Day 2

Today we have to go to survey the waste problems of Koh Tao in many places. In the morning, we have breakfast at resort restaurant. The food that orders, it doesn't have to fry so no oil usage and less energy produce. It is just a toast and sausage in this meal. 

After that, the first place that we start to survey is the main harbour, there are some wastes were left on the pathway such as plastic bag, water bottle, and food scraps. Some of them are flow on the clean water which makes polluted water and impact those fishes that live around.



At the main harbour, some waste were left on the floor which is not good for environment

under the clear water, there are many things that people throw away
and some food was flow on the water.

Next area is Haad Sairee which is the place that lots of tourists stay and there are many resorts, pubs and bars along the beach. Because of each resorts has cleaned their own area so the beach look quite clean but there are still some ash of cigarette on the sand.



At Haad Sairee beach

Last place to survey is the garbage factory on the hill. First thing that can be seen is a mountain of garbage, some of them are sorted out to be the same type, and some are packed get ready for sale such as beer bottle. But there is some garbage that has to destroy by burning which can releases toxic smoke in the air. This is very harmful for environment, it creates the bad environment of island and result in global warming. Even landfills also make soils become toxic. 



Big amount of waste from everywhere in koh tao were gathered into this plac,
increasing everyday and just few tons of waste were eliminated.

Power station emitting carbon smoke into the air.

On the way getting down from the mountain, there is a power station which we can see lots of black smoke emits from the smokestack. The smoke comes from burning to generate the electricity to be used in the whole island so the smoke makes air pollution. After that we get back to resort, and we choose to eat som tum which is simple process and does not create any bad for environment.

Day 1

Departing from Bangkok about 10 p.m. on 29 Jan at Khao san Road, the bus that I take it can load about 40 people. It is a NGV bus which is more environmentally clean alternative to other fuels like gasoline, and it doesn't increase the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere. About 7 hours that it takes to get to Chumphon (Thung Makham Noi Pier) at 5 a.m. and everyone has to check in and wait for 2 hours until 7 a.m. because it is a boat's departing time. The boat can load 350 people and it is a speed ferry even though it uses petrol and releases some pollution in the air but it takes only 2 hours to reach Koh Tao. On the other hands, the normal ferry would take times as double which is longer and the amount of carbon dioxide that it releases each time would also less than the speed ferry, but the small amount of pollution that released from normal ferry in longer time would probably be the same as speed ferry in short time.


New Heaven Diving School



When arriving to Koh Tao and get in the resort, my room is on the third floor which just open the door we can feel the wind access through the room without turning on a fan. In the afternoon, everyone has appointed to meet at New Heaven Diving School to see the staffs which they give some information and brief about Koh Tao. Then we talk about sustainable design so staffs take us to see the obvious problem in Koh Tao which is the waste on the beach. It flows into the sea because there are some people left it along the beach, when the sea wave hit the coast then it brings the waste into the sea.


Waste along the beach go into the sea

 

Staffs also take us to look around at the resort which has a design that use scraps of wood that were left from other works to make the pattern of ceiling, even the woods that are damaged from weevils the designer brings it to  be decorated and become outstanding in the resort. This is one way that designer can do to save an environment by creating things with something that are useless before.



At Viewpoint Resort

Inside the resort use most of nature materials

After we finished surveying this resort, we go back to the New Heaven Diving School. Staffs explain about the missions to save Koh Tao and the projects that they did about coral reefs nursery.   



Signate to remind people to save island's enviraonment

Discussion about coral reef nursery project

The structure that helps to create marine life habitat

They also talk about the main problem in Koh Tao which is obviously the exceeding waste in here and then make the plan for tomorrow to survey the waste problems in different location. After the meeting, staff suggests us to the New Heaven local restaurant which provides the local food. So we walk up and down the mountain instead of taking any car so that no pollution created.