Exactly one year ago - Thailand

Exactly one year ago, Wendy and I were in Thailand scuba diving the uninhabitted Similan Islands when the now infamous Boxing Day Tsunami sped past us and proceeded to devestate the entire Indian Ocean region, including the coast of Thailand and its outlaying Similan islands. Were it not for our location in the open ocean, we may not be here to recount the events that changed our lives forever.

We did not however "survive" the Tsunami, we merely experienced it. The poor souls hanging bleeding in trees for hours before being rescued survived the Tsunami. The children who were left with no families, or families left with no children, the hundreds of thousands of fishermen, farmers and others who relied on the world around them for sustinence and had to rebuild their lives from nothing - they all survived the Tsunami.

Experiencing the Tsunami was humbling nonetheless. I received an assignment from Asian Geographic Magazine to cover the aftermath in Thailand. The devestation caused by the force of the waves still to this day is unfathomable to me, even after seeing it with my own eyes. Events like these really make you think about the things that matter in life.

Thailand will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

A year later, I understand that Phuket is back in business, although Kaoh Lak, hit hardest by the Tsunami, is still struggling. So much foreign aid and investment flowed in to help restore the economy of some of the hard hit tourist areas. The Phuket and Kaoh Lak region represents roughly 4% of the GDP of Thailand, therefore it was a necessary investment to make in restoring the island and surrounding area as quickly as possible. The coral reefs are in good shape, with some exception of the shallow reefs that felt the full brutal force sweeping past them. The reef life is very resilient and is just as prolific today as it was a year ago. I look forward to going back to do some diving and to visit some friends soon!

Here are links to the archives of my original recounts of the events of Dec 26, 2004.