Thursday, April 12, 2012

Reminiscence on Thursday: Lest We Forget

It was a public holiday here yesterday. Besides helping Mama with housekeeping, we also spent a lazy afternoon watching whatever Brad is watching on TV. Then we saw a newsflash about a massive earthquake off the island of Sumatera at around 1638hrs Malaysian time. It sent Mama into a panic and she frantically tried to contact her colleagues in Acheh. She couldn't get anyone via phone or email. Then she started calling London to see if anyone from headquarters know what's going on. Our afternoon that started so easy peasy became hectic. It was only after 10.00pm that we got news about Mama's colleagues and by that time the tsunami alert was already withdrawn.

We sort of "interviewed" Mama about her experience in 2004, when the big one hit Asia, and reports say even all the way to Somalia. Mama said it was a disaster that she hoped she will never have to see again. The devastation was massive and in some areas, still unresolved. It wasn't just the loss of hundreds of thousands of life, it was also the untold damage to livelihood as homes were broken, businesses collapsed, schools inundated, boats beyond repair....Thus, the hardest part was to pick up your life and move on...

Lest we forget, here are some photographs that Mama and Dad took while visiting some of the places affected by that Boxing Day 2004 tsunami.

Mass grave of 46,718 lives in Acheh, Indonesia, this picture was taken in 2006, people perished while having breakfast.
Badly damaged residential area in Acheh, this photo was taken three months after the disaster.
This is Komala Beach, Phuket, Thailand in January 2005. Mamy people perished while sunbathing.
This is in Kuala Muda, Kedah, Malaysia in January 2005. Many people perished while attending a wedding.
Angelina's note: We have more gory pictures (you know....body bags, blood, mutilated limbs etc) but decided not to shock all you kitties. There was one of a blind kitten in Acheh that Mama cried on everytime she sees that picture. After all these years, we thought Mama would have been hardened by the sufferings she keeps seeing but no... my Mama has a soft heart (purrrlease don't tell her I told you that). Kitties, spare a minute to remember all those that have gone before us, humans or companions alike. purrr....meow!

29 comments:

Nana said...

Dear Angie's mama,

I sincerely pray for their safety.
I hope your friends are all safe!

Pat said...

It is hard for me to forget that day - because I now live next to the sea. Yesterday, we listened to the news, and knew that 2 am was the time the tsunami would hit, if it hit. Thank god, there was no tsunami this time around.

But, just so you know: we live on a bit of a hill, and are quite a way from the sea. Before it hits us, the tsunami will have to cross a road, a kampong, and many of our neighbours. I guess we'll have time to make it to higher ground.

But, my brain tells me that we don't have to worry. But, we keep our eyes and ears pealed, just in case lah.

Anonymous said...

C-I-S: Hope that everyone's safe. Someone asked me today why do people continue staying in areas which are so prone to tsunami and earthquakes like Aceh. I told him that perhaps he needs to go to Aceh and *feel* the answers to his questions. I feel that these are some of life's questions that cannot be answered through words only.

Ellen Whyte said...

They were lucky this time but that zone is so active, that we wouldn't be surprised if there are more shocks.

The Furries of Whisppy said...

We're glad the tsunami did not happen. Did you feel the tremors at your place?

PS/ Mommy didn't even know it was a public holiday yesterday. Err...what was it for?

m.q said...

yeap...our Bean still remember clearly about the tsunami. surely a disaster and hoping it will never happen again.

BoBo Salem
Meow Meow Family

meowwmania said...

mmg agak risau tsunami berlaku smlm sbb gegaran tu agak kuat kan tp alhamdulillah Allah makbulkan doa kita semua

mungkin ini sbgai peringatan utk kita semua..

Monyet King said...

takut nak komen, nanti kena marah

Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal said...

I wasn´t born in 2004 , but both my mom and dad remember that tsunami !
Our neigbors had friends that was killed by the tsunami in Thailand.
The had sent a text-message that they where on the beach and taking the last swim before the flight was taking them home to Sweden. That was the last life sign from them :(

CATachresis said...

yes we heard about the possibility of another terrible tsunami! So glad it has abated!

We will never forget the 2004 tsunami as the day after it my father died :(

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Nana,
They are all safe now...we are relieved. purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Pat,
You know that there is a family of felines that is always purrraying for your safety...despite you being owned by woofies.... purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Ms Lim,
Sometimes it is like takling to a wall...especially to people that think they have the solution to everything. Mama says once you identify a problem, don't harp on the whys and the wherefores....find the solution for it. Then yhe world will be a better place. purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Au, Target & Guido,
There were four aftershocks. purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Furries of Whisppy,
We are glad there was no tsunami too. It was the King's Installation of coronation something something yesterday! purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Yo BoBo,
We hope it will not happen ever. purrr....meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Meoww,
Peringatan untk semua...jangan lalai sangat. purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Your Royal Monyetness,
Tau pun takut....kena ketuk ketampi baru tau ye! purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Kjelle Bus,
Oh dear...that is awful...and sad. Many victims are still unaccounted for, until now. purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Caro,
((((HUGS)))) purrr...meow!

LP said...

We are glad that everyone is safe and that nothing actually transpired.Nature can be very destructive and leave many people with nothing... time and time again.We send love out to those people.And help when we can.

the critters in The Cottage xo

Quill and Greyson said...

So awful and sad.

aby said...

whatever comes from the almighty ..
always theres a blessing in disguise ..
qadak n qodar has programme what going to happen in Acheh ..
Lets pray those involve will stand strong to continue life ..
ameen ..

Sandy of erwinandsandy.com said...

I remembered that boxing day +_+ I was still in Australia that time and I was so distressed looking at all the dead bodies and sufferings. I hope Aceh will be fine this time around. Let's pray for them.

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Cottage Felines,
We are very glad too. We could not stand the suspense of not knowing. purrr.....meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Fin dear,
It could be. purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Uncle Aby,
Life is, in itself, uncertain. purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Tante Sandy,
We hope Acheh and everywhere else will be safe furrrever and ever.. purrr....meow!

Al-Manar said...

I missed this earlier. A sad story, a stark reminder of what life can be. Aren't wwe lucky.