For those of you asking whether the recent disaster in SEA will affect our plans, we appreciate your concern, but the quick answer is not really. The vast majority of SEA was not affected by the tsunami but those areas that were affected are destroyed. It is a horrible tragedy and our hearts go out to everyone who lost loved ones and whose lives have been devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.

We were planning to visit some of the affected areas in Thailand, including doing a live-aboard snorkeling tour in the Similian islands (www.similantour.nu) in March. We will decide in March whether that is still a good idea, or even possible. If it makes sense to go - we will, if not - we'll go somewhere else. The affected areas could use our tourism dollars but we certainly don't want to interfere with any disaster relief.

And Mom - quit worrying!