| It has been just a little bit more than three years | | | | and have not been implemented as widely |
| ago that the popular tourist destination Phuket | | | | postulated after the tidal waves had struck in |
| was hit by the Tsunami. We all remember the | | | | 2004. Likewise the beach zoning plan allowing |
| terrifying pictures of this greatest natural | | | | people to escape from giant waves also appears |
| catastrophe in the recorded history broadcasted | | | | to have been forgotten: The beach-strip |
| around the world. Most of us living in Thailand had | | | | extending 30 meters from the high-tide level that |
| friends and family or new people directly who lost | | | | the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department |
| their lives in the tsunami or were inflicted physical | | | | demanded should remain empty and free from |
| and mental hardship from the tidal waves along | | | | any obstacles is now packed with chairs, dining |
| the coastlines if the Indian ocean. Phuket, also | | | | tables and booths of vendors selling food and |
| called the pearl of the Andaman sea, one of the | | | | souvenirs. |
| world's most popular tropical tourist destination | | | | In fact only warning signs indicating in which |
| because of its many attractions ranging from | | | | direction to run if a tsunami ever were to strike |
| nightlife to stunning natural beauty and a whole | | | | again reminds visitors of the disaster from three |
| array of water sports, the years to come | | | | years ago. |
| suddenly appeared destined to loose momentum. | | | | As an irony of history the second anniversary of |
| What has changed since then? What have we | | | | the tsunami was overshadowed by scandal |
| learned? What has happend to the risning star | | | | involving money donated from abroad. A recent |
| among the tropical islands that was increasingly | | | | letter to the Thai Royal Police signed by diplomats |
| gaining a reputation for yacht charter and deap | | | | of seven countries asked for an internal audit |
| seas fishing as well? | | | | investigating of the use of sixty million Thai Baht |
| Anchalee Wanitch Thepbutr, president of the | | | | in donations. |
| Phuket Provincial Administration Organization, said | | | | So, until further notice Phuket remains a top |
| during the second anniversary of the disaster that | | | | destination for sun and fun seekers. Especially for |
| the island's tourism industry has already got back | | | | yachting, sailing and fishing Phuket has become |
| to the stage before the tsunami. | | | | increasingly renown. |
| The post-tsunami devastations along the popular | | | | The common opinion of locals in Phuket appears |
| beaches of Patong, Kamala, Karon and Kata have | | | | to be that now everybody would just run and not |
| been replaced by new hotels, restaurants and | | | | wait until the wave comes. And that is probably |
| street markets and are once again bustling with | | | | the remaining lesson from the 2004 disaster: |
| foreign and local tourists. | | | | Tsunamis can happen in Thailand, before that was |
| Disaster evacuation plans appear to be history | | | | thought to be impossible. |