Banda Aceh : 23rd - 28th of October 2008
this is the story ’bout my Travel to Banda Aceh and around at the end of 2008…enjoy 
At the 23rd to 28th of October i got job to do in Banda Aceh from my company. But lucky it accomplished in two days, so i can use the rest of days for holiday…hahaha! i spent another 4 days and 3 night at Weh Island.
Day First.
I came at Sultan Iskandar Muda international airport in Banda Aceh at 12am after direct plane from Jakarta for 2,5 hours boring flight using a long-narrow boeing 737-200 Lion Air. Banda Aceh just like other small city in Indonesia, not many people around. The development after the Tsunami disaster still keep moving. “Aceh already left 20 to 30 years behind than a big city such Jakarta, so we need to develop it continuously and carefully.”, said miss Liza (the owner of Iboih Inn in Iboih beach – Sabang Island), who previously perform for BRR (Badan Rekonstruksi dan Rekonsiliasi untuk Aceh) and today working in Muslim Aid NGO. The city not too crowded, neither too quite. I spent my first afternoon to having pray at Banda Aceh Great Masjid (Masjid Agung). One of Magnificent building ever made. They use many black stone (maybe granite or something…i don’t know the name) at the roof of the Masjid, and made it seen elegance. The Masjid became the silent witness of Tsunami disaster on 2004. Locals believe that water can not entered the Masjidil area for unexplainable reason (in-fact that the main Masjid building lies lower than the surrounding area), and the water only puddling not more than a heel inside the Masjid while the great water from the sea hitting massively at the back side of the Masjidil complex. Inside of the Masjid Agung much more magnificent! It got a very traditional shape of Arabic – Melayu (Malay) and full of engraftment from its pillar to the roof and most of its walls. In the inside are dominated by jade green color and covered by clean white lily color at its pillars and walls. At the center-front of the building (where the Pray-Leader giving his speech), lies at the wall - the Arabic words (I believe took from one of the Al-Quran Letters) made from gold (or brass) with about 1 m in high. When I came to the Masjid (around at 5 pm), there’s a lot of children inside the Masjid learn to read Al-Quran. They fill almost half of the building, but separated into a group contain 5 – 10 person with one tutor. The activity almost do in everyday. Local adults are become the tutor. The ability to read Al-Quran is being necessity in Banda Aceh. Eden, one of the locals, spent the afternoon with me while walking down through the hotel (I stayed @ Cakradonya, a three stars hotel in town which for me it just as same as the cheap hostel!! Awful place to stay with quite expensive price! About IDR 250 K for standard room). We talk lot bout Aceh after the disaster. And some result can be seen from many of new building along the main streets of Banda Aceh and the Tsunami covering area. Also many public area built include those small gardens along the main river of Banda Aceh. Btw, FYI…you are not allowed to using shorts here. Eden told me. Once you get caught, you’ll gonna have oral warning, and if it’s haven’t make you learn enough, they’ll fine you! So please be understand with local tradition.
Day Second.
(One of the Lecturer in Ministry of Agriculture – Syiah Kuala University) took us to the north area of Banda Aceh. We seen the most serious area hit by Tsunami. Almost 90% of the area leaving no print of living ever there. The water swept away the area, only a few able made a living (include Pak Lukman and some of his family which unfortunately he lost his youngest boy). And we stop at the most north of the island, Ujung Kareung Beach (Ujung Bateh). Ouw, there’s a housing community known as “Jacky Chen’s village”, coz the village are made by donation of that Hong Kong Superstar…Hahaha!! (and one day there would be also Medio Venda’s village too I believe…hahaha!!!). We had some coffee at Cafe Jasa Ayah (the most crowded coffee spot in Ulee Kareng – where the best Aceh coffee made from). The coffee so clear, and (in my perspective as the beginner coffee drinker) they got a bit/low salt (acid) taste then other Robustan coffee (just don’t believe my crapt!! hahaha!! Have it your self, then you’ll understand). Every time you came to Banda Aceh, never forget to stop by at Ulee Kareng and find one of the master piece coffee of Indonesia right here (and people believe only the local masters could made the coffee perfectly!! Yea, i did that too…coz my pro coffee maker in Jakarta also failed to made the coffee perfectly as the same taste! Hahaha…). Btw, you can have the coffee powder to take home at the price of IDR 15 K for 250 Gr, and IDR 60 K for 1 Kg. We came to Syiah Kuala University at noon and had lunch near by the costal area having seafood. Damn Great fresh seafood they got!! After that, we came to Blang Cut area to saw another evidence of Tsunami. The PLTD Apung 1 (Diesel Power Plan Ship) which have 2600 ton of weight dragged 5 Km on-shore to the middle of community. You’re not gonna believe this until you see your self! We continued our journey to harbor area until we came to Masjid Baiturrahim at Ulee Lheue (about 1 – 1,5 Km from the Ulee Lheue Harbor). This is one of the Greatest evidence from Tsunami too. The Masjid lies very close to the sea shore but it still standing until today! The Tsunami failed to bring it down (like all buildings around)!
