive side of the map project….

There are so may reasons for me to continue working on the map. Many are very selfish. One of the selfish drives behind it is all the positive feed back I get in my mail. I can not express how much impact those letters have done to me. They prove that this project is important and that so many people really need the map.

Here is some examples of the letters that makes the project meaningfull:

In a way this one is the reason why I work with the map:
“Thank you for your commitment. Xxxx and Xxxx (the names of two deceased women) really would apreciate all the work you have done… K.”

And how can one hear a nicer thing then this?
“I became so touched and happy in my hart when I saw what you had done…//.. thak you for being. M.”

And this is the main reason:
“Thanks for your map. It have helped alot of people. You have done a realy grate job too make this. It was hard to find maps of Khao lak with al the hotels. H.” and “I found your map today and got answeres to my questoins. M.”

There is also so many people who is sending me questions and offer me answers!

This is adding up to one thing really… that we all, who are touched by the catastroph in some way… are doing this together to support each other. It seems that so many people are more then willing to reach out for each other. It is indeed a powerfull experience!