Killer waves, then a day on the beach

By OLINKA KOSTER

31dec04

 

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.

Now that is the very definition of classless. :headshake

I am so happy 100,000 people getting killed didn't mess up your holiday :fyou

Not only is that bad, but who knows if there could be diseases going around there.

I'm sure they got the cholera discount.

 

I wonder how many tourists headed that way decided to volunteer and help those affected instead of cancelling the trip outright.

That's f***ing sad. People like that make me so f***ing sick! It is a f***ing shame and these people need to go f*** a monkey.

Wow.... that's a lot of f-bombs.

 

If that post was a tv show, it'd be F-Troop.

Wow.... that's a lot of f-bombs.

 

If that post was a tv show, it'd be F-Troop.