From the Ground UpDate

Apologies to all...updates have been slow. As I write, we have Hornby girls traveling Thailand and other parts of Asia. They hope to go to Khao Lak sometime in November and will meet all the wonderful Thai people and volunteers and hope to put some energy forth on a project that is there and necessary at that time. We await letters from them.

Many of the volunteers Andy worked with are just getting back to their homes and hope to write some letters and send photos of their time helping with the tsunami relief project. Below are just a few letters compiled of the different connections and love and care that grow and maintain thru the time and miles. And we hope to post some more.

The drawing for the tapestry that came home from Khao Lak via Andy will be on December 26th in memory of those that passed on and all those that volunteered and continue to do so. Keeping the light during all the many disasters that have taken place since the tsunami, all over the world.

To all the volunteers and travelers, please send photos and letters. You may submit them to this site yourselves. It would be wonderful to hear from you all via From The Ground Up.

Blessings sent to all.

Many Thanks, Michelle and Andy and the Green Team

some correspondences from Thailand and volunteers (webitor's note: this correspondence may not be in chronological order—but it’s fascinating stuff anyhoo!)

Letters From NikiWalford And Des, Hornby Girls In Thailand

To: Michelle
From: Nicole

Hello Michelle, thanks for the email

Yes, we plan to go and help with the restoration of Khao Lak. I'm really looking forward to helping. Yes, I still have all the contacts and will be emailing them when it comes closer to the time when we will be there which probably won’t be for a few weeks. Thanks again Nicole and Des

From: Michelle
To : Nicole
Thu, 03 Nov 2005

Hello to you all. Traveling is full of adventures. The one that you just wrote about... Hours of traveling and running out of money sure does humble one and also remind us of how magical life is... Good for all of you to have such an adventure and go for it. Wish Chardonnee was with you... Hopefully she will take a trip like that soon with the girls... Bet you are meeting awesome people too. Are you still planning on going to Khao Lak at some point? Please, if you do, take some photos so we can see the restoration if there has been some, and then we can post it on the site...

It will keep people interested and that would be great. We have not updated it lately...the raffle for the elephant wall hanging is on the anniversary of the tsunami, Dec.26th. It would be great to have you all go there and check it out and meet the great people.. I hope you still have their names and emails on your email I sent you. If you need them again let me know. Blessings... Cold wet rainy here and snow on Mt. Washington. Hugs to you all. Keep smiling and loving and being Hornby lights out there... Michelle

 
Letter From Helen 4 Kali Project - Orphan Children (The Raffle Raised $850 For This Project.)

Hello!

Sorry it's taken so long for me to reply - have been super busy and out of reach on a remote beach on Krabi! Trying to fit in everything now that my time is almost up!!!

Hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving - I'm sure dinner was delicious!!!

Miss everyone a ton but will be home in a month :)

For the girls coming to volunteer I have already informed David at 4kali and he would love to have them come help!!! The office is right near the craft shop in Bang Niang - we now have signs everywhere so it should be easy to find!

Take care and I'll see you soon

love, Helen

PS will be out of touch for awhile since I will be living in a temple near Surrat Thani :)


from Nicole Walford, 
October /06/2005

Hi Michelle

We are in Bangkok, arrived safely. We all have travel insurance, no worries. 

Well we are going up to Chang Mai now so we will be in that area, Khao Lak, around middle of November and I am very set on going and helping when and if we can get there so we will be in touch and keep me posted on what needs to be done and when and what ok thank you

Nicole

Letter To The Hornby Girls /Connections In Khao Lak
 
Hi there Niki, Richelle, Meghan, Mikaela...etc.

I got so busy I forgot to get this to you. I am emailing some addresses and will also email friends there.. Khao Lak is about two hours north of Phuket by bus. If there is a few of you taxis are a good way to go, and cheap. Do not ride those motorcycle things, lots of people crash and burn on them. Did you get the travelers insurance? Really good idea. Must get it before leaving the country.. Small friendly village..

