<< The initial adrenaline rush had subsided and now fear-inspired survival instincts were everything., an all consuming burning passion; a imperative desire to stay alive at all costs. Nothing else seemed relevant.
On our little hilltop, a bus started to fill up with passengers. But where was it going and why? No one seemed to know. Was this another instant survival decision in the making? Should be dive on board a lift to potential safety, or could we be trapped and killed in the bus…stuck underwater if the waves came back.
In the end we decide to stick where we were, as it seemed to be the highest point around. Also, vehicles and people kept coming back down the roads leading away from us, running and screaming that the waves were returning.
We found out later that more waves did indeed return at roughly hourly intervals throughout that day. Although none were as big as the first, some more victims were killed, especially those that had returned to the beach front. Even at 5pm that day, the middle of Tangalle town (where the main road lead to) was still partially underwater, and only just passable.
We spent most of that day ina house with some friendly locals, trying to come to terms with what had happened and sharing fags, tea, water, biscuits etc.
Bob from Lancashire had the only working phone, which could only send texts internationally. This was a godsend as I managed to get two texts out to my Dad so at least he knew we were alive. Bob was desperately trying to get hold of his family who were staying in the next town down the coast. Eventually he found out that they were all O.K, which was a massive relief.
We were starting to think how we could get in touch with Matt and Candy, our friends from London who were staying in the Nature Resort, a plush complex built on a sand spit down the other end of town, sandwiched between the sea and a fresh water lagoon.
Most people we asked thought that Nature Resort had been totally destroyed and everyone there killed, which seemed pretty likely given the location.
Also during that day we went across the road to the Buddhist temple, where many people had congregated. There were numerous western tourists sheltering there along with maybe a couple of hundred locals, but no one had heard anything about our friends. >>
