[i]December 26 2005 posted by SWD
photos of the memorial www.saltwater-dreaming.com/gallery
In ceremonies held on December 26 2005 at Patong beach and Kamala beach, Phuket’s surfing community honoured the victims of last years Tsunami caused by a 9.0 earthquake near Sumatra which devastated southern Thailand on Dec. 26, 2004, with a “paddle out” to form a “surfers circle” with a minute’s silence in the water and casting of flowers into the ocean.[/i]The circle and strong emotions that went with it only helped in strengthening bonds between surfers on the island.
Though traditionally a way to mourn the loss of a fellow surfer, Phuket surfers felt that a surfer’s circle was the most appropriate way for them to pay their respects to those who were lost to the sea’s wrath one year ago.
As most of the surfers live or at least spend a good deal of time on or near the beach, the ceremony was especially poignant as they themselves lost family, friends, and livelihoods to the Tsunami.
During the ceremony, participating surfers paddled their boards offshore and joined hands to form a large floating circle. Following tradition, they sprinkled flowers into the sea and observed a minute’s silence in memory of those that perished.