I stayed at Green Paradise, not a hotel but like villas, each room with own kitchen, hot & cold bathroom, refrigerator and satellite TV. People staying here usually in long period (and most of them work in NGO near the villas). The villas had 3 swimming pool and a gym. It located down of the hill area (I don’t know which hill is it…). I much better prefer this one than the first hotel one, and it cost only IDR 300 K with whole facilities. And finally, only in this place I could use the “Bentor” (Becak ‘n Motor) and took me to the nearest mini market in top of the street. Most people of Aceh are kind, especially those who living in the main City of Banda Aceh. They don’t suspicious to foreigners, the other way they are so welcome (even some eyes will keep staring you strange sometimes…hahaha). Many of Aceh people have gorgeous light brown eyes (hazel perhaps) that could melting me every time they’re looking at me…hahaha!!! (a very un-important thing!!). At night I had dine with Sate Matang (a.k.a Satay - chopped meat from beef, chicken or lamb ordered in a thin wood stick). Not different than other sate you can ever found in Jakarta, but thing goes different with its sauce. The sambal kacang (bean sauce) made more liquid than usual we found. So it’s like you eat Karee but with sate.
Day Third.
ng breakfast and chat with Indian-NGO worker, I rushly went to Ulee Lheue harbor to catch up my morning boat to Weh Island at 9.30 am. Lucky there was Al who wait and ready to drove me to the harbor (otherwise I’ll be awful late! Hahaha!! Kebiasaan gw banget telat!!! THX AL…). I took a fast boat and cost IDR 70 K per trip for executive class with air conditioning cabin. You can pay IDR 80 K to 90 K for having VIP class or for budgeter may use the economic class with IDR 60 K (non AC). It took about 45 minutes (sharp!!) to reach Sabang harbor. Once you got there, decide your mind, whether you’ll go to the city of Sabang or to Iboih beach or even to Gapang beach (the three spot used to reach by travelers). Don’t forget to bring enough cash. The only ATM you can find is located in Sabang city (Bank Rakyat Indonesia). If you choose to stay at Sabang city, there’s lot of public transport (angkot) that reach the area. You just need to pay IDR 15 K. There’s few things you can find in city of Sabang. Three main beaches are Pantai Kasih (lover beach), Pantai Paradiso and Pantai Sumur Tiga. You can find some motel down the city and a hotel at the top of Sabang Hill (well, I don’t recommend you to stay at the motel…neither the hotel…hahaha). At Sabang you can see the mid traditional-modern society. The market still become the center of city’s activity. Simply kind of living mix with many expensive cars which easily to get (and most of them are illegal). The living start from morning to noon (about 12 am) and get off for a while (afternoon break) from 1 to 5 pm every day, and life continues through 10 pm. The view from the hill was magnificent! You can take a trip from Sabang city to Pantai Kasih (Lover Beach) and go straight to Paradiso Beach down to harbor. But it better you put lot of sun block otherwise you’ll perfectly burned! The town is quite. And getting more when it entering the afternoon break. Only few of people outside, most of them stay inside the house taking nap (except those who work in the office, Bank and governmentary). The market also closed, and only few of restaurants and coffee shops are open during this time. People get crowed again in 4 to 5pm till night, and most of them spending time whether in market area or beaches. I didn’t stay long in city of Sabang. For those who never been to the island, I recommend you to take the trip directly to Iboih beach or Gapang. From the harbor, there’s couple of angkot (public trans.) headed directly to Gapang and Iboih with cost about IDR 50 K (and you still can bidding for it). If you already took the trip to city of Sabang, there’s a few cars headed to Gapang and Iboih 2 times a day at 11am and 4pm. Just wait it in front of Bank Rakyat Indonesia and ask the local ‘bout the transport. I was paid of IDR 20 K for a trip to Iboih, and was got the dairy courier van (so I sat among plenty of dairy stocks…hahaha). City to Iboih took about 1,5 hours, and the road was still in reconstructing. In Gapang there’s couple of bungalows you can rent with vary prices. You still can bidding about the prices. The most temptating bungalows owned by Lumba-Lumba Diving. I didn’t stay at Gapang, but I choose Iboih to stayed (without noticing both condition