10 years ago, I made the decision to take my daughters Heidi ,then aged 9 and Rosie then aged 11, out of school and go backpacking around the world for a year. As many of you know, 12 days into our trip, we were involved in the Tsunami in Sri Lanka. I cannot believe it is 10 years next Friday. It has been talked about quite a bit recently and several people have asked to read my account so I am posting below. This was written very soon after we reached a safe place and I didnt actually read it for a long time after I had written it. I am privileged to have made friends in Jayantha Sellahewa and Andrew Sellahewa and their family who were so generous and so kind and I will be thinking of you both, in addition to so many others on the tenth anniversary next Friday x Juliets Tsunami Txts 26TH DECEMBER 2004Made run for it up mountain after first wave. Very shaken and not over yet but safer now. We are ok - freak tidal wave has taken out whole coast. We are on top floor of what remains of hotel. Very shocked but ok. Waiting for water to subside. TXT RECEIVED 0500 GMT 27TH DECEMBER We are safe, but only just. It has been very scary. Have escaped with our lives but ony just. Saw many killed. In complete shock. At house of embassy official at the moment in Colombo. Camped in hills and then in temple. Its all been surreal. Managed to get bus in the early hours to get to capital. Heading north asap. Another tidal wave expected. TXT RECEIVED 0754 GMT In total shock. Not sure what to do. Going to nice hotel way up inland for a couple of days to come to terms with it and make decisions. Being well looked after. Thanks to everybody for all the support. xx Monday, December 27, 2004 Tsunami - Juliets Full Account Dear all,I don’t know where to start. How do you begin to describe the events of the last day and a half? We are all alive, intact, with nearly all our belongings, so someone upstairs was most certainly looking after us but there are so many that did not have our good fortune and tonight, while I am so relieved to have my children safe, I am so sad for all the people we saw. We had just gone into breakfast, and I was sitting at our table, with a little wall separating me from the beach while the others were getting their food. I noticed a “swell” rather than a wave which came right up to the wall and I just thought we were having a particularly high tide and it must be something to do with the full moon. Then I noticed people running and furniture floating about and I called Rosie to come and look, and then all of a sudden it happened. There was this distant roar and the waiters were shouting at everyone to run for the nearest staircase. I was pushing the girls in front of me and remember getting hit in the back of the legs very hard by a floating chest of drawers. It wasn’t until we were on a balcony on the top floor that I realized I had actually cut the bottom of my foot wide open so someone took me into a room and was dressing that so I didn’t see much but you could hear the madness outside. I don’t know what was worse – the roar of the water or all the screaming. I remember feeling really sorry for the hotel staff as they had gone to such trouble to decorate the restaurant and surrounding area. How stupid that seems now. And then the wave had gone. And so had everything in its path. There was not so much in the way of debris – it was just nothing. All the little shacks and beach motels just simply weren’t there anymore. We slowly started to come downstairs and on advice, headed towards the second floor balcony by our apartment at the back of the resort furthest from the beach. Johnny went to have a look around and came back to say that there was no water. The whole bay was empty. You could see far out and there was exposed coral reef and just land. He said that there were ravines up to 6 ft deep where the water was rushing back out to sea. Johnny was videoing the water coming back in and you can see how quickly the whole bay refills. It was at this point that I started to get really scared. If the water had gone that far out, one could assume it would return with a vengeance and I felt completely helpless. I just kept looking at the girls and thinking what I could do to get them as far away as possible. That is the most awful feeling. I would have sold my soul to get the kids airlifted out. I was just totally helpless. People all around us were injured and crying as so many people were missing. The villagers were running up and down the road screaming and looking for family. It was the most desperate thing I have ever known. A group of about 12 of us were discussing the options. The hotel was solid and we were high up. However I just kept thinking to myself that the hotel had already been flooded badly – would it survive another bashing and also, if the next wave was bigger, we were totally at its mercy. I really wanted to get to the hills. We went to our room and threw things into bags. We put passports and money into one bag and everything else just got chucked in however. I grabbed some sheets