In The Wake Of The Tsunami
Phuket, Thailand
2/25/2006
Phuket is a very beautiful place - it's still a beautiful place. In fact, as I rode around the island yesterday you'd never know this place got hit by a tsunami a little over a year ago. There are a few spots here and there, but you really have to look hard. But - as I rode up and down the coast, I always had one eye on the water.
They've put up towers along the beach with alarms and everywhere they're building. You wouldn't think so, but they're still building big hotels on the beach. You can see a lot of buildings have been repaired and they've put down some new sod over at the Club Med. And quite a few brand new buildings.
As I walk around here I can't help but imagine what it must have been like here on that day. I've seen a lot of pictures, but I haven't asked anyone about it, just knowing that everyone here suffered losses I can't even begin to imagine.
After a day and a half, I've had enough of Phuket. It's high season here and there are just too many tourists and everything costs twice as much. No $10 bungalows here. Today I'm off to the Phi Phi Islands for a couple of days. This place got hit pretty badly by the tsunami and I'm curious to see what it looks like now.
