Oh, the days when it would take us weeks to get this information. On CNN today, I was watching people enjoying the beaches in Phuket, and the anchorperson was bewailing the fact that people (Westerners) were enjoying their time there when there was the remote possibility of a body washing up on shore. You have to look at this not only sensitively, but from the viewpoint of these residents/natives of Thailand for whom tourism is a great part of their GNP! They are most industrious, and so they know more than us what is the best way to proceed! They have their own ideas on what side their bread is buttered, and rise to the occassion. The reporter, who was from the area, was quite taken aback, and reminded the anchor person that though lives have been lost (many breadwinners as well), these people are survivors and move forward to do so. They just have to rebuild and move forward.

I was also interested in Penang, since that was a mentioned alternative port to Phuket, and surfed the web a bit (I was in Penang in March 2004), and I found a lot of pictures. Yes, some damage, but I was amazed at the pictures of the clean-up in progress. Huge high-rises were left intact, it was the shacks right on the water in front of them that were decimated.

I have not had the spirit yet to e-mail my former husband about the assessment of loss of fishermen in these areas where he depends on them. I have a feeling it was so great I almost don't want to hear it.