Comments on: Photo of the Week 170: In Memorial

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 03:44:51 +0000

In reply to Miriam of Adventurous Miriam. Thanks Miriam, I appreciate that x

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 03:44:03 +0000

In reply to Caroline.

Honestly I don’t know if a bigger police presence would have stopped this from happening. Look at the violence that happens in major cities all over the world with massive police forces! This is such a quiet, peaceful island — with this one tragic exception — I don’t know what more police would do to keep busy all day.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 03:37:03 +0000

In reply to Jade. Yes, being here while this is going on has given me a shocking look into how the media works. It's pretty eye opening, and not in a good way.

By: Miriam of Adventurous Miriam

Miriam of Adventurous Miriam — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 23:21:43 +0000

I just heard about this tragedy today and instantly thought of you. I’m glad to hear that you are okay x

By: Caroline

Caroline — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 20:56:56 +0000

They definitely need more police on Koh Tao … I remember hearing that there were only 4 officers for the entire place when I was there. Clearly this needs to change.

By: Jade

Jade — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 17:00:14 +0000

It’s so scary how much the media can stir up terrible events like this. And it is awful too that the crime was so mishandled from the start. Like we said to you in Koh Tao, it almost seemed like nothing had happened when you were walking around, even close to the scene, so it doesn’t surprise me at all to hear that the crime scene was contaminated.
Let’s hope they do find out who did it so that the families, and the island, can find some peace.

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 04:12:13 +0000

In reply to Janice Stringer. I emailed my parents right away as well to let them know I was safe and sound. It must be very difficult as a parent to know something so terrible has happened where your child lives, and you are so far away :(

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 04:00:52 +0000

In reply to Nadia. No, they do not, though sadly when tourism is the cornerstone of the local economy, everyone will suffer on some level from that one monster's actions. Here's hoping Koh Tao can rise above.

By: Janice Stringer

Janice Stringer — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 15:15:45 +0000

Hi Alex,
I found out about the murder from my daughter when she rang to let us know she was safe, and that it wasn’t her. We too have been shocked and saddened by our english media coverage and the responses at times of the Thai Government to the island and the incident.

It is so important to me that others know this island is relatively safe(the biggest danger for tourists normally being the scooter accidents) and the relationship you can build with the local people and Burmese workers on the island is very special and can also be rewarding. Nobody can really explain why it draws you back but I have visited 3 times and my daughter is there on her fourth visit. No place is immune from tragedy – not even this little slice of paradise.

By: Nadia

Nadia — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 20:07:13 +0000

Very well said. I grew up in a small, affluent, resort town and, unfortunately, know first hand that violence, brutality, and tragedy do not recognize zip codes or borders. Thank you for reminding people of the beauty of this place and for recognizing that one monster’s actions do not define a community.