kopiosatu SG This is a pictorial account of stuff I saw or went through my trip from 31st Dec 2004 - 24th Jan 2005. 31st Dec - 2nd Jan I took this in the afternoon as we were making our way to Meulaboh. This ocean took the lives of many, yet it is so beautiful... That's a US Carrier. Abraham Lincoln if I'm not wrong... we passed by them near the Bandar Aceh. The whole tank deck was filled with these. Cactus mineral water slogan - Life Goes On Upon arrival, this was the first craft off the boat. And the recce team zooms off to find a landing site. We didn't get to land till the next or following day. That's lunch! In a microwaveable paper packet. The thing to pull when you fall in the water. 3rd Jan Onwards The skies were grey most of the time. Weather got better near the end of the trip. That's one elevator down... check out the storage space available on the ship! Here they're getting the vehicles off the flight deck.
kopiosatu SG Yeah that's us... the little red dot on the world map. I slept too much on the way there, this was taken at 0500hrs, GMT+7. Before this I was in forums posting a topic. First landing baby, they finally cleared half the flight deck! Work commences. Working at around 0600 Another sunrise... Seeya 207! We were hopping over to 209. Saving private ryan anyone??? Hello 209... Over at 207, we passed time by watching cantonese serials. Few more episodes remaining when we jumped aboard 209. Breakfast on board
kopiosatu SG I woke up the following morning with the sound of the chair rolling across the room and smakcking against the wall. I had no idea what was happening, the boat was rolling from side to side pretty heavily. Unknown to us, there was actually an earthquake around Banda Aceh measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale. This picture shows the waves hitting shore. I initially thought there was a wall there. I was wrong. Notice how the swells makes the ship look so small. The chinook lands! And it rained suddenly during their few minutes here. Leaving 207 to 209 after we collected spares. Turns out that I won't get on board the other ship in another 2 hours. We were stuck out there because of the bad sea state. The craft couldn't dock in the ship. Spent the time looking up and down. The swells were big! Nice buaya. Sunrise/sunsets and boats make a good combination. The most unreal photo I've ever taken. Looks like a painting, but its real. Working in the morning, as usual. Tools tools and more tools! Blades folded, double rainbow.
kopiosatu SG Doing what we've never done before. First flight up after 14 days! This is Meulaboh Up the coast towards Bandar Aceh This is Bandar Aceh Totally smashing eh? The original look. Aircraft version of a carpark at Orchard Road. All the people at the shelter of Bandar Aceh Airport.
kopiosatu SG Seahawk... man did we really buy this???? Malaysian chopper... came so near, around 20m away Pity the army boys... looks like a total sh|thole. Tentage surrounded by 99% mud. Indian Ocean... so beautiful yet devastating. How deep in is this??? Ok this is totally flattened. I like this picture Meulaboh airstrip, cracked.
kopiosatu SG View from the ship View from the sky Meulaboh again. Loaded with rice Happy kids playing with the downwash from the chopper Rice unloaded Loaded with supplies again There's the tanker! Head above the clouds... I love flying Unloading the supplies On the way back
kopiosatu SG One of the few solitary mosques left standing. What other way to pass time??? This pic shows how far in the tsunami went. Reddish sunset oh look~ Orchard road! Mosque again... 210... we moved again. Told ya they make a good combi Bright evening sun Sun hiding... Layers of sand/mud/whatever in the sea. The area where I thought there was a wall causing the high waves. Touchdown!
kopiosatu SG 23rd January Last day on the ship... finally we're back in SG. Cheers to all! "CRACK"... plastic cups just don't cut it. We spent the last 2-3days watching a whole lot of movies... 24th January Packed and ready to go! So near yet so far Uncle Teo giving a welcoming speech The last 2 ships back A job well done.
kopiosatu SG I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. For the first 14days, I didn't know why i was there for. After helping the people, I felt we've all done something meaningful to help the people there. What we've done is just provide relief. What they need now is to start rebuilding. I was surprised to know there are people (NGOs) who volunteer as an individual, it makes me feel happy to know there are people like them around.
jOhO SG other than them being too big, these shots are beautiful and quite rarely does a normal civillian get a chance to capture. good stuff!
