'The sea makes me sad and happy': Tsunami survivor recounts - Video

For many survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the sea represents both beauty and sorrow. Among them is Pirun Kla-Talay, who was orphaned by the disaster at the age of eight. Now 28, Pirun makes his living from the same waters that claimed his parents.

Pirun, who was birdwatching when the tsunami struck, recalls the eerie sound that preceded the devastating waves. He managed to alert his neighbours and reach higher ground, but his parents were not as fortunate.

Despite his initial fear of the sea, Pirun has found a way to reconcile with it. Each morning, he sets out in his red and yellow boat from Bang Wa district, selling his catch at the local market.

"The sea makes me sad and happy at the same time," Pirun told AFP. "It reminds me of loss, but it also shaped who I am today."