© Jim Rice
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After numerous trips to the beautiful Sri Lanka, 2004 I'm in Newcastle for a family Christmas,
watching the news in absolute horror of the terror unfolding in this amazing country.
I know long time friend JON KEMPSON is holidaying with his family on “ Mirissa Beach”,
on the very southern tip of Sri Lanka.
As im looking at the Tsunami hitting the bus station in Galle with people clearly drowning,
im texting him like mad and nothing is coming back.
Eventually he does reply ...” ALL SAFE..... Trying to get home”.
Some days later they all arrive back home and I vist. Clearly in very deep shock with many cuts and bruises
but very lucky to be alive.
Jon's eyes said it all, he just stared at me and said... “We need to go back...NOW”!
Jon's a professional UK builder by trade and within the
week we where on our way back, to help in anyway we could.
Jon already had a plan for building Tsunami Proof Traditional Homes.
Also on our trip is French restaurant owner Stephen Escola , his family were also caught up on the beach with Jon.
With three French Nurses ..” Infirmieres Francaises”..
Genevieve, Natalie et Christiane and a film crew from French TV 5.
We all meet up in Colombo and the convoy heads south, our first stop was the train disaster at Telwatta
with 1700 crammed onto this holiday train, most didn't survive, nor did the local village.
The pictures I took on this trip are hopefully a Positive record
and show how the Sri Lankan people dealt with this tragedy
and the amazing work by tourist-volunteers..... But, NOT Some!
Most survivors smiled at the camera some didn't... but their dead eyes gave the real game away!.
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Some Volunteers were not what they seemed. even giving interviews about the dangers of Child abuse and far worse to the post Tsunami vulnerable. We smelt a big rat with both the Curry's and both, very reluctant to be photographed but, my determination paid off.
On my return to the UK sent lots of emails to Sky News who, eventually sent a very green and not very forcefull..... Ashish Joshi to the Childrens Orphanage in Galle and basicly missed the clues and the point unlike NBC. Link NBC News But this did have a great and very happy out-come once sorted, even " Sting" popped in with a donation and brilliant work by the rest of the true volanterrs and our 3 Infirmieres Francaises!
Now.... The Posative side!
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But Life Goes ON!
Telwatta Train Desaster
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Galle
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Hambantota
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Ruhunu Children's Orphanage . Galle
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The Volunteers
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