A terrible Tsunami ripped across the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004 just after 08:30 am following an 8.7 magnitude earthquake centered around Aceh on the Indonesian coastline. The Tsunami hit countries across the Indian Ocean from Indonesia itself to Sri Lanka and India, and as far as the Africa coast. The death and destruction was massive. The Tsunami took over 273, 435 lives, 30,957 in Sri Lanka alone.

We had decided to return to Sri Lanka after falling in love with the place on our late November visit. Our plan was to go over the holidays and take advantage of the low airfares. Online diver friends from the UK would also be there for their honeymoon. I had hoped to finally meet them in person (they spearfish and she had previously lived in Qatar).

We spoke heartily about our love w/Sri Lanka on our return with the compound caretaker Harun who was from there and updated him on current happenings etc. In early December, the local power company, citing technical problems, issued a "bill correction" and charged everyone in our compound serveral thousand riyals in back fees for electric and water. This bill most likely saved our lives as after paying it, we no longer could afford to fly over to Sri Lanka for Christmas.

The photos we have posted here on our site show areas that were all destroyed or damaged heavily in the case of large hotels with the exception of the moon stone mines. The diving shop for tourists with Some and all the young men he provided jobs for (who in turn supported their entire families) was completely gone including the 20 sets of brand-new US made diving equipment he had save years to buy. The turtle sanctuary, the nature healing farm, even the hotel room we had stayed in... all gone. The train that flippped over killing many was up the street from Some's dive shop. Reading this, I am sure you can remember the TV footage with all the reporters up on the high-wall overlooking a cricket field in Galle-The same location our photos were taken from but with all the beauty wiped away. Seeing the hotel we had stayed in get hit over and over on television really hit home. The Tsunami really effected Maggie and I having just come from there and made so many friends.

Our online friends from the UK were severely injured when a boat came through the front wall of their honeymoon house, hitting her in the chest. Her husband hung on to her as they were sucked out to and a neighbor found them and rescued them. They were eventually found by rescuers and evacuated to the UK for treatment 2 weeks later.

Maggie and I were on the phone trying to get through for 10 days straight to get information. After about 2 weeks, we were happy to learn from Some and his team all made it as did their families. They had nothing at all left but their lives and were thankful. Lindsey and his family had all made it as well and were grateful we called. They lived in a mid-sized set of buildings near Bentota and have their quarters over the ground-floor shops. All survived. Harun our compound caretakers villagers all survived after running to a small rise as the Tsunami came in. The village was scraped completely off the earth and they lost everything. Harun had saved for 6 years sending home durable goods and money to help the village. Their loss was great.

The happy side of the story is that we did not lose any friends and they did not lose any family. With so many dead it is a wonder. Maggie and I will return to Sri Lanka, next time with Caden. The best support we can think of is to travel there on vacation. By visiting, having a guide/driver, and staying in a hotel and going diving/taking tours, we directly help (and put money in the pockets of) the everyday Sri Lankan people and their families who really need it. We hear so much, even now, about all the aid money that has still not reached those who need it...

ok-I am done with my rant... go back and see the beautiful photos of Sri Lanka!

anton