Sawat dee kah,

End of a long, long day of training, interrupted only by rain from the edge of a nearby typhoon, which meant it rained for 70 percent of the day instead of 50 percent . . .

We met our Thai interpreters this morning, a mix of local tour guides and students (and one member of a Thai rock band) who will be working with us on our stories. There's Grace on the left, practicing how we will do our interviews on the scene (reporter asks question to interpreter, interpreter asks interviewee, interviewee responds, interpreter interprets for reporter. Repeat.) There are all kinds of strategies for conducting the interviews so that our subjects feel as comfortable as possible, despite the fact that we are attacking them with all kinds of tricky equipment.

I also got another quickie Thai lesson, which involved the ever-essential phrase: "I'm making a website about life in Phang-nga. May I take your photo?"

or:

"Gamlang tam website giau gab witii chiiwit koong kohn pang-ngaa. Kooh anuyaat taai ruup, ka?"

Easy right? Fishing boats on the water outside the boat repair center in Phang-nga.

Turtle at the naval base in Phang-nga. They are kept at the base until they are big enough to be released into the sea. Kendrick on the beach.The pathway to our workroom in Khao Lak (where we'll do all our editing) around 7 p.m. Tuesday, when all of you are just waking up for your day.