Thread: Khao Lak thoughts

There are some interesting places in these parts of the globe though.



The inhabitants of such places take disease and Snake bites pretty much like we would associate a dose of influenza or a wasp sting.

It's life.

This is some sensible information regarding the same.

Mangroves are a group of unusual trees that can live in salt water from the oceans. Most land plants are killed by salt, but mangroves are able to get rid of the salt. Most plants die if their roots are drowned in water and have no oxygen, and in the mud of mangrove swamps, the rotting leaves usually use up all the oxygen. However mangrove trees have developed special kinds of roots that stick up out of the mud into the air to get oxygen. As a result, mangrove forests (or at least a fringe of mangroves) are common along the coasts of many tropical islands wherever the shore is soft and muddy enough for them to take root.

In the Pacific, the number of kinds of mangrove trees is greatest in the west, and gets smaller going to the east across the Pacific until the mangroves disappear. Mangrove forests in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean are bigger and richer, with different kinds of mangroves growing under different conditions. Mangroves are also very important in the Caribbean. Some mangroves prefer water that is not as salty as seawater, and they are thus more common at the mouths of rivers where fresh-water and salt-water mix.


Usefulness of mangroves

Most people have thought of mangroves as noxious impenetrable swamps full of diseases, and they used to be destroyed as a public health measure, but now we know better. Mangroves are very productive coastal resources that are useful in many ways. Mangrove trees grow well in their special conditions, and, like the tropical forest, they produce a lot of leaves and other organic matter. Instead of accumulating in the soil, the leaves fall in the water, where they rot and provide food for microbes and many tiny animals. This rich food is not only eaten in the mangrove swamp, but much of it may be carried out into the lagoon or to coral reefs and other coastal fisheries areas, where it helps to feed the fish. The areas near mangroves are thus often very important for fishing.


Because there is lots of food in mangrove areas, and good shelter among the mangrove roots, some kinds of fish come there to reproduce, and many baby fish grow up there before going to live in the lagoon or on the reef. The mangroves are a critical habitat upon which these species depend for survival, and if something happens to the mangroves, the future of these kinds of fish will be affected.
Mangroves also build land or keep it from being washed away, which can be very important on islands where land is so limited. Mud and sediment are often washed down rivers and streams. When there is a mangrove swamp at the river mouth, the water spreads out into the mangroves, and the sediment settles to the bottom where it is trapped by the mangrove roots. As the bottom gets shallower, the mangroves can grow further out, while those on the inside eventually find themselves on dry land, where they are replaced by land plants. In this way the mangrove forest advances slowly outward, leaving land behind. Even in areas where there is not enough sediment to build new land, the mangroves protect the shoreline from being washed away in storms. The roots and trunks break the force of the waves, and the leaves and branches reduce the effects of the wind and rain. There are examples of islands which were built by mangroves, and then washed away when the mangroves were cut.


Mangroves are an important source of food and materials for many coastal people. Crabs, clams, oysters, fish and other food are often collected there. Even the mangrove fruits are sometimes eaten. Mangrove wood is often collected as firewood, and it can also be used for building. The bark has tannin which has craft and medicinal uses.

Even in the city, mangroves can be important. The city wastes run off and pollute the nearby coastal waters. When the wastes from all the people run into a mangrove swamp, they can be taken up and used by the plants and animals in the swamp. In a way the swamp filters the water, leaving clean water to go out the other side. As long as there is not too much waste for the mangroves, and no poisonous wastes from industries, the mangroves are an excellent waste treatment system, and much cheaper than a sewage treatment plant.

Threats to mangroves

Unfortunately in spite of their usefulness, mangroves are being destroyed in many places. Sometimes they are drained as a sanitary measure, although mosquitos, for instance, do not like the salty water of most mangrove swamps. Often mangrove areas are used to dump rubbish or garbage. On islands where unoccupied land is in short supply, mangroves are often cleared to make agricultural land, or filled in for construction. Large areas have been lost to development in this way. However, such low-lying land may be vulnerable to flooding in storms, so the development is not always so successful.


In some places mangroves are cleared to make aquaculture ponds for raising fish or shrimp. Ponds may also be built to treat the wastes from cities, towns or factories. Other kinds of construction can also damage mangroves. Anything that changes the way water circulates or its saltiness can kill the affected mangroves. Taking water from rivers for irrigation can reduce the amount of fresh-water available to mix with the salt-water. Frequently a causeway for a road, or some other construction project, may keep the sea-water from coming into the mangroves. As the sea-water is replaced by fresh-water, the mangroves will die.


