Killer waves, then a day on the beach

The Advertiser ^ | 31dec04 | OLINKA KOSTER

[kahoutek]

IT seems almost impossible.

Just days after the tidal wave disaster, one of the devastated beaches was returning to normal yesterday.

On Sunday, Patong Beach was hit by a wall of water that swept into Phuket, claiming at least 120 lives.

Parasols, chairs, and other beach paraphernalia were swept to the top of the tree-lined beach, dragging helpless holidaymakers with them. It was at this beach that six-month-old Melina Heppell, of Perth, disappeared from her father's arms when the huge wave struck.

For some tourists yesterday, however, the tragedy was becoming a memory, albeit a vivid one, as they made the most of the weather and topped up their tans.

Many in bathers and bikinis, some lounged on sunbeds and others took a dip in the water that had claimed so many lives a few days earlier.

Their fun in the sun came despite warnings that aftershocks could follow the disaster that is likely to have killed as many as 100,000.

As many Westerners waited for news of missing loved ones others arrived to take holidays as usual.

Engineer Paul Cunliffe, from Manchester, arrived on an almost empty flight from Malaysia. Gin and tonic in hand, Mr Cunliffe said he and two friends were booked into a beach-front hotel that had escaped serious damage, and had been assured of a "wonderful holiday".

"Our friends think we're mad. The only risk we face I think is if there's another quake. We love the place that much and we thought we would take the risk," he said.

Further south at Surin Beach, where 10 died, tourists also were out in force.

[LibWrangler]

Yes, just what IS the proper etiquette for swimming and sunning with other people's body parts?

Is it crass to ignore the bits of body floating around, or should one lift a pinky in disdain and gingerly place a cocktail napkin over them until they can be removed?

[longjack]

No way! I really hope this is not true.

Yes way!

"Germany's "Spiegel-Online" ran a slideshow today today entitled Grieving Locals, Bathing Tourists

Slide 17

Caption

The first foreign tourists are relaxing again on Thailand's Patong Beach. Many others broke off their vacations after the catastrophe

Looks like a chick is topless in the picture, to boot.

I have worked as tour guide in some resorts in Europe and Northern Africa, so although this behavior doesn't surprise me, I still can't help but find it disgusting in this scenario.

BTW, Click on one of the links for more pictures of the Tsunami effects. This picture was the only one they ran of foreigners on the beach. There are 31 new pictures in all. "Spiegel" does a good job on the photo reports.

longjack

[longjack]

My link for Slide 17 above isn't correct.

Try this for Slide 17 and the rest of the slide show.

longjack

[BenLurkin]

Thanks.

[Dont Mention the War]

Those now homeless and without food or water should march en masse to these resorts and take them over.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

Who takes a six month old baby on vacation with them to the beach?

I did from earlier than that. She is still alive and kicking and loves the beach.

[jocon307]

"I really hope this is not true."

I think it's true alright. This is the second thread on this subject I've seen, and it is not a duplicate. The other was from the Guardian, this is from the HI paper, if I'm not mistaken.

Well, it may be good for the economy, but I don't think I could go through with a vacation in that area right now. Then again, if I'd spent thousands on it, and would lose my money, I might not feel I had much choice.

[Ciexyz]

I don't think I could walk on that sand without thinking of the people who perished there.

[SouthernFreebird]

That beach scene looks too clean to be one of the areas hit...? All the other pics show lots of debris and bodies, none of that here.

[NJJ]

This will sound disrespectful but a lot of good may be done if our Psy-Ops SF can get the word out that since Indonesia is predominantly Muslim and at the center of the disaster, then either our God is stronger than theirs or that Allah is extremely displeased with what the terrorists are doing.

[JBCiejka]

I could not do that either. Not in a million years. I can not phathom going on a vacation, when I am in the middle of a grieving country, and still trying to survive. To me it is arrogant and uncaring. Instead of lying on a beach they should be out there helping people.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I know the caption says it is the beach at Phuket...but how did it get so clean, so fast? Other (graphic) photos show debris and carnage, and this photo is so pristine. Did they fly in with the Sunbrella? Surely, beach rental equipment couldn't have made it thru the tsunami.

[JBCiejka]

I assumed everything was sucked out to sea, and there would be nothing left but the sand. I have heard, and I am not sure this is true, but the ocean churns itself, and cleans things off the bottom every so often.

[WildTurkey]

I've written my son and his fiance asking that they not go to Thailand on vacation next week. It just seems so disrespectful for them to go. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe getting the tourist industry up and running again is best for the Thai, but I'd rather they show some respect.

They can go, have a good time and show their respect also. It is not a zero sum game.

[Ciexyz]

Has the smell of death disappeared so quickly from the affected areas? Ditto for the smell of raw sewage...yuck!

[Babu]

[JBCiejka]

I don't understand how you can go and have a good time and show respect. If you were going to friends for a weekend, and their house just had burned down, would you go and have a good time? How would they put you up, and provide food and recreation? I must not go to the right places.

[WildTurkey]

I don't understand how you can go and have a good time and show respect.

You live a very narrow life. I would explain, but I fear you wouldn't understand.

[American_Centurion]

I have my flame suit on so I'll say what I'm thinking.

Good. Even though it was a catastrophy there is no reason to kill the #1 industry for those that can continue. I too feel sorrow for the loss of life, but we spend entirely too much time lamenting and wailing past the time for things to begin to return to normal.

There is a very large segment of people who thrive on prolonging mourning. I say get on with life because today you just came one day closer to death.

[JBCiejka]

PLEASE explain.