Culture mesh
Friday, February 04, 2005
A rather heartening tale from Reuters:
Apparently, the Morgans have such a close knowledge of the sea that they were able to sense danger in time to get to high ground, taking the Reuters staff with them. The island is part of a national park which suffered huge damage during the tsunami.
When the tsunami struck on December 26, 30 members of staff from Reuters in Bangkok were at risk on an island on the Thai west coast where they had gone to celebrate Christmas together. They owe their lives to the Morgans, a small community of sea gypsies who came to their rescue only to see their own two primitive villages crushed by the “wave that eats people”, as the tsunami is known locally. Reuters is now planning to help the Morgans rebuild their huts and provide them with boats and fishing tackle.
Apparently, the Morgans have such a close knowledge of the sea that they were able to sense danger in time to get to high ground, taking the Reuters staff with them. The island is part of a national park which suffered huge damage during the tsunami.
These people, who live a primitive existence by spear fishing and collecting shellfish, lost their villages, yet gave all the help they could to the 34 strangers who spent the next night huddled on high ground in fear of aftershocks and more tsunami with minimal food, water and clothing.
