Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu

Much of the shoreline of Tamil Nadu was heavily damaged by the 2004 tsunami. This was once a shoreside village of brick houses. Although still within sight of the sea, it is now several hundred meters inland on land that was probably a grove of coconut palms, also wiped out by the tsunami. Woven palm fronds have taken the place of the bricks. Fishermen labor to replace their crippled fleet with boats constructed of palm trunks. Residents ask where all the donated relief money has gone. They have seen per capita numbers and know they have received far less.