Mangroves are also sensitive to pollution, particularly oil pollution. If an oil spill goes into a mangrove area, the oil covers the aerial roots, and the tree roots can no longer get the air they need to live. The roots will die, and with them the whole forest. Mangroves are also very sensitive to herbicides.


With all these different threats, and the fact that few people appreciate how important the mangroves really are, it is no wonder that the area of mangroves is getting smaller. The steady reduction in mangroves means the loss of an important resource. As each little bit is taken, the remaining natural area becomes that much more important for such things as fish breeding and nursery areas. On some islands, only tiny areas of mangroves remain. Their loss could be a tragedy for coastal fisheries.

Mangrove management

On islands where many different needs must be fit together, the careful management of mangrove areas is important. If there are large areas of mangrove forest, then some parts can probably be developed, allowing for a balance of uses. Special attention needs to be paid to the percentage of the total area developed, and to avoiding critical breeding habitats and other areas of particular interest. Where only small areas of mangrove remain, they probably should be protected.
Every effort should be made to avoid changes in salinity or water circulation in mangrove swamps. If a road needs to be built through a swamp, enough bridges or culverts should be provided to allow water movement into and out of the swamp. In areas where sedimentation is important, the mangroves should be allowed to go ahead with their stabilizing and protective role. Similarly mangroves should be strictly protected wherever they are important in controlling coastal erosion.
Because of their vulnerability to oil pollution, mangroves should receive special attention for protective measures in oil spill contingency plans. Oil loading and storage facilities should not be located near mangrove areas.


Not all uses of mangroves will go together. A forest that is heavily cut for firewood will not produce as much food for the lagoon and reef. The mangroves areas in a city that are used for waste treatment should probably be closed to fishing to avoid the danger that shellfish and other seafood from the area might pick up and spread diseases.

Fortunately a mangrove forest can often be replanted if it is damaged, just like a forest on land, assuming that the conditions are still good. Where temporary damage at a construction site cannot be avoided, at least the trees can be replaced afterwards. It is even possible to require a developer who destroys part of a mangrove swamp to replace it with an equal area somewhere else, so that the total area of mangroves does not change. However, it is much easier to keep the mangrove that is already there than to try to replace it once it has been lost.

A few beach type photographs I thought might be interesting as well.




The various rock formations, complimenting small pools or chanel's even are always nice to photograph.

The pools can be great places for kids to spot the smaller crabs and fish. Good learning points.




There is always a strong tendency for people to build homes as safe as they consider possible by the coast. If there is an obliging cliff type face capable of supporting such places and granting entrance and exit, all the better.



It's quite amazing how varied buildings are in these locations too.





The crazy dog here was hell bent on catching one of those sand crabs.




I've never yet seen a dog catch one.

Originally Posted by Mathos

I got talking to a guy down at Khao Lak and I was asking about any older type vehicles there may have been in the area and if he knew of any.

He said he would inquire.

He came back on to me the following day, really excited.

Yes, I find one for you, very good. You come with me and see.


So I followed him on his bike and he stopped about four times asking people directions obviously, which made me realise he had not seen what he was taking me to see.

Look at this though.




I could imagine The Clampets in this thing.

It was alive with field rats too.

They scurried all over the place when we approached the same.

He had told me it was in running order.





No doubt he had heard of it and added a bit here and there.


You have to laugh though.

You do have to laugh indeed !!!

At the risk of getting a "red" trying to Hi-jack the thread it reminded me so much of something that happened to me years ago I thought I would give you a laugh as well ( OK Mathos?)

Many years ago I was working on a Grecian Magnasite mine on Chalkadiki, northern Greece and had a free afternoon .
Those of you who read my ramblings on the "Beautiful Lancashire" thread may remember that I have an interest in old structures and buildings and, knowing that there are many unpublicised small archaeological sites in Greece, decided that I would have a nose around .

The night before I mentioned this desire to find something "very old" in the area to a couple of the lads on site in my dreadful Greek, and, over much discussion between them, accompanied by a bottle of Metaxa and a lot of arm waving, tthey agreed on a destination and that they would come with me as a guides.
After lunch the next day we set off in my knackered old Lada Cossack jeep thing and after stopping at the village store for supplies- Bread,cheese, olives plus the mandatatory bottle of Metaxa! - and headed for the hills !

