Firstly let us compliment both of you for your moving and quite to the point report!
Secondly, a BIG hug and admiration from all of us for your brilliant paintings!
We hope that you will have much success with your art career.
Although we long have put the actual Tsu… behind us we are happy to try to promote your artistic impressions - if you wish us to do so.
Don’t laugh!
A young German lady has written a book about Arugam Bay (”Der Krokodilfelsen”) and I doubt that she would have sold many copies if we wouldn’t have promoted her work.
Alex, I am happy to draw a line!
There is no shadow of a doubt that everyone who needed care (medical or mentally) was perfectly entitled to be evacuated.
I only have a problem with a few guys who didn’t even get their shoes wet, like the Italian family who stayed with us and checked out and went up and away.
They asked, through their agents, for a refund of the prepaid accommodation - and we never heard from them - let alone having been supported in any way.
Or the UK family who received a hero’s welcome in the UK and published their account in a similar tune. Some even made a TV drama documentary out of their fantastic deeds -which locally nobody knows anything about, because some things never happened.
This is my only complaint. We have great admiration for guys like you.
I don’t want to talk about the other Italian man - he fooled me long enough and I also know that he no friend of Neelu any more.
The Oprah Whinfrey show?
Again, a lot more has happened and I have a totally different opinion of them - better say nothing. It is a commercial show, they are there to make money, nothing else.
I found them to be greedy and the news reel I managed to sent to them under very difficult conditions was never paid for….

I am only sad and sorry that I upset many with my sense of humour at the time. everyone deals with stress in a different way. And my way was, with hindsight the wrong path.
I realize now that a lot more could have been done, if I had also jumped on the chopper and presented myself in a few shows, in sobbing interviews and maybe working for the good of the Community from abroad.
Alex & Fleur:
Of course you have to come back!
One day, we’ll have a great, draft cool natural beer together on the terrace and this will surely put the finishing touches to our life story.
As long as you avoid the nights before the full moon and our parties that is )
Cheers,
great to know you both,
Lots of Love
Fred, Somlak = ca. 55.4%
SVH TEam
Arugam Bay

Hey Fred,

Sorry if anything in the account distressed you - it was written a few days after we returned to Australia for family and friends. Naturally everybody wanted to know what happened and it seemed easier to put the account in words rather than tell the story over again and again. I didn’t intend it to bring back any bad memories or greivances. I never meant to criticise your party either - I wasn’t saying it was a bad party, just that we weren’t in the mood - as you say I’m sure that many (including us at certain times) would love the parties you put on. I’m very glad to hear about your personal happiness and wish all the best to you and Somla. Thankyou for telling me about Neelu - we have indeed thought about him often and were able to speak to Andrea upon return to Australia and send them a small amount of money (unfortunately we are not wealthy but we tried to send back as much as we could to both you and them). I hold no blame towards you whatsoever for coming and telling us about another wave - as you say you were merely relaying information.

As for the repatriation, obviously that is something you won’t ever understand. Fleur was hospitalised upon return and her leg infection was so serious that had she remained she may not have a leg anymore. Am i glad we went? Yes. Without my glasses I have trouble seeing more than a couple of metres in front of me. I’m not asking for your sympathy, merely trying to illustrate to you that people that are sick, injured or somehow disabled are not in a position to help others - they need help themsleves.

I didn’t see any “heroes” on hero’s hill. But I didn’t see any villains either. I saw a group of people who had been in town for a couple of days, had endured a trauma, many of whom had quite serious injuries, all of whom were sleep deprived, some of whom had children. Yes, they were the lucky ones but just as much as the local survivors they needed help and treatment. Support came to Arugam Bay in the form of trained aid organisations who were healthy, fit and in a position to provide proper help. I know that you found much of this help to be incompetent - that is sad and distressing to hear.

I’m sure I speak for all of the survivors when I say that I wish I was in a positon to stay and help. A lot of us when we returned sent money, arranged fundraising - one survivor was in the fortunate position of being able to inspire someone to donate a million dollars specifically to the Arugam Bay region.

It is two years, as you say, and it sounds as if there is a lot of happiness in your life. If all of us learnt anything two years ago it is that happiness should be clung to. You may never forgive the visitors that were unfortunate enough to be in the tsunami but perhaps in time you may at least be able to empathise or understand their wish to seek medical treatment and be with their loved ones.

I’ve never taken offence at anything you’ve said or did, even though I’m sure some of your comments following the tsunami were intended to be offensive, or at least, provocative. I am aware that you made a tremendous contribution to the community and worked under the most stressful conditions possible. I only wish you and Arugam Bay, the best. One day Fleur and I will return and then hopefully we will have a beer.

