"Even given the international date line, it didn't occur on December 26, did it?"
It hit the west side of Phuket Island (where almost all the tourism is) mid Sunday morning on Dec. 26. Many, many tourists and locals working in the bars and restaurants were still sleeping from staying up late the night before. If it was 4 hours or so later, there would have been thousands more dead.
I remember exactly where I was when my friend SMS'd me from Phuket with the news in the early afternoon; it's one of those moments that I will never forget.
Last night, Channel News Asia had a documentary on the tsunami and aftermath. I told my wife: "turn the channel, you don't want to see it"; then not much later, they had footage of pulling out children and babies one after another from the mud and debris.
I still have a hard time believing that it actually happened. My prayers go out to the survivors and all of those who lost loved ones.
Okay, thanks. I was traveling abroad and I thought it happened Christmas Eve my time, but it had to be Christmas night.