I mentioned that I had to go to survey the remnants of a barge full of coal shipped to Thailand from Indonesia, but the tugboat of which was pirated off the coast of Malaysia, some of you might remember.

Unfortunately, I had to get up early to get to Ao Udom by 10am, where we waited at the entrance to the jetty for like an hour for the goods' owner to show up. We gave up about 11:30 and went for lunch at a local, beachfront, seafood larn aharn. (I had Kapow Gai Kai dao.)

We met the bloke after lunch on the jetty. Bloody hot again - my face is beetroot red. Got the usual assault from the local motorcy taxi blokes outside the 7 and the "Mao laew lor?" and funny looks from the birds in the 7, who assumed the same. Saeb nah jang.

Took a few piccies if you're interested.

1. Waiting at the Jetty.

2. Jetty from the restaurant.

3. Lunch.

4. Don't know if you can see the barge approaching the jetty there. On the horizon. It's red.

5. On the jetty.

6. We're going over there.

7. Cargo looked ok. Going on board the white tug.

8. Unfortunately, this is the way on. It was much worse on the way off though, as it had drifted even further from the ladders. Made it though

Anyway, in case you were worrying (I thought you might be), the abducted tugboat and it's crew turned up safe in Singapore a couple of days ago, missing all their equipment (GPS etc), which, it appears, the "pirates" were after and it looks like the cargo is in good condition too. We'll know in a few days when it's all offloaded.

If anyone really cares, the vessel's owners have declared General Average, which basically means that, although they saved their own vessel (the barge), it was done in the general interest of all (including the cargo and its insurers), so all parties should contribute to the costs incurred.

Interesting?

Probably not.

Yes, interesting. I wish Icould have joined you for lunch!

very interesting ja PiAnt :-S .. Pls enlage your pics more in your next journal na ka.. :-SSS

Sorry ja. I've resized them to 800x600 already ja - I don't know why they're so big : P

yark gin fishcake :'(

I want your job!!!

How calling your job on professional language?

Hm...must say the view from the restaurant is...interesting....

I hope your pics aren't as big as your water snake!

lovely pics ka

ahhh.... now pictures are smaller and easier to look at together with wording.

PS : Those hands are very nice manicure.....than mine. hehehe.....

Nice cushy job.

Cheers guys.

I think the restaurant's view might improve if the tide was in, and those aren't my hands

There's nothing cushy about a job in the Women's Auxiliary Balloon Corps

(VityaOmariWest - I don't run a school anymore.)

and those aren't my hands

Good job they aren't. I was going to ask if you were wearing pink nail varnish. :-)

(VityaOmariWest - I don't run a school anymore.)

I guessed