Wednesday, June 13, 2012

An Anniversary Abroad

Last year for our anniversary we spent a long weekend in Montreal.  This year we were abroad, including Thailand.  I wanted to go to Phuket, Thailand for a quiet beach vacation to relax together.  What I didn't anticipate was the feelings of overwhelming sadness that I experienced while there.



I had a hard time forgetting that in December of 2004 a Tsunami devastated the area we were in, killing thousands.  We were there during the off-season, when the tides are strong and riptides make swimming dangerous.  Standing on the beach with the water up to my calves, watching the waves roll in and feeling the power of the water as it receded back out to sea was sobering.  The waves were several meters high out at sea, but barely a foot by the time it reached the beach.  


The riptide was powerful.  I could not even imagine what it would have felt like to experience the tsunami, let alone try to survive it.  There were subtle reminders of the tsunami all over the resort, including tsunami evacuation routes and a memorial garden, which I did not visit.  I had a hard time forgetting that this was the scene of so many tragic deaths, and felt such deep sadness while there.


Fortunately we saw some amazing things while in Phuket and the surrounding areas.  We also spent some time in other nearby countries which helped lift the sadness.  Overall it was a great trip, with lots of memories and fabulous experiences.  It was a great choice for our 4th anniversary, although I'm still in love with the spa and hammam in Montreal.  Nothing Spa-related that I've seen so far in our travels has superseded that experience, although the ultra-cheap foot massage in the Bangkok airport was a great way to pass the time while waiting for our plane.