Since graduating from Northeastern twelve years ago, I've lived and worked in more than a dozen Pacific Rim countries. When I first came to Thailand in 1994, I found I started making friends and business connections there almost immediately. It was clear to me why Thailand is called the Land of Smiles.

So, later that same year, I bought a condo in Bangkok. I'd been living in hotels for almost two years, and I wanted a place to call home.

I met a young Thai woman, Jang, who became my wife in 1996. Our daughters were born in 1997 and 2000. Two years ago, I established my own company, Parsons Globe, which specializes in sales and marketing in Asia, management training, and new-business development assistance for multinational companies coming to Thailand or expanding into the Asian region.

On December 26 last year, my family woke up as usual at our home in Bangkok. But as we dug into blueberry pancakes, we began to hear ominous reports on CNN. Something unusual and destructive was happening in and around Phuket, and elsewhere in the Andaman coastal areas.

By mid-afternoon, the reports were getting comprehensive enough for my family and me—and the entire world—to see what had really happened in paradise on that quiet morning. An undersea earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, had triggered a massive tsunami.

As one of the world's most-popular tropical destinations, Thailand was filled with people on holiday. The waves slammed the beach resorts on the west coast and outlying islands, which draw well-to-do travelers from around the world.

These resorts are also the destination of choice for many wealthy Thai citizens—including, that day, a princess, Ubolratana, and her twenty-one-year-old son, Khun Poom Jensen, the King of Thailand's grandson. The family was vacationing in an area called Phang Nga, which, like many other seaside locales, was hit by waves some thirty feet high.

The princess survived. Her son, however, did not. His death shocked the Thai people and made news in the rest of the world. (Even former U.S. presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and President George W. Bush offered their condolences at the Thai embassy in Washington, D.C, in early January.)

Describing the overall destruction and aftermath of the tsunami is difficult. In some places, the waves were so strong that boats were cast a mile inland, or lodged high up in trees. Large structures, parts of small towns, even entire villages were ripped out and pulled to sea.

Areas in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, where I've traveled for work, and in the Andaman Sea, where I've spent holidays, are completely gone, as if erased from the map. It felt strange for me to realize that I've spent a lot of time in many of the affected seaside resorts—and most often during Christmas week.

Authorities are still trying to identify thousands of bodies stored in refrigerated containers all over the region, so that those listed as missing can finally be accounted for. By early February, the number of people killed in South Asia was estimated at nearly 300,000. The total will likely rise even higher as remote areas are inspected more thoroughly.

Of course, the closer a tragedy hits home, the more it hurts. I lost a friend, someone who probably spent only four or five days a year on holiday. She was having breakfast as the first wave hit. According to people who were with her, the wave pushed, pulled, and suddenly everything that was there a moment before was gone. I have close business associates and grad school classmates in Bangkok who lost friends and family members.

On the other hand, the outpouring of volunteers and all forms of aid has been amazing, and the spirit of caring from the world community is starting to help those most affected. Prime ministers from several European countries have come to Thailand to offer their support and express their thanks for all that is being done in behalf of their missing and injured citizens.

Thailand is known for its kind people and close-knit society. It's not surprising that the kingdom has thrown itself behind an enormous volunteer effort, stretching from December 26 until today. The Thai culture and sense of community will help the country rebuild, recover, and regain normality.

I am confident Thailand will be even stronger as a result of the tragedy. There is talk of better planning, zoning, and early-warning systems, and an increased focus on maintaining stricter standards, so that paradise lost will be restored for all to enjoy. In some areas, this is already happening.

My advice to anyone looking for spectacular natural beauty, great food, and some of the nicest people around: Save your frequent-flyer miles, and come to Thailand. Jang, the girls, and I would be happy to meet you and help you in any way we could during your stay. Feel free to e-mail me; my address is charles@parsonsglobe.com.

Best wishes, from the Land of Smiles.