The morning of December 20, 2010, was a perfect day to start our paddling adventure from Koh Phayam, near the Burma border, to Ko Tarutao, near the Malaysian border. 

The "Border to Border" tour lasted 40 days.  There were some ups and downs along the way.  Ian got very sick and had to stop, but I carried on solo for the second half of the journey, covering 685km in total.

Please visit "The Coconut Telegraph", Volume 17, for some stories or Click here to view photos.

The Coconut Telegraph is for solely for entertainment.  I cannot be sure if it is for your entertainment or mine.  Either way, sit back and enjoy.

The editorial policy is simple: print whatever I want; check no facts; enjoy humor; repeat rumor; and, pay absolutely no attention to journalistic standards.

If you have questions, comments, contributions or letters to the editor, please send them along.  I may or may not include them.

If you do not know my email address, you were probably not intended to be in my target audience.

LATEST EDITION: Volume 23, December, 2011

The Coconut Telegraph

It is estimated that there are one million Burmese migrant workers in Thailand.  Some are legal, most are not.  Most have fled the social and political injustices inflicted by the military junta that rules the nation with a heavy hand.

Many bring their wives to Thailand and many have children while in the Kingdom.  These children have no official status in Thailand or Burma, creating a staggering number of stateless children.

Click to view Migrant Labor/Stateless Children.  These photographs were taken on Koh Phayam, Thailand, in April, 2010.

Bodnath, Boudhanath or Baudnath, is one of the holiest Tibetan Buddhist sites outside Tibet.  Located on the outskirts of Kathmandu, the massive stupa dominates the skyline.  It is one of the largest of its type in the world.

Bodnath is on the ancient trade route from Tibet and merchants have rested and prayed here for centuries.  Legend says the stupa entombs the remains of the sage Kasyapa.

The large population of Tibetan refugees around Bodnath has lead to the construction of over 50 Gompas (Temples) near the stupa.

Since the 1950s, many Tibetans have decided to live around Bodnath and there are a variety of interesting shops and restaurants around the area, as well as accommodation options.

View photos

A few samples of magazines and other locations where my work has been published.

Canoeroots Magazine - page 12/13

Thai Surfrider Magazine - Issue 5, Page 8

Thai Surfrider Magazine - Issue 6, Page 4/5

Welcome to South Star Surf Bar, the first surf shop on Koh Phayam.

We have a full range of surf boards for rent and select used boards for sale.

Surf Koh Phayam