looks-like). When I came to Iboih, I just realize, there’s two differences between Gapang and Iboih. Gapang have a “normal beach view” which like other beaches in Indonesia, the beach line dominating the are. But Iboih got more exotic thing! All the bungalows lies on the top of rocky hills just upside the sea. Some of the bungalows are just right upside of the sea water. Iboih has a coral island structure where the beach line not dominating the area. Gapang more crowded then Iboih. And Iboih is a truly perfect places to hide away!! First, I took a bungalow in Fatimah Bungalow and was choosing the one upside the sea water (I could even just swam away from down side of my bungalow to the sea). The bungalow cost IDR 75 / night for short visit and can be more cheaper if you stay longer. But I met my buddy, Endro, when I was swimming in the beach and he offered me to move to the Bungalows he already reserved at Iboih Inn (and this one I recommend TOTALLY to you guys if you wanna travel to Iboih!!!). The room much more representative then others around. Every room has it own bathroom with shower (most of the bungalows in Iboih doesn’t have attached bathroom), a big wall fan and they use brand new and clean - coil spring bed with mosquito net upon. All of the bungalows attached with hammock to enjoying the sunrise in the morning or even just to sat down in front of your room watching the sea and Rubiah island just right in front of your room. We got room No. 2 which set just up side of the coral and water. The Iboih Inn was one of the comfy places among the others, coz it just built last than a year ago. One of the owner is miss Liza, and you can make a reservation first before you come at iboih.inn@gmail.com . They also offering the pick-up service from harbor to Iboih Inn (vice versa), or if you want something different, they also provide shuttle service with motor boat from city of Sabang to Iboih Inn and can be used to 8 person with cost only IDR 250 K/trip (cheaper and more fun then using land transport). The room cost IDR 250 K/night that can be used for 2 persons with breakfast (fried rice, omelet or pancake). A bit expensive but worth enough with the comfy you’ve got. A perfect place to honey moon also…hahaha!! You must get used with no light (DON’T FORGET TO BRING a FLASH LIGHT), coz me, at first night, got trouble with dark. The path headed to and from the bungalows was only a walking path along side of the island. It took about 500 – 600 m from the Gampong (village) to the bungalows with no light along the path way. The plus point from Iboih Inn is, we don’t need to confuse about “food”, coz they still open their kitchen until 9 pm (don’t have to worry ‘bout the dark outside). I really curious ‘bout the fried rice and fried noodle people made here…most of them got the same style to serve those foods (I can’t describe it…just have it yourself OK!).
Day Fourth.
We woke up at 8 am and can’t wait to had my first snorkeling at the island. So I rent a goggle and fin for IDR 15 K/each. Me and Endro was having an hour snorkel and it was my second time to snorkeling in open water. The view under the water was magnificent! Many coral colory-fish swimming free and I saw also many of schooling fish. Honestly I have the ability to swim, but I really AFRAID to open water! Lucky there was Endro who already get used to dive in open water. At 10.30 Endro got dive appointment but was canceled due to bad weather. We have Friday-Pray at nearest Gampong (village), and was having my second snorkeling to Rubiah island after. There’s a Sea Canyon spot for those who love a bit of challenge in diving (which having quite hard under-flow due to season change), and if you’re lucky you can meet with shark and school of Barracuda. Also there’s an underwater garden called “Rubiah Sea Garden” which contained with many beautiful coral and fish (and people said it’s more beautiful ratter than Bunaken in North Sulawesi). We got back to the land at 5 pm. Ouw, the boat living me alone at the sea garden while they took Endro who had dive couple hundred meters from my spot…IT WAS FRIGHTING ME OUT for next 10 minutes!!! Dam*!!!
We had diner at local restaurant at the village (weird food…hahaha!!!) coz we almost never had fresh vegetable (and really dreamin’ bout Rice!!). Dan untuk orang-orang disana, makanan berkuah juga termasuk “sayur”…hahaha!! So, most of my fourth day was spending on water. AND I HAD TERRIBLY SEA-SICK AT THE REST OF THE DAY (I bet you will, after having 3 hours at the swinging boat)!!
Day Fifth.