After a couple of hours of goat tracks and scrub , without a sign of human habitation we came to a small ravine in a cliff with a little whitepainted cottage built against the cliff. Didn't look very ancient so I thought they were going to ask directions or something. WRONG !! This was our destination.

We walked down the path to the cottage with the lads calling out and the door started to open a bit and then was opened fully , the lads were delighted and presented me with a close view of the oldest thing in the area .

She was about 4' 9" - dressd in black - snowy white hair and a huge smile on her face !!!!!



Turned out she was about 100 years old and a war widow who had lived there all her life , alone since 1944, and still ran a herd of goats - made cheese which someone up the valley used to take to market for her every week - had her small olive grove and water from a spring in the ravine!!

Within minutes she got the lads to drag a table out of the house and set it under an olive tree- produced some crystalized fruit, some of her own cheese and a bottle of some viscious brandy ( think it was from Apricots) and with our supplies the party began !

The lads and her started an impromptu choral concert of local songs to which I responded with the traditional "Keeper did a'hunting go" plus a dramatic interpretational recital of the "Owl and the Pussycat"!!

What a blast !!!

With less than an hour of daylight left we had to leave and loaded with packets of her homemade cheese and 'nissed as a pewt' I managed to get back to the site in about 3 hours!!!

Happy days!

---------

Now back to Khao Lak !!!

Happyman Wrote:-

You do have to laugh indeed !!!

At the risk of getting a "red" trying to Hi-jack the thread it reminded me so much of something that happened to me years ago I thought I would give you a laugh as well ( OK Mathos?)

Many years ago I was working on a Grecian Magnasite mine on Chalkadiki, northern Greece and had a free afternoon .
Those of you who read my ramblings on the "Beautiful Lancashire" thread may remember that I have an interest in old structures and buildings and, knowing that there are many unpublicised small archaeological sites in Greece, decided that I would have a nose around .

The night before I mentioned this desire to find something "very old" in the area to a couple of the lads on site in my dreadful Greek, and, over much discussion between them, accompanied by a bottle of Metaxa and a lot of arm waving, tthey agreed on a destination and that they would come with me as a guides.
After lunch the next day we set off in my knackered old Lada Cossack jeep thing and after stopping at the village store for supplies- Bread,cheese, olives plus the mandatatory bottle of Metaxa! - and headed for the hills !

After a couple of hours of goat tracks and scrub , without a sign of human habitation we came to a small ravine in a cliff with a little whitepainted cottage built against the cliff. Didn't look very ancient so I thought they were going to ask directions or something. WRONG !! This was our destination.

We walked down the path to the cottage with the lads calling out and the door started to open a bit and then was opened fully , the lads were delighted and presented me with a close view of the oldest thing in the area .

She was about 4' 9" - dressd in black - snowy white hair and a huge smile on her face !!!!!



Turned out she was about 100 years old and a war widow who had lived there all her life , alone since 1944, and still ran a herd of goats - made cheese which someone up the valley used to take to market for her every week - had her small olive grove and water from a spring in the ravine!!

Within minutes she got the lads to drag a table out of the house and set it under an olive tree- produced some crystalized fruit, some of her own cheese and a bottle of some viscious brandy ( think it was from Apricots) and with our supplies the party began !

The lads and her started an impromptu choral concert of local songs to which I responded with the traditional "Keeper did a'hunting go" plus a dramatic interpretational recital of the "Owl and the Pussycat"!!

What a blast !!!

With less than an hour of daylight left we had to leave and loaded with packets of her homemade cheese and 'nissed as a pewt' I managed to get back to the site in about 3 hours!!!

Happy days!



----

Now back to Khao Lak !!!

Brilliant that Happyman.

Thanks for the input.

You're more than welcome on the thread. Anytime.

I sometimes wonder why there is not so much contact from other members?

So mote it be though.

If this link works, it's well worth viewing.

Especially Co Accidee..

~WRD000.jpg (0.6 KB), Cc Accide...pps (830.9 KB)


I'm pushed for time and have a lot to do, but the above are good.

I had some problems myself with the link above, sorry about that.

I'll try and sort it out, probably over the weekend. It's an exceptionally good link.