December 26th. 2004.

The tsunami destroys in South East Asia, many villages, kills 290.000 people and throws the lives of five million people upside down. Much debris is cleaned already, the survivors are trying to pick up their lives as good as possible. Sometimes they get help from other countries, because the whole world paid a lot of money for the tsunami victims.

Still most of the people have to deal with picking up their lives again on their own of with their close relatives, which are still alive. This also counts for the inhabitants of the Thai island Koh Phi Phi in the Andaman Sea. They still mourn daily about their loved lost ones, but have to go on with their lives. How do you do that, if you do not have any money, if the hotel were you worked, does not exist anymore? How can you ever smile again, if you cannot bury your daughter, because she is not identified yet?
The Dutch journalist Carl Mureau, who visited the disaster area in January this year, went back together with photographer René Husken and artist Hanneke Bodlaender, to look for the survivors. “Back to Koh Phi Phi”, contains stories of Thai people and foreigners, who were on the island when the tsunami attacked. This book tells you about destruction, the rebuilding, huge sadness and strong power.

The profits of this book will go to Foundation Help Koh Phi Phi Thailand, who helps Thai people to rebuild their lives again. They have a long way to go.