June 14th
We arrived in Bali, Indonesia early in the morning. As soon as we got to our hotel, we quickly unpacked before heading straight for the beach to do what we came here to do... surf! Bali's beaches are incredible. The water is blue, clear and warm while the sand is soft, white and clean. I was floating on my board, waiting for the next wave when I noticed a sudden change in my surroundings. The water turned rough and the sky was dark and cloudy. People were calling to us with panic in their voices. I quickly paddled back to the shore where another tourist told me that a tsunami was on its way! We followed the locals to the top of a big hill where we watched huge waves crash past the beach and into the town's streets. Bicycles and street stalls were floating in the water. It was a terrifying sight!
June 16th
It's 48 hours since the tsunami hit. We evacuated the area and spent the night in a rescue shelter with all the town's residents. Thankfully, everyone survived the tsunami. I phoned home to let my family know I was safe as soon as I could. It was such a relief to hear their voices! We decided to use our remaining days in Bali to help clean up the area. Of course, the tsunami caused lots of damage to many buildings and there was mess everywhere. Experiencing a tsunami was very scary but it made me realise how important it is to support victims of natural disasters. I want to raise money for the Balinese people when I return home next week.
