Pictorial Account of my trip from 311204-240105
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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. -
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 -
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. -
salute u for yr relief work!!!
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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. -
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. -
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 -
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! -
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. -
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. -
your camera very expensive one is it?
all the pictures super clear ! -
my camera very cheap. But its good enough for shots like these.Originally posted by pqr:your camera very expensive one is it?
all the pictures super clear ! -
Better looking photos, NOT by me.
Sunrise servicing
Afternoon servicing -
3 ships
Marshalling the Chinook
Marshalling the SP -
The good combi again
I think they need help
Nicer view of the crack -
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quite touching photos kopi.
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maybe u could resize your pic to 400x300?
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other than them being too big, these shots are beautiful and quite rarely does a normal civillian get a chance to capture.
good stuff! -
Since this is a military matter, can you post the pictures in public?
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Your camera, solid lar!
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I've held the photos which are not meant to be seen.Originally posted by kops21:Since this is a military matter, can you post the pictures in public? -
For those who want official pics, head to this link
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great job with the camera. I like the before and after shots of the rice fields and farm hamlets. The tsunami is really powerful and devastating if it can reach so deep inland.
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Nice Pictures!