Flipping through the various news stations, I came upon MetroTV – an Indonesian station. There is none of the edited footage being looped on BBC or CNN – they’re showing rooms full of children who’ve drowned, stacks of bodies being taken away in ambulances, mothers finding their infants dead. The hardest part is seeing the children – they are showing a dozen children lying in a row, all dead.

I’m truly sorry if this image offends you, however, I do feel strongly that the major media networks have a way of “toning down” the truth in tragedies like this. THIS is what we truly see living here in Indonesia. These are the photographs that flash before our eyes and haunt our dreams.

Rest in peace little ones.

It’s absolutely harrowing to witness this footage – as terrible and invasive as is it – there is a sense of reality that is not shown to the world. It’s very difficult to watch. The death toll for Indonesia alone is 4448 already.

I appreciate all of the emails and comments; don’t worry I’m fine really – we’re safe in Jakarta.

No word yet from my friends in Phuket.

I just found a bank account from the station that is accepting donations. I’ll be going to donate money to the relief efforts in a couple of hours. If anyone would like to know the details of how to donate, please let me know.