Sunday 8 am Malaysian time on the island of Penang, Malaysia.
Tsunami was not a word that many Malaysians would care about but from 26th December 2004 onwards it was on every Malaysian's lips and thoughts. We were definitely fortunate as compared to the other countries like Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Malaysia did not bear the brunt of the earthquake although being quite close to the epicentre of the quake.
I remembered that day very well. It will remain clearly in my mind for the rest of my days. I want to share with you out there, wherever you are, whoever you are what happened on that day and the days that followed.
As usual I got up at around 8 in the morning and went about my routine. Read newspaper, hang up the washings and prepared to go to church. Busy getting all these things done before going to church I did not feel any tremors of the earthquake. But other members of my family did. Not realising it was an earthquake tremor because the quaking were ever so slight, no one said or mentioned anything.
Later, the events that happened slowly began to unfold as the hours passed. The following days of vigil in front of the television set were intense. The news were sad and heart wrenching as we saw visuals of the devastation on the television. Slowly the tide of shock subsided. Time healed as the world gathered together to help. But this episode will be forever etched in the memory of us all who were affected directly or indirectly by this catastrophe in this part of our world.
Much later the whole aftermath of the catastrophe unfolded before our eyes as we stayed glued to the T.V. for the latest updates. The whole world stood at attention the next few days as the impact of the disaster seeped through the media. The pictures taken of the tsunami and its effects on the affected areas were worth a thousand words. No amount of words can prepare anyone for the devastation before our very eyes. We can only imagine what those people went through. The trauma of seeing the huge tsunami heading towards their direction and their only hope is to run and pray that their legs were fast enough. As they ran they heard the roar and the huge crash of the giant wave. Is it safe to turn and look? Screaming, yelling and crying all around. Where was the woman running just behind? Turning back and seeing people, children helplessly being pulled away into the sea. Bobbing up and down as they try to struggle to the shore, hands raised and then they were gone. The ferocious wave began to subside and as if appeased with the many flesh it had swallow the sea receded like a satisfied giant after a meal the foamy waves wanted to be calm and peaceful again. But it cannot be calm and peaceful yet. Again it came as another heavy swell turned into an humongous roaring wave, rolling in for further destruction.
We said a prayer for those lives affected and hoped that humanity will look to the hope that's in our midst. Let our eyes be opened to what's important because life is so fleeting and short.