to wrap us in incase we were on the hill for a long time and the mozzys got bad. We were still keen to go but I was also very scared to leave. Then the next wave started to come in. We couldn’t see much from where we were but we could see villagers on a mound near us and they were screaming and running uphill. I went to the front of the balcony and watched the wave come in. I will remember the sound forever. I just kept looking at my children and I didn’t know what to do. I had brought them here and I couldn’t protect them from this and that was the worst feeling. That I didn’t know how to protect them. I was shouting at Rosie to stay with Johnny no matter what, as he was stronger to hold her, and was telling Heidi how to lock her arms around me and not let go. Heidi looked at me and asked me if we were going to die. I told her that we wouldn’t but I truly thought we were. I was praying and holding the girls tight. We saw people who had set off for the hills get picked up in the water and get carried away and they were screaming and shouting and all we could do was watch. The wave was smaller and slower and it didn’t reach our level. We watched it race past us below our balcony. But by now I just wanted to get us higher and onto land. Others advised that we stayed put but I couldn’t rest. We had no idea what else may happen. Common sense suggested that the waves could not return with the same force but I was verbally going through the pros and cons and I wanted to take every precaution I could to get my children as far away and as high as I could. The fact that others didn’t agree naturally worried the girls. But another couple that we completed our journey with also chose to go. Rosie was incredibly strong and calm and got bottles of water and the sheets. Heidi looked at me, having seen the other people swept away and practically begged me not to go. I reasoned that the tide was now in so it wouldn’t return with a rush and that I felt it was best to go. So with that, my little girl picked up her bag, absolutely white in the face and she set off and she strode up that street, not looking left or right and she kept going right to the hill. I have been quite overwhelmed with the girls’ bravery throughout. When we got to a little clearing up a hill, with around 40 others, Rosie went round offering to help injured people with our first aid kit and Heidi and I just climbed a little bit higher than anyone else and just had a little time.We ended up being up there for many hours. Johnny was an absolute trouper. By now I was pretty much in pieces and he was practical and very strong. He returned to the hotel twice to gather our things together. There was no way I could have gone back there. But then if I had been left to it, we would still be sitting on that hill, as I did not want to leave. But we were ushered up the road around 6pm to move inland a little to a temple, as there was constant talk of another wave. The monks there helped to make us comfortable and we settled down for the night. I was still very afraid and every car sounded like an approaching wave. Most of us just sat up talking. There was no way I could go inside and certainly not sleep. When the wave had first approached the restaurant, I saw a little jack Russel running frantically up and down the wall trying to escape. I was really upset for him and very nearly reached over the wall to try and grab him but he was too far out and thank goodness I didn’t. I kept thinking about that little dog. He had been around the hotel a lot. While I was sitting down at the temple in the dark, 4k in from the resort, this little dog appeared and climbed onto my lap and went straight to sleep. I could not beleive it was him but someone said he had fallen in line behind all the tourists walking from the resort and followed along with us all the way to the temple. I hope the monks look after him now but he is clearly resourceful. At about 3am a coach arrived to take some Dutch tourists back to Colombo. They kindly offered to take others and as we were the only family with children we got straight on. I don’t think I breathed for the 4 hour journey. We had heard of buses being swept away and drowning the passengers and I was just about out of my mind by now, while still smiling at the children and telling them that we were safe. Thank goodness Johnny pushed for us to move on. I was completely terrified the whole time. I just wanted to stay on the little hill until someone told me there would not be any more waves. Fortunately Johnny insisted that we push on and get to the city. We arrived in Colombo and went to the British Embassy. The official there offered us flights but we said we were hoping to stay so instead he got us a driver and the use of his house. We were taken to a tourist company who were so very helpful. They advised that we should get way up country to bypass the bedlam in the Kandy area where everyone will be heading. They booked us into a hotel and we were then taken to the the embassy official’s house to freshen up. He actually joined us