Tsunami Storys

Its wierd to sit on the beach and stare out to sea and imagine Boxing Day last year when the tsunami hit. The images we all saw on the tv play in your head over and over again, the scenes here look just like the videos that were filmed from the beach, and every Thai person you look at must have a story about what happened to them that day.
There is an overwhelming urge to ask people where they were or what happenen, but we never really do incase they have been impacted personally by it.
Occasionally though, you start to get quite friendly with the locals at some of the bars, resturants, bungalows or dive centers, and the conversation heads in the direction where you feel comfortable enough to ask what happened to them.
I have heard 4 stories so far, 3 are funny with happy endings, but one sadly was not.
I'll add the 3 funny stories separatley another time.
Chris