Ghosts Stalk Thai Tsunami Survivors

[Ugots2Believe]

Lek looks nervously at the Patong sea shore as he describes the passengers who climbed into his tuk tuk minivan late at night on 6 January.

"Go to Kata Beach", the seven foreign tourists told him, after agreeing on a 200 baht fee.

The scale of the disaster may have taken time to register

He drove a while, but then felt numb all over his body.

Looking around he saw the cab was empty. He had had what he thinks was an encounter with the ghosts that many say are haunting the beaches and resorts on Thailand's Andaman coast.

And the religious charms he wears around his neck are not helping him overcome his fears.

"I can't get over this. I'm going to have to get a new job. I have a daughter to support, but I'm too scared to go out driving at night," he said.

Lek's experiences are by no means unique.

Other apparitions which have been reported include a foreign woman, whose screams echo through the night from the wreckage of a hotel that was particularly badly hit.

A security guard on the site has already left his job because he could not bear it anymore.

In Khao Lak, a local family say their telephone constantly rings through the day and night. When answered, the voices of friends and relatives cry out to be rescued from the flames of the crematorium.

Such reports, according to psychologist Dr Wanlop Piyamanutham, are signs of post traumatic stress disorder.

He pointed to the fact that many stories started to appear about 10 days after the wave struck.

That was when the real horror of the loss and devastation hit people, he says. Now it is spreading beyond those immediately affected.

"With all of the pictures on the television, and everyone talking about the disaster, it affected many more people, who have reported seeing ghosts and smelling corpses," he said.

And Dr Wanlop has an explanation for why such a large number of "foreign" ghosts have been seen.

"Foreigners make a big impression on Thais," he said.

"They're physically imposing, and often seem rich and powerful. If people like that die in terrible circumstances, it's not surprising they should come back in people's minds as ghosts, especially when they have so far to get home."

more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4202457.stm

[taxexile]

there was a programme related to these stories on tv a couple of nights ago.

a thai woman had been particularly troubled by ghosts at a particular spot near patong beach , these ghosts appeared to her at night at the same spot,same time every night. she described them , but i couldnt understand that bit !

she contacted the tv company who set up cameras and infra red night sight cameras around the building. needless to say no ghosts were filmed.

but i guess if you believe strongly enough that ghosts and spirits are roaming around then you will definately see them.

some enterprising falang should set himself up as an exorcist specialising in ridding phuket of falang spirits....... and charge falang prices for the service.

i think i'll copyright that idea and franchise the operation.

interested ????? pm me and i'll send you your magic wands and pointed hats.

[The_Eye_Of_Sauron]

To charge THB200 for a tuk tuk ride is definitely supernatural.