shortly afterwards, as there was another tidal wave warning and his offices were closed. He went into town with Johnny to get Macdonalds for everyone. (He has two sons who are at school somewhere in Portsmouth unbeleivably and they were with him for the holidays.) It was very emotional as he was telling me that his wife had died in a tragic accident last boxing day and the whole family had assembled yesterday to have a dinner and remember her. So to then get the news that he did was very distressing. He and his family made us so welcome and have given us an open invitation to return and stay for as long as we want which is so kind. We were driven 6 hours to the hotel where we are now. It is very comfortable and quiet (and high and nowhere near the sea) so we will have a couple of days around the pool and stay quiet before deciding on our next move. By chance the manager of this hotel is actively involved in aid work of many sorts so the staff were already preparing emergency food and clothing boxes. I asked if we could help and we were pleased to be able to actually do something constructive and have been packing boxes this evening. The staff had had a whip round and had raised 44000 rs between them, which is a fortune on their wages. I said I hoped to do some aid work while we were away. I hadn’t anticipated it would be in the first fortnight and to aid the very place we were staying in. Rosie has been an absolute trouper and immediately got into the line to help bag things up. It has been good to try and do some help albeit not much.I have been overwhelmed with the help and kindness we have been given. What is so sad is the “them and us” feeling. We were leaving the devastation and being taken to safety but leaving these poor desperate people and I feel so very sad for that. My mobile had lost its charge during the morning and anyway the phone lines were jammed. When I got to the hotel and put the phone on charge, the messages were coming through like crazy and it was lovely to hear from so many friends. So I will sign off now. Thank you for your messages and kind words. We are all safe and well and comfortable and I am just counting my many blessings. Again. Juliet x Wednesday, December 29, 2004 Juliets Post-Tsunami Update Hi again, on 29th December. Firstly, a huge thank you to our lovely friends and family. We have been overwhelmed with all the texts and messages. A lot of people have rung my mum and Caroline has been her usual efficient self by keeping the website updated. We are lucky to have so many caring friends. We are doing ok. The girls are getting on just fine although they dont want to watch any news reports, which is understandable. Johnny is absolutely fine. He seemed, from the moment the first wave receded, to detach himself emotionally from everything. He only cares about the girls and my well being. He does not really want to consider anything else at all. He has just disassociated himself from the events of the last few days. Due to that, he is totally practical and logical and has sorted any and all hotel and transport arrangements, sorted the doctor for me and done all the necessary boring stuff. I am doing fine too. I have felt every emotion under the sun but we are bouncing back well. We were on the bus today heading towards anther mid country area, when I just decided that I really needed to get back down to the coast. When it all happened, I would have given every penny I had to get us as far inland as possible. Then having got there, I felt strangely cut off from it all. I was feeling so frustrated. We can all see the devastation on the news reports but I am only a drive away. I really want to do something to help. I realize I am limited as I can hardly walk and there is no way I will take the children anywhere near the disaster areas but even from a little distance, we can do something. So we are back in Colombo. I dont think Johnny was terribly amused when I announced mid bus journey that I wanted to get back to the coast and although he was understanding, he was not very enthusiastic to start with. He does the worrying about the girls and me and was not sure that it was the best thing to do. But I have spoken to the Embassy and I hope we can do something. Even just a little, before we head off again and have a few days holiday and remember Sri Lanka for the right reasons. What was encouraging and quite moving was the huge amount of aid vehicles on the road travelling down. They all had banners tied to the front grills, to stand them apart, and to ask for donations, and all along the road there were people standing patiently in the sun, with bundles of goods, waiting to flag down the next truck. We have shown our video to some news stations and it is being edited now. I am also talking to CNN late tonight to do an interview. The girls got taken on a little tour earlier, to see the reporters on the top floors here at the Hilton doing their live transmissions, and we spent some time watching all the news reports being put together where the news stations have taken