I can see why the fear of tsunamis runs so deep in Japanese culture. The earthquake and resulting tsunami is stunning in its devastation. At this moment, the death toll stands at a horrific 11,800 people, and that number is bound to rise. Hit hardest were some of the poorest, most-suffering people on Earth.
Phuket, the popular Thailand tourist resort, was hit especially hard. Phuket was the favorite port of those I visited while in the Navy. The Laguna Beach, Pattaya Beach, and Patong areas were smashed by waves towering 10 meters high.
Nothing I could complain about in life could ever compare to the misery these poor people are feeling. Unthinkable.