All the best

Alex

Sorry if anything in the account distressed you - it was written a few days after we returned to Australia for family and friends. Naturally everybody wanted to know what happened and it seemed easier to put the account in words rather than tell the story over again and again. I didn’t intend it to bring back any bad memories or greivances. I never meant to criticise your party either - I wasn’t saying it was a bad party, just that we weren’t in the mood - as you say I’m sure that many (including us at certain times) would love the parties you put on. I’m very glad to hear about your personal happiness and wish all the best to you and Somla. Thankyou for telling me about Neelu - we have indeed thought about him often and were able to speak to Andrea upon return to Australia and send them a small amount of money (unfortunately we are not wealthy but we tried to send back as much as we could to both you and them). I hold no blame towards you whatsoever for coming and telling us about another wave - as you say you were merely relaying information.

As for the repatriation, obviously that is something you won’t ever understand. Fleur was hospitalised upon return and her leg infection was so serious that had she remained she may not have a leg anymore. Am i glad we went? Yes. Without my glasses I have trouble seeing more than a couple of metres in front of me. I’m not asking for your sympathy, merely trying to illustrate to you that people that are sick, injured or somehow disabled are not in a position to help others - they need help themsleves.

I didn’t see any “heroes” on hero’s hill. But I didn’t see any villains either. I saw a group of people who had been in town for a couple of days, had endured a trauma, many of whom had quite serious injuries, all of whom were sleep deprived, some of whom had children. Yes, they were the lucky ones but just as much as the local survivors they needed help and treatment. Support came to Arugam Bay in the form of trained aid organisations who were healthy, fit and in a position to provide proper help. I know that you found much of this help to be incompetent - that is sad and distressing to hear.

I’m sure I speak for all of the survivors when I say that I wish I was in a positon to stay and help. A lot of us when we returned sent money, arranged fundraising - one survivor was in the fortunate position of being able to inspire someone to donate a million dollars specifically to the Arugam Bay region.

It is two years, as you say, and it sounds as if there is a lot of happiness in your life. If all of us learnt anything two years ago it is that happiness should be clung to. You may never forgive the visitors that were unfortunate enough to be in the tsunami but perhaps in time you may at least be able to empathise or understand their wish to seek medical treatment and be with their loved ones.

I’ve never taken offence at anything you’ve said or did, even though I’m sure some of your comments following the tsunami were intended to be offensive, or at least, provocative. I am aware that you made a tremendous contribution to the community and worked under the most stressful conditions possible. I only wish you and Arugam Bay, the best. One day Fleur and I will return and then hopefully we will have a beer.

All the best

Alex

Unlike the rest of the forgetful world the Four of us will always treasure this particular date, I have no doubt.
I am also thankful that we were privileged to have played a tiny part of of this Century’s most amazing history and
The best of it all is: we survived the whole mess!
We hope that both of you have overcome your traumatic experience, exactly two years ago. o doubt you received plenty of support, help and good will.

Today, and in total frustration it is MY turn to use the keyboard as a mini therapy.
As I type a few of my unsorted my thoughts I am actually unsure if anyone is ever interested in any of it.
Similar your your account which may have got lost in the vast Internet at the time; there were so many postings; many in a rather similar, but less articulate tune…my dribbling seems to be boring to people these days.
I sadly missed the chances 2 years ago to be evactated and be welcomed ‘home’ into a caring world.
This is why we, only today, downloaded your entire text, and felt I felt compelled to respond.

For us -we are still stuck here on the very Sea Front ever since- nothing much has changed.
We are still without any, but our very our own, Early Warning System.
The only reason we are connected to the Net tonight is because our high Tech Emergency Inmarsat system bleeped to tell us that there has been a 7.2 quake off Taiwan a few minutes ago.
I worked out the coordinates in a whiff - and there is no danger for us. This time.
My son in the Philppines might see a little swell of 3ft or so that’s all.
Also we note that a little downbeat place called DummFies in Scotland seems to be moaning that a couple of pictures are hanging loop sided due to a mini quake tonight.
My heart reaches out to all the affected…
But it made good news on our famous Boxing Day; didn’t it?
Our own trauma, however has lasted just a little bit longer that yours - or most of yours.
Certainly more than the couple hours of floods we admired, two years back.
This show of nature - as I called it then - was totally beyond human control.
As you rightly recall my opinion: “This was somewhat unusual“; that’s all.
I drink my G&T to this typical understatement, even now.

What troubles our simple minds, to this very day, is what people of the world, mainly represented by something alien outfit called ‘NGO’s” or ( is it ENJOY’s ?) have actually made of this unique chance which nature so kindly presented to us.

One year ago we got together and recalled our experiences, having some very quiet two hours sitting on the beach, reflecting, fobbing off some inquisitive and insensitive journalists, remembering. Simon had actually returned, and he was here with us, crying.
The Journalists never returned for an interview..with him or us…
But HOPE remained. But that has also sadly disappeared by now.
For a change, we have nothing to do anymore, we run out of funds, hope and energy.
So I decided to post a reply, give you a bit of an update to your moving account.

