[LANMaster]

after

[LANMaster]

Ghouls rush in
On Phuket, disaster's just an inconvenience to rich who gripe about views, bubbly
BY RAFAEL D. FRANKEL
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
December 31, 2004 31, 2004

PHUKET, Thailand - While volunteers struggled to collect bodies washing up on the once-pristine beaches of this upscale resort isle, ghoulish tourists rolled out their towels yesterday, doffed their bikini tops and vacationed like nothing had happened.

On Patong Beach and Kata Beach - where hundreds died or disappeared four days ago - the smell of suntan lotion wafted from the shore as a new influx of tourists determinedly ignored the carnage around them, frolicking in the surf or reading under umbrellas.

An indignant Russian who arrived at the Novotel Phuket Resort on the day after the tsunami loudly complained that there was no champagne reception.

Other guests have pestered the hotel's grieving staff with complaints that their rooms lack good views.

Belgian tourist Desmet Romain, 42, questioned whether he should have stayed on despite all the death and misery.
But the prospect of missing the New Year's beach holiday he had been looking forward to all year was too much to bear.
"I didn't want to go back to Belgium where it is so cold," Romain said. "And in this hotel, it's like everything is totally normal."

Some Thais are amazed that the foreigners can be so insensitive to be sipping cocktails poolside while surrounded by death and grief.

"I think the people are good, but I don't know why they stay here now when we are so sad," a waiter at the Novotel said, asking that his name not be reported out of fear of losing his job.

The beaches of Patong and Kata were filling up with tourists and Thais when the tsunami hit Sunday. Nearly 300 are confirmed dead, including more than 100 tourists.

Another 1,600 people are still missing from Phuket beaches, and there is an army of grieving family members searching for them.

As bodies continue to wash up on Phuket's shores and are stacked in makeshift morgues, the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket is erecting big tents, installing cotton candy machines and bringing in caged animals in preparation for the gala New Year's Eve circus party it promised.

"We do want to keep it a happy theme," Sheraton marketing communications manager Zahid Ali said. "Our guests came here during the holidays and they do want to enjoy it."

But in a nod to the tragedy surrounding them, the Sheraton canceled its $2,500 fireworks display and will observe a moment of silence, Ali said.

N.Y. Daily News

So let me get this straight - the world hates us, we are the imperialists, yada yada yada.......yet this behavior is quite ok?

I am just disgusted.

[snapback]682776940[/snapback]

[eggplant43]

Sounds like a great modern day Shakespearean play/tragedy. The insularity of some people is simply beyond belief. I believe in Karma, and wouldn't want to have theirs

[LANMaster]

Just what I was thinking, Bruce.

If I had planned a vacation there, I wouldn't cancel. I'd take the opportunity to help the whole time I was there.

These tourists are wasting an opportunity to make a difference at a time when people need help the most. What utter fools. They'll never know real happiness.

[bonzobob999]

This is a hard one, you have to realize that this area of the world relies almost totally on tourism in fact in some of the unaffected areas locals are asking tourist to still travel.
I certainly wouldn't take my family but may travel there as you said to "help". I can't see why the heck people would want to sunbathe apart from the disrespect theres the chance that a body might wash up on the beach, and with the temperature the stench must be pretty overpowering generally(sorry). Of course these people that have traveled there may still pay the ultimate price, the possibility of some massive aftershocks.........we hope not.

[DiSaidSo]

If the guy had sounded the alarm and then there wasn't a tsunami, he would've been fired. He was screwed either way. Hindsight is 20/20.

[eggplant43]

I understand the need for those tourist dollars, and if I was headed that way, I'd continue, and help all I could. Just holding parentless children could be such a gift at a time like this.

For people complaining about a champagneless arrival ceremony, may they receive what they so richly deserve, or better yet, may they have an epiphany, and come over from the dark side.

[LANMaster]

So true.

[LANMaster]

I wonder if this could be a tsunami picture.

[DiSaidSo]

That looks fake to me.

[LANMaster]

I agree it looks unnatural. Obviously a scan from the center of a surfing magazine.
But it doesn't look photoshopped.

[LANMaster]

Swedish Boy Vanishes From Thai Hospital
Tuesday, January 04, 2005

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Swedish and Thai police said Tuesday they were searching for a 12-year-old Swedish boy last seen leaving a Thai hospital with an unknown man in the aftermath of the south Asian tsunami.

A boy matching the description of 12-year-old Kristian Walker was last seen with a German man at a hospital near Khao Lak on Monday, but has since vanished, despite a desperate search by his American grandfather, Daniel Walker, family and police said.

Kristian's father, Dan Walker, said he was fearful that his son may have fallen prey to pedophiles that have been known to gather in Thailand, or child trafficking rings, but wasn't sure.

"I can only guess, and you can only guess, what has happened to him," Walker told the AP.

While he acknowledged that his son may have already been taken out of Thailand, Walker said he has urged Thai authorities to send Kristian's picture to all border patrols and airports to help prevent him from leaving the country.

He was listed as missing by international law enforcement agencies worldwide on Tuesday.

In the wake of the devastating tsunami, there have been unconfirmed reports of dozens of orphaned children taken by unidentified people, some of them possibly child traffickers.


link

[LANMaster]

Please understand that I realize the tragedy struck the local population as well.
Seems the news coverage is more focussed on the tourists who are sharing in the sufferring as well.

[eggplant43]

Oh my!

[LANMaster]

..... and the tragedy continues.