Tsunami...

It seemed to close for comfort, yet at the same time so far from home. Watching the reports as they first game in on that x'mas weekend on TV was cereal. As information came in and the death toll raised, the tsunami changed my reaction from “freaky!” earlier on to “so many gone” later in the day.

I was planning a trip to Phuket Thailand that weekend for a whole week of relaxation, but my friends who were organizing the trip just couldn't get things together on time. Yes I was disappointed at the failed plans, then I switched on the TV, and you can guess how that feeling of disappointment quickly changed to a feeling of bewilderment. But this isn't a story about a near death experience because it wasn't. I feel I have no right to talk about how I almost “was there” compared to the people who were there and survived it.

As is normal human nature, a tragedy like this brings out the best in man, and the worst. From the people who left everything behind to travel to Asia to try and help, to the bastards who took this opportunity to take orphaned children from their shattered homes and sell them to the highest bidder. I've heard so many stories that have uplifted my spirit, and stories that have made me feel like “I hope God is going to smite us sometime soon”.

I believe everything happens for a reason, and I believe some time down the road God's grand plan for the tsunami will be understood. Then again maybe it never will be. I guess that's how the Great Lord work.

Interesting Story :

My boss was in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit and she barely got out of it a live. Her story is so amazing, bizarre and scary all at once. She was in her beach lodge when she first heard the screaming. By the time she opened the front door to see what all the yelling was about the first wave was literally on top of her. She was swept 1KM inland by the waves, and just barely managed to tie her self to a coconut tree before the tides started residing and sucking all in its wake back to sea . ( a lot of the people who drowned were those who were sucked out to see on the tsunami's way out ).

When the sea level resided, she was naked except for her panties. Everything else had been torn off by the force of the waves. She looked around her and dead bodies were everywhere. Amazingly she got through it all with only some scratches and bruises.