Tsunami Country

We are currently in the area where the tsunami hit Thailand. The second anniversary of the disaster was on December 26th, 2006. There is nothing that reflects its destruction. Life goes on. There are a few businesses that never reopened, but it's impossible to see evidence of it happening.

We have met several foreigners who were here during the tsunami. Everyone's stroy is a little different. The common thing I hear is that no one knew what was happening. We met a family who was staying on an island called Ko Bulong Lea when it hit. Their son had just learned of tsunamis the week before in school in Sweden. He warned everyone that it was coming.

The locals didn't know what to think. We've been on two different islands, Ko Jum and another I can't remember, where the locals refused to come down the mountain for days. They thought it would return.

The most goosebumpy story I've heard is of a man who dropped his kids off on the beach to play at Hat Bang Ben, then went to visit his friend (the person who told us this story). His friend asked him to stay for coffee. The man said that he couldn't because he needed to pick up the kids (the beach was about 2K away). He took a picture of them waving and smiling 15 minutes before the tsunami hit. They were fine.

The only thing I've noticed, is that there are always signs posted warning of tsunami danger and signs telling you where to go in case of a tsunami.