Kenya will go on with his 55th Birthday Party as originally schedule, February 9, 2005. It will also be the grand reopening of the Seahag Restaurant, so if you can be here, join Kenya for a genuinely good evening.

We can't attempt to diminish the seriousness of what has happened here, and we do honor and remember the lives that were lost. And Patong remains Patong, with all of the reasons for people loving the place.

The cleanup and the reconstruction is going amazingly well, all over Patong. Probably 70 per cent of the businesses in Patong were not hit by the flood waters, so there is so much ready and available right now for guests and visitors.

And it is heartwarming and inspiring to see so many of the businesses opening now, right on the beach road, even if it is just setting up clean tables with white linens and polished glasses, serving ice cold drinks and whatever it is they can do.

The Beach itself is in marvelous condition in Patong. The photo below was taken ten minutes after the other photos on this page were taken. Things are in order, and the charm and magic really never left, just was buried under too much sand and debris, and way too much water. People like Kenya's, hundreds of them, are reclaiming their businesses in great fashion, and the place will shine.

And, we wish you were here.