Krabi and Kura Buri

Yesterday morning I flew south to Krabi with Amrit (program manager), Will (Amrit’s employee), and Kevin (professor of aquaculture from Univ. Hawaii). We rented a car and drove to a beautiful hotel on the west coast to attend a Tsunami Disaster Risk Management Conference. One goal of the Sustainable Livelihoods Program is to develop a tsunami response plan. Although I am not directly involved in this particular aspect of the program, I found the conference to be interesting and managed to make some good contacts. I was especially happy to acquire a project report and some GIS data from CHARM (Coastal Habitat And Resource Management) another post-tsunami relief NGO. I have never attended an international conference before, and really enjoyed the novelty of being able to sit outside in sunny garden while a headset translated into English the talks taking place inside.




By 4:00 the conference ended and we set out on a three hour drive to Kura Buri. The drive was beautiful, and I was happy for the opportunity to see the southern Thai countryside. Fortunately I was too distracted by the dramatic outlines of limestone cliffs and quaint village scenery to get too carsick on the winding mountain roads. Amrit reserved rooms at a lovely place called the Kuraburi Greenview Resort.
















It’s a small rain forest lodge constructed with all natural materials – stones, marble, live plants, and huge hardwoods (probably not all sustainable materials but beautiful). The main building is completely open and has multiple levels of open air patios for lounging or dining. The rooms are individual bungalows built into a hillside that overlooks a pond and the rain forest beyond. As I sit here I can hear the calls of gibbons, strange birds and insects, and the occasional wind chime. It is so peaceful here. With luxurious linens and an ornate marble bathroom, the interior of my bungalow betrays the appearance of the rustic gecko-inhabited exterior. French doors open to reveal a deck overlooking the pond. I am very aware of the stark contrast between this short retreat and the primitive accommodations I will call home for the next 4 months. It’s so beautiful here, I don’t need to remind myself to enjoy these luxuries while they last!