In quotes: Life goes on

Tourists have returned to the beaches where the sea surges hit

The clean-up operation is well under way in Patong Beach, the biggest resort on Phuket, Thailand, just days after the area was ravaged by the Asian tsunami.

On the way to the beach, which is dotted with tourists, a neon sign hangs across the street saying "Welcome to Phuket" and, amazingly, it still works.

The BBC spoke to three people who are getting on with their lives.

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Holidaymaker Kevin French, from Peebles, Scotland, was enjoying a beer on the beach.

I'm very shocked at what happened but life goes on.

This is a tourist place and they rely on tourism so if everyone runs, the place will be destroyed.

I didn't think about going home. I stayed and looked around to see if my friends were still alive - most of them were.

We were really busy last night Dennis Trevatt, owner of a British bar in Phuket

I've had no pressure to come home. I've not contacted them yet, but I will on New Year's Eve.

I came here for one reason. I met the Thai people and a lady who cured me. I had an injury for 13 years and I'm brand new - Thailand is number one.

It's lucky I wasn't on the beach when it struck as I normally am.

When I came down I couldn't believe what I saw - I thought it was a road crash.

You really have to be here to understand what's happening as it's so hard to put into words.

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Russell Slack, from Australia, was out at sea when the storm struck and was rescued by the Thai Navy

We spent that night at a temple with around 700 people when we got back on land.

During the night, a lot of people were yelling "wave coming" and we ended up sleeping under the stars next to a Buddhist monk's hut.

We came back to Phuket the next morning and it was a shock to see everything.

But we're not too worried about staying - we've got a holiday to have.

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Dennis Trevatt, the owner of a British bar in Phuket, said the damaged bars will be fully operational within three months

We were really busy last night, although a lot of bars have closed and people are walking around, looking for bars and checking out different places.

It's a terrible thing but it was a natural disaster, not like a bomb when people would have gone home.

It was nobody's fault, just nature, but it's sad.

The Thai people are very, very scared and many have gone back to their home provinces but a lot of holidaymakers are still here.