It was Saturday, and I was not in mood to having ANY water that day…Endro still in love with snorkelling, so he spent another 1,5 hours on water in front of our cottage along the water line. So I spent my morning having a delicious banana pancake and laying down at my hammock in front of my room starring the sea and Rubiah island. I had a nap (first nap on my holiday!!) that noon (accompanied by wave sound crushing the coral stone down my room). We planned to rent a motorbike and headed to Zero Kilometre Monument, the very west point of Indonesia where the length of this country start to counted, and it only cost IDR 40 K (exclude the gas.) for half day. It was a challenging track to reached the Zero Kilometre, and took about 8 to 10 Km forestry track. The road really awful…many pit and damage road along the track. Finally we reached the place. It was so magnificent spot. Really near by the cove above the sea. The very west point of Indonesia. Infact, there’s another island (I forgot the name in the west side) but the island are un-inhabitant. When I stand in the cove border and staring the borderless-blue sea, I reminded the same place where you can feel the exact feeling…Uluwatu Hill at Bali! Yupz, they’re got the same magnificent charm! We was waiting for sunset. But we didn’t get even after waiting for an hour till 6.30 pm. So we decided to back home. Lucky we didn’t meet the big snake or any jungle animals…hahaha…
We spent our last day singing at night while Miss Liza brought the karaoke set to the bungalow. With companion of some foreigner too, we spent the night singing any song that came…
Woke up the next morning at 6 am, and watch the sun rose up beautifully you’re your favourite hammock…was one of the magnificent scenery you might seen every morning. Endro took some sun rise pics from downside of our bungalow while I prepare our leaving this morning. The Boat to Aceh will sailed at 8 am. So we must leave to the sea port at 7 am. Endro had arrange for our leaving from the cottage to the sea port, and from the Ulee Lheue harbor to the Sultan Iskandar Muda international airport in Banda Aceh. The car will picked us up and took us at time. Me and Endro got different flight, so we separate right before we walked up the flight.
It took more then two hours flight to Jakarta with one stopped in Polonia airport Medan. IT WAS A TRULLY GREAT HOLIDAY!!!! Ayiyaiyaiyaiyaiiiiiiii……!!!! ![]()
maap…). well, generally it was FUN!! hehe…brangkat kamis sore tanggal 5 Feb. 09 flight Lion Air dapet tiket di harga IDR 350 K…mayan lah (secara harga tiket lagi tinggi2 nya kan ye…). sampe bandara Ngurah Rai udah Maghrib, dan mobil sewaan ude menunggu manis di parkiran…(mayan lho…dapet cuman IDR 110 K/day Karimun th 2005. yaiyalah…itu lah gunanya koneksi soni-mari
… siapa yang gak seneng sih bawa jalan tu anak dua…
…bah!!!). tapi puas lah berfoto2 ria. ouw, gw ma shinta emang sengaja sekalian mo ketemu Rici yang lagi balik ke Indo dari Portugal ma suaminya dan si cutty Sabrina Anjani Quino!! eeugghh…sabrina lucu banget…kaya boneka!!! (cih, ada yg menyaingi keindahan mataku…huhuhu…). kita ngumpul di acaranya si syam. wah seru euy ngumpul-ngumpul ma temen-temen lama…jadi kangen banget ma mereka…ouw, ketemu yunita n dini juga disana…plus ketemu supri, adit, dll waktu nongkrong di circle-k kuta beach…dan seru lah obrolan sampe pass midnight! kayanya emang niat reunian nih ye…hahaha…dan pulangnya masih pula disambung dengan sedikit ajeb-ajeb di vi ai pi (vip)…and mampir bentar ke depan embargo nemuin si lena yang lagi asoy-geboy di tu club. tepat jam 5 pagi baru sampe rumah euy…hahaha…satu kali pernah mampir ke tempat made gara-gara gue mau cari hot spot kafe di seputaran kuta beach…anjrit!! mahal-mahal bener euy…masa ade ye 1 kafe yg ngenain charge IDR 150 K in food order dulu baru bisa pake akses wifi nye…dan si made menyuruh gw ke rumah nya aja karena ada wifi nya (anjrottt!!! rumah aja pake wifi!!!guayaaaa bueeneeerrr!!!). secara ye tu anak bilang gak punya duit tapi tunggangannye sekarang Grand Cheeroke!! damn!!! hahaha!!! anaknya lucu..namanya Eito (istrinya jepang..jadi anaknye mayan bagusan lah..huhuhu..maap de…). ada temennya ternyata di sana…orang jepang, namanya Takahiro…eh, pas ngobrol-ngobrol di ruang makan…dia bilang mata aye bagus…huhuhuh…jadi GR!!! hueekkzzz…
. sayang gak ketemu tu Jepang lagi…hahaha… *kenapa gue tiba-tiba deg-degan ya??!! hahaha…