Dear Alex & sweet Flower,

Sorry for having spoiled your honeymoon!
Like with our trance music and the early morning surprise! We didn’t order the bath a down.
I just feel I want to write - same-same like you did, back then, on high & dry grounds, in order to get things off your mind.
I don’t want to criticise, the main motive is not to correct a few passages - I just want to close a chapter- like you did.

Party
Sorry you didn’t like it; but many guys actually do.
I know that our parties are not for everyone; although it’s only once a month.
But without offering a little entertainment, what other magnet has the Bay got to attract visitors across 10 hrs. of bumpy roads?

Conflict with fishermen
This has got a lot worse since, due to the one sided support.
When the Bay had 150 boats in 2004 we now have 3,500 or so donated ones.
If any of the affected hotels could pack up and relocate to any of the 1,000 empty Bays anywhere along the East Coast: They would move for sure.
There are only Two Bays earmarked for Tourism on the entire East Coast.
Why the fishing folk has to concentrate on one of them, AbaY is unclear; why NGO’s have to promote this conflict is beyond us.

Somlak
Is my Thai ‘Partner’.
This strong Afro-Thai woman has since been described as “Mother Theresa of Sri Lanka” by Canadian media.
We were close before, but since we both learned to swim 2 years ago, we are inseparable.
Indeed, Somlak is pregnant right now, just as Sri was two years ago.

Trauma
Everybody deals with disasters in a different way.
Some are shocked and paralysed, unable to act at once.
Others, like Neelu and myself spring into action and never look back, ignore our own safety.
The depression sets in only when there is nothing more useful to do.
Like now.

Neelu
This is the name of your Rasta hero of Arugam Bay.
The Kataragama guy who shined most under pressure situations like that fateful day.
Neelo came for our party, and he was working with an Italian guy called Andrea.
Both worked tirelessly for weeks - Neelo for the Common good, Andrea’s commitment is controversial to say the last…
Neelo was actually arrested some months later on what many feel were trumped up charges.
Despite appeals, none of the guys he looked after so well contacted him, helped him, nobody even sent a message of good luck to him in jail in Batticaloa.
That alone gave us food for thought….

Fazi
He is the little ‘Thai’ guy on duty that morning.
He went with me to the remains of your cabana, in between the 1st and second waves and he recovered some of your belongings which you were crying for. Such as glasses I recall.
Fazi sadly lost his job with us, because we were unable to pay his salary.
He is a great, local boy and brave & loyal - a shame that with all the “Job creations” and so called sustained Livelihood programs he was one of many victims which fell through the rescue nets.
he should have pretended to be a humble fisherman….

Sri & Wayne
They have a little baby son now.
Sri was about 3 months pregnant, 2 years ago.
The little family, which runs Galaxy Lounge, survived and recovered rather well.
They are in the UK now I am told.

Simon
A truly great guy - with a personal problem.
He is the ONLY guy who actually returned - to the spot as far as we know.
All others went up in the air and we have not been contacted by anyone to speak of since.
I believe Si and his mum came to see YOU in Australia?
Another coincidence: On the very same same spot where Si sustained his leg injury and were he draped it with an impressive tattoo I now sport a similar decoration resulting from an incident a few months ago. We are partners.

Upsetting
You were upset recalling my (said) report that another quake is on its way that night.
To have caused you so much concern at this time depresses me deeply.
In fact, I only mentioned what we had been told, and I returned back to the beach to take care of the injured and survivors.

In contrast to our plight down in the Bay itself all of you were sitting high and dry on Hero’s Hill (as the locals call it ever since), with a nice camp fire and food and drink delivered from our stores to you by servants such as Neelo.
Sorry, but I think I will close now.
Because we are entering a chapter in my troubled and still disturbed mid which I am still trying to come to terms with:
Whilst I fully understand that injured people, or the few who just couldn’t cope with the impressions had the be evacuated I can, to this VERY DAY not comprehend why everyone else, incl. able bodied, also medically qualified people went off into the air and left the badly injured, trapped and much worse victims behind.
Worse still, the few left behind, like Neelo, Somlak, Parnom and myself done our level best, for two full years.
We have learned to live with the fact that we are ignored and receive no assistance - but we still find it difficult to accept that we get criticised and moaned at to this very day for all our efforts.
This posting might get corrected or updated when we calmed down again, and we have another reason to connect to the Internet.

YOU are quite correct though:
I should have concentrated in the GOOD in brings out in people - but from our prospective this has been rather difficult, because we lost sight of such noble behaviour.

The no-nonsese Afro-Thai woman next to me calms me down, as she always does:
“At least we have each other - and a little baby coming to us soon”>
What else can we wish for?
PEACE. Maybe?