Aceh 04: Banda Aceh - Kuala Lumpur

"Even in the darkest of times, the human spirit has an innate capacity for hope and healing..." - Ghost of the Tsunami

(Aceh's local crafts souvenirs)

Day 4: 23 February 2024 (Friday)
Route: Banda Aceh – Kuala Lumpur

We had early breakfast and checked out by 9.00 am. This morning we went for last minute souvenirs shopping at Pusat Ole-ole to by tid-bits and Kopi Gayo.

(Our last day in Banda Aceh)

(Colourful souvenirs on display)

(Pusat Ole-ole Banda Aceh with our tour guide)

From Pusat Ole-ole, we visited Lampulo village. Among the red roofs of the newly-built houses in Lampulo village, there is an extraordinary sight of a huge fishing boat perched on top of two houses. The 25m-long wooden vessel has become a popular attraction on the tsunami tourism trail. Signs point to Kapal di atas rumah, which means the boat above the house which saved 59 people's lives.

(Fishing boats at Aceh River)

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(The attraction at Lampulo Village)

(A fishing boat perched on the roof of the house)

(Story-telling session by one of the Tsunami victims)

(Names of victims on the wall)

(Detail write-ups of the boat on the house)

(The aftermath of the Tsunami)

Next visit was to Makam syeikh Abdur Rauf. Abd al-Rauf ibn Ali al-Fansuri al-Sinkili (1615–1693) was a well-known Islamic scholar, spiritual leader of the Shattariyya tariqa and the mufti of Aceh. He was the confidante of Sultana Safiyat al-Din. He was considered the first person to spread the Sufi order in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Some believe he was an ethnic Minang from Singkil. Unfortunately, the makam was closed and will only be opened after solat Jumaat.

(The beach at the end of the road)

(The gate of Makam Sheikh Kuala was locked)

(A snap shot from the gate)

We had lunch at Rumah Makan Eungkot Paya located somewhere near the airport.

After lunch the bus sent the ladies and our luggage to the airport. Then later sent the men to a nearby mosque for solat Jumaat. Masjid Jame’ Nurul Huda is a short distance away from the airport. The ladies performed jamak Zohor/Asar prayers at the airport surau.

(Masjid Jame' Nurul Huda)

(Joining the locals for solat Jumaat)

We bade goodbyes to our friendly tour guides and driver and managed to tip them generously. We checked in quite early but had to wait for the immigration and custom gates to be opened.

(Arrived early at Angkasa Pura II)

(Sultan Iskandar Putra International Airport)

(The lounge overlooking the terminal building)

(Waiting patiently, our flight was delayed)

The 5.45 pm flight was delayed for more than an hour. We landed safely at KLIA2 around 9.00 pm. We had dinner at Oriental Kopi at KLIA2 with our grandkids.

(A beautiful sunset during takeoff)

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(Happy faces on board)

(Dinner at Oriental Kopi)

Aceh 03: Pulau Sabang - Banda Aceh

"The ocean, once a source of tranquility, turned into a relentless force that devoured everything in its path..." - Ghosts of the Tsunami

(Dolphin hunting at Pulau Sabang)

Day 3: 22 February 2024 (Thursday)
Route: Pulau Sabang – Banda Aceh
Hotel: Plum Hotel Lading, Banda Aceh

(A beautiful secluded beach)

(Chalets on stilts overlooking the jetty)

Breakfast was ready at 6.00 am. By 6.45 am we walked a short distance to the jetty to board the long speed boat from Pelabuhan Teluk Sabang for dolphin hunting. It was quite an exciting experience to watch dolphins in their natural environment during sunrise. Some dolphins playfully swam and jumped past our boats. Although it was quite difficult to snap pictures of the dolphins, we managed to capture some of them on video.

(Life vest is mandatory for boat rides)

(Ready to board the speed boats)

(Dolphin hunters on board)

(The early birds get the best shots))

(Watching playful dolphins in their natural habitat)

After the dolphin hunting, we detoured to Pulau Rubiah, a nearby small beautiful island. During the heyday of the Aceh Kingdom, Pulau Rubiah was a transit point for potential pilgrims, and during the World War this island was a defensive fortress whose ruins can still be seen today. Now Pulau Rubiah is one of one of the prime snorkelling and diving spots for tourists as it is just a short boat trip from Pulau Sabang. The water is crystal-clear with abundance of beautifully coloured fishes and undisturbed coral reefs.

(A small historical island of Pulau Rubiah)

(Pristine clear water with beautiful corals)

(Enjoying blue waters and relaxing waves)

(Snorkelling activities, off the sandy beach)

Pulau Rubiah named after the tomb of Ummi Sarah Rubiah, one of the 44 Aulia Sabang. Ummi Sarah Rubiah was the wife of Tengku Ibrahim or Tengku Iboih, a Muslim scholar during the Aceh kingdom. This tomb is located on the island opposite Iboih-Sabang Beach.

(Footpath to the historical grave)

(The tomb of Ummi Sarah Rubiah)

(A refreshing cool coconut juice)

After visiting Makam Ummi Sarah Rubiah, we had a refreshing coconut drink to quench our thirst.

Back at the resort, we packed and had an early lunch. By 11.00 am we checked out and headed to Pelabuhan Balohan and boarded the noon ferry back to Ulee Lheue Port, Banda Aceh.

 

(Early lunch at the resort)

(Taking the ferry back to Ulee Lheue Port)

From the jetty the bus took us to Masjid Baiturrahim to performed our solat jamak Zohor/Asar. Masjid Baiturrahim is a mosque located in Meuraksa sub-district of Ulee Lheue, Banda Aceh. Previously, the mosque was named Masjid Jami Ulee Lheu. After prayers we visited the small museum and listened to the experiences from Ustaz Adi, one of the survivors of Tsunami.

(Masjid Baiturrahim of Ulee Lheue)

(Performed our Zohor/Asar prayers here)

(A legacy of the Sultan of Aceh in the 17th Century)

(One of the historical mosques in Indonesia)

(The main prayer hall)

(A personal experience from one of the Tsunami survivors)

From Masjid Baiturrahim we went to visit PLTD Apung. PLTD Apung 1 is a tourist attraction and former electric generator barge, stranded on dry land in Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. The 2,600-ton vessel had been in the sea when the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami occurred, with the tsunami carrying her a few kilometres inland.

(PLTD Apung Monument)

(The monument bronze wall and the ship details)

(A group photo) 

(PLTD Apung stranded on dry land)

(Masjid Subulussalam built next to PLTD Apung)

From PLTD Apung site, we went to an airconed shopping centre which is the biggest muslim shopping centre in Banda Aceh. We bought some tis-bits and had 20-minute street foot massage at the mall.

Dinner was at at Warkop Cut Nun Mee, with mee kuah as their signature dish. There were varieties of mee kuah to choose from. We had mee kuah sotong which was quite tasty but a little too spicy.

 

(A very spicy but tasty Mee Kuah)

Tonight we checked in Plum Hotel Lading after collecting our left luggage from Hotel Medan. Plum Hotel Lading is a modest hotel with basic amenities and located just a short walking distance from Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.