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This page
is borrowed from the original at
www.PhuketDelight.com/Tsunami.htm
and was written only one week after the 2004
Boxing Day tsunami.
2 Jan
2005
It is now
a week after the tsunami hit. While Phuket
is doing well at picking itself up - Khao
Lak to the north of Phuket was hit very
hard. A favorite wintering area of
Europeans - many resorts were not just
damaged - they are GONE. Along with the
Thai staff who worked there, there are
currently over 2000 dead and many more
missing - probably never to be found - and
very unlikely to be found alive. Though we
all keep fingers crossed.
Phuket Area [Khao Lak] Tsunami Page
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[Left]
Nang Thong Resort in in Khao Lak
- one of the hardest hit areas
around Phuket. Between the
smashed Suzuki in the foreground
and the sea (about 120 meters
away) used to be about 30-40
bungalows - some right within
ten meters of the sea. |
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[right]
This is a shrine built by Thai
people to commemorate the spirit
of a missing or dead child.
Next to the doll are two incense
holders, a bit of play money,
and small bits of food and water
- to be used in the spirit
world. |
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[left]
Flowers are on the beach to
commemorate the dead and
missing. |
Help is coming!
What is quite comforting is seeing convoy
after convoy after convoy heading to Khao
Lak. On January 1st, I saw literally a
constant flow - over several hours - of
small conveys, large convoys - cars, trucks,
vans - all heading up the road - usually
packed full of food and supplies and
essentials. Almost all of these vehicles
were coming from Phuket - with Phuket
license plates.
Though Phuket was hit hard
- there was no hesitation to help our
neighbors.
A farang (foreigner) on
television explained the Thai concept of
nam chai or "water heart" which really
means - an out-flowing of the heart. It
was/is so very evident here. |
