In Japan, an earthquake of 8.9 hit Sandai and was followed by a tsunami of 10 meters high. One thousand people dead and the number is climbing. The strongest earthquake in its 140 years history. One oil refinery catches fire,a nuclear reactor is suspected leaking and massive damages to roads, rails, cars and ships. One ship ferrying 100 people was swallow up by the tsunami. About 45,000 people is now hiding in the shelters. Massive rescue efforts and relief funds is on the way.
My memory flashes back to 2006. The tsunami in Penang Island. I was having lunch in Penang Swimming Club and there was a commotion outside the restaurant and people start standing up and look out of the windows in the restaurant. We also get up and watch and I saw the sea was churning and roaring as if God's hand is in the water stirring it up. It was a strange sight and as we walk out of the restaurant, we could see the sea level have risen and far out in the sea, the waves were roaring and I could see a fishing boat in the sea tossing around by the wave and in a movement, the boat capsized and disappear into the water. We notice the strange happening and we were not aware of the tsunami.
So, after leaving the restaurant, we noticed there was very few traffic on the road and as I drive towards the city on my way home, I notice the concrete dividers have been swept aside and there was debris everywhere along the road. There were people crying as they walk away from the beach front. On reaching home, I was told by my wife that tsunami have hit Penang and some people was wash off to the sea and drown. On later that day, more bad news came over the TV and for a continuous few days , bad news was reported from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and India. More than 100,000 people have die and in Penang, it was more than 16 people was swept away and drown. Some of the bodies could not be found. For sometime, the people in Penang stay away from the beaches. But, people have short memories and the locals and tourist flock back ot the beaches after a few months.
After hearing today's news, my friend PH told me that God must be angry because of too much corruptions in the world. He said that God may want to make a better world and he reminded me of the Doom's Day prophecy in 2012. When I don't believe it will happen and I told him that there will not be any regrets that everybody is gone at the same time. What is there to regret if there is nobody around. It will be a good way to go.
Coming back to the tsunami yesterday, the renewed incident will linger for a long while and people will struggle to live with it. When the tsunami siren rings, our heart will jump out from our mouth. I have a friend, Christine who stays near the beach front. She told me that if the tsunami siren sounds, she will start to worry until the siren is off even in event of false alarm. I told her that if it happens, there is no way to avoid it. Even if you stay on the hills, there could be a landslide and if you are destined to go, you will go with it. Nevertheless, lets take a few minutes to pray for the dead and offer our condolence to the surviving family members.
There are two sad occasions in our life, that is when we are alive, we have to leave our family for some purpose and on death, we depart. Time will heal and memory is short.
Namaste.
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