over most of the hotel. They were really friendly and showed the girls all the satellite equipment and how they linked it all together. You see when I said that I was going to take my kids round the world and give them the experience of life, I meant it! I dont do things by halves! I can see the funny side now of the frantic conversation I had with various other people after the first wave hit. I wondered whether to give my mum a quick call. after all, we were in a popular holiday destination and it was Christmas so wasnt if fairly likely that it may get a little mention on the news? We were discussing whether it was worth waking our families and worrying them needlessly. If only we knew!! It is quite strange. On the one hand, I feel totally exhausted. I could just sit in a corner and cry for all the events of the last few days. On the other hand, I feel so massively empowered. We have been involved in and survived a massive disaster the likes of which has never been seen before. All of a sudden the normal risks of travelling - illness, losing passports, getting bags and money stolen, rough accommodation - it all seems so trivial. We will take any and all of it in our stride. If we can get out of this in one piece, then dare anything or anyone try and cross us while we continue on our way! Bring it on!! A few people mentioned that I should write a book about our travels, and I had been giving it serious consideration. Wont this make one hell of an opening chapter?! Loads of love to all and thanks for all your support. It has been so very much appreciated. >Juliet, Rosie and Heidi xxxx Sunday, January 02, 2005 Heidis Tsunami Account Hello everyone. Thank you for all the messages. I am still a bit scared about the waves but me and my Mum are going to go for a walk on the beach here in Colombo soon. I was getting my breakfast and I had seen some chocolate cookies when Johnny suddenly yelled Hey Heidi look at the water and lifted me up! The water came right up over the beach and picked up the furniture. Then the water came in under our feet and I didn’t really know what was happening until later. Then water was everywhere and nearly everyone was screaming. The people at the hotel were really good and made us all go up to the closest high part of the building. Mum got whacked by a table in the water but she didn’t seem to notice. We all went up the stairs and we saw Mum had cut her foot really badly. Johnny was looking downstairs and filming. When we were upstairs this lady noticed the cut and bandaged mum’s foot. We came back downstairs as the water was going.We lost Rosie at one bit when she went back to the room and I really wanted to get high up but I really wanted to find Rosie aswell. Mum told this man to take me back upstairs while she went to get Rosie as water was coming back in but this lady took me instead. We made a run for our part of the hotel further away and we made friends. While we were there the water came back and I thought we were going to die. We then packed our bags and I was chucking everything in as quickly as I could but mum took over and redid it as she only wanted to take important things. Mum didn’t like being in the hotel so when we were sure the water had gone for a while we made a run for the hills. I really didn’t want to because I thought the water would come back while we were walking on the road. I heard Mummy saying to Johnny that she was scared the water would come back while we were walking. We asked for directions but they just drove past us on their motorbike. The second people we asked pointed the way. When we got to the hills we saw some people that we had met at the hotel. People down below were making mistakes. They kept running back to the hills yelling tidal wave tidal wave because they were so scared. But it made us all scared. We were there for a little while but I had climbed a little higher. Later a man stood up and asked to count us all. He wanted to know how many there was so that we could all fit into buses. They wanted to go to Colombo but there were no buses and the roads were closed. So in the end we all walked to the temple. I remember seeing a monkey on the way. While we were walking a truck came and offered us a lift to the temple. (Mum actually paid all her american dollars.) When we got to the temple, I thought Mum was scared but she kept telling me she wasn’t because we were further inland. I fell asleep and Johnny and I wrapped ourselves in the sheets outside. Mum didn’t want to sleep. Mum woke us up at 3am when a bus came. The bus was really meant for the Dutch but they agreed to take as many as they can so they took us as we were children. When we got to Colombo it was morning and we stopped outside a really fancy hotel and then a cab took us to the British Embassy. We all had a cup of tea and Johnny and mum talked to the people. Afterwards we came to the house of the man at the embassy. Loads of love from Heidi xxxx
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 17:57:47 +0000
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