Helen Li who is from Vancouver will be there another two weeks I think and can introduce you to the Thai people who know and love Andy and all they have done. Helen works with the orphan project. The site below is the Green Team site. When you have time look it over as it will give you ideas as to what is happening and happened.

There are many projects to help on but not much money. I will have Andy write you a letter too.. The Green Team site has other volunteers' letters on it too...and photos. Please, if you go to Khao Lak, try to update us. As many of the people come and go... and best to hear from people who are there. Can you forward this to the other girls with you as I do not have their emails.. Below are emails of friendly Thai people in Khao Lak that may help you find cheaper lodging and just familiarize you all.

Xxxxooo

Thanks, Michelle and the Green Team.

"Tookta-Nitaya" <tookta-nitaya@sanook.com> owns a store where the Mini Mart/Ska Bar is. Great gathering place, as is another bar where the volunteers hang out called the Fisherman's Pub. Lots of great people there.. Andy says you will feel like the goodness of Hornby except for the mess that the Tsunami left. Kannika and Tookta write us a lot. I will forward this to them. They were wonderful to Andy... like family, and they are learning english so sometimes it is hard for them to translate. We all feel like sisters and brothers.. xxoo

"Kannika Thanokaporn" <juju311@hotmail.com> runs the internet cafe at Khao Lak Inn.. Married to Ookie and they can introduce you to everyone.. They will know Andy from Canada with Michelle. He was there for 5 months so he is known throughout the town.. and nick named Thai dad

neleh_3@hotmail.com   Helen runs the orphan project.. Erika has come home.

Letter to Tookta from Andy

Hi Tookta,

I'm sorry it has taken me a few days to reply to you but it has been very busy around here. Winter is coming, and it gets cold here...so I have been building a big woodshed to keep the wood that we burn in to keep warm in the winter. You are lucky, there is no Winter in Khao Lak. All day today we have big winds, and a little rain but tonight I think we will have a big storm. I like the sound of the storms, when I am nice and warm inside the house.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a holiday here where we thank God or Buddha for our harvest of food from our gardens. Tomorrow many people will come to our house and eat and give thanks... I will serve a plate of food for all of my Thai friends because I know you all love to eat. After eating there will be a party so I will bring my JOB 2 DO cd's (please thank Chit for giving them to me) and we will dance for the Thai people. I will spend my whole day cooking tomorrow... I'm already fat now but tomorrow I will get fatter... I wish you, Ti, & Soy could be here for our celebration! Maybe if Helen is around you could have a little Thanksgiving celebration there!

Erika is home safe and sound and spending Thanksgiving with her mom. She says she will be visiting me soon but she misses Khao Lak and all of you wonderful people.

I wish you would let me pay for the scarves but I also know that exchanging money is hard between friends. So I would like you to send me your address so that if I come across something that I think that Tootka or Ti or Soy would like then I could send you something from here. Maybe one yellow day could be a Hornby day and you could all wear T-shirts from Hornby Island.

Anyway, I miss you all MOUNTAINS & WILDFLOWERS!
Big HUGS to everyone,
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!!!!
Andy & Michelle

Letter from Tookta

06/09/2005

Hi Andy..
Hello again. I'm happy you  send  e-mail to me quickly. Thank you for everything.
One day  me  and  Soy  go  to  your  home  sure!! 
Please  take  care  of  yourself  and  your  family. Big  hug.

See  you,
Tootka, Soy Tity.

PS.  I send picture to you.  I hope you are enjoy sure!!!!!!!  Miss you. Please say Hi you wife for we.

 

Andy and Dai In Thailand

Letter Welcoming Erika Home… 4kali Orphan Project

Hey you!

Just a quick welcome home...and just to let you know... Missing Khao Lak is not something you get over easy...eggs you get over easy...but it is a wonderful thing that you have accomplished... So be proud...and welcome yourself home slowly...enjoy your family...remember all of your new friends...and most of all... Languish in the experience that was yours...and yours alone... One that will hug your heart forever.

Luv u meadows

Andy (no more Thai dad!)