Banda Acheh Indonesia - Part 3. .

Lhoknga Beach, Banda Aceh Indonesia

Located just 15 km from Banda Acheh, the quiet beaches of Lhok Nga (sometimes pronounced Lhonga) and Lampuuk. These are perfect for those wanting to visit Banda Aceh, while avoiding the hustle and bustle of the big city.

If only looking at this wonderful beach, no one would have expected what had happened several years ago. On 26 December 2004, this area was among those worst hit by the tsunami. There were houses on what is now a beautiful white sand beach. All of them were swiped away by the giant waves. On the right and left hand side is a hill. Those who could survive ran up the hill. Today, after seven years of the Tsunami, this place has once again become one of the most favorite places for families in Aceh to come for swimming and enjoying beautiful sunsets in the Indian Ocean.

The several "wakaf" along the beach.

My wife looking at the vast Indian Ocean.

Hill to the right. Note the cement factory conveyor belt which was completely destroyed and rebuilt.

Hill to the left. The tsunami waves reached up to the base of the barren section. No vegetation can grow after that.

Cut Nya Dien House.

Cut Nyak Dien was an Indonesian woman revolutionist from Aceh. The house is a replica of the heroine Cut Nyak Dhien House, from the Aceh War. The colonial forces burned down the house but a replica was built later. This house in Lam Pisang, about 6 km from Banda Aceh and is now is a Museum. The house is in Lampisang Village, Lhok Nga subdistrict, and Greater Aceh district. Although Lhok Nga was the area worst hit by the Tsunami, the Tjut Nyak Dhien House survived.

The daughter of a Chieftain, Tjut Nyak Dhien joined the fight against the Dutch invaders in 1875. Her first husband fell in battle, and she remarried. When her second husband also died fighting, she continued the struggle with her children. After six years in the jungle, she was captured by the Dutch and exiled to West Java where she passed away in 1906. Cut Nyak Dhien is recognized as one of the National Warriors of Indonesia.

Malaysia legendry P. Ramlee whose father was Teuku Nyak Putih could be related to Cut Nyak Dhien. The Acehnese still cannot trace the line.

In front of the House.

The plaque.

Me & wife at the house frontage.

The KRU Trio with their wives. Haji Hillaluddin, Haji Arshad and Haji Mustapa.

The antique chandelier.

The beautiful craftsmanship at the wardrobe.

In the bedroom.

The nearby warong selling all sorts of Achehnese delicacies.

Acheh National Museum.

The Museum Aceh is situated in Sultan Alaidin Mahmud Syah St. The Museum exhibits ceramics, weapons and many cultural artifacts such as clothing, jewellery, calligraphy, Islamic ornamentation, kitchen equipment and many other items. A most interesting item is a big bell called “Loceng Cakra Donya”, a gift from China Grand-Duke (Ming Emperor, in the 15th century) for Sultan Aceh that was delivered by a Chinese Moslem, Admiral Cheng Ho in 1414, an inscription on the bell reads; “Sing Fang Niat Toeng Juut Kat”. In this complex there is also ‘Rumah Aceh’ house that was built by Dutch Governor Van Swart in 1941 in a style typical of classic Aceh’s house architecture. In the western of Museum or northern of Aceh House of Custom there is graveyard complex holding the remains of Aceh Sultans.

It was closed due to Chinese New Year and we could only access the ground floor of Rumoh Acheh.

Overview of the National Museum.

Me & wife in front of Rumoh Acheh.

Loceng Cakra Donya - bell donated by Admiral Cheng Ho.

Padi store.

Dehusking the padi. (Lesong tumbuk padi kaki).

On the bullock cart. No bull.

Panoramic view of Rumoh Acheh. The Achehnese pronounced "Rumah" as "Rumoh".

The Hotel.

Hotel 61.

We stayed at Hotel 61, 28 Jalan Panglima Polem, a 2 star Hotel and the best located Hotel near the famous Simpang Lima. A & W Restaurant is just downstairs and everything within walking distance, including the SPA. The Hotel only serves simple buffet breakfast. It is a three floor Hotel including the ground, no lift and no fridge in the Room. The hot and cold water is available round the clock at the end of the corridor. Please avoid the ground floor room as it has no window. Any emergency, there will be no way out.

However the Room and the Bathroom is well kept. Two small bottles of complimentary mineral water is available daily and hot shower available. Room service is polite and prompt.

Hotel 61.

Haji Mokhzar, Haji Ismail and Haji Mustapa after checked out. (the trio normally seen in Mekah during every Ramadan).

Hotel pavement - clean.

Note the drain steel cover, remain intact. Nobody dare to dismantle for "Kedai Besi Buruk".

Simpang Lima monument just nearby the Hotel. That's the landmark.

Haji Ismail normal job at Jeddah Saudi Arabia Airport. Noe loading luggage from Hotel heading for Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport.

The Airport.

Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport.

IATA - BTJ is the Airport located 13.5 kilometers southeast of the capital of Acheh province, Banda Acheh. It is named after the twelfth Sultan of Acheh, Iskandar Muda.

After hit by the devastating Tsunami on December 26, 2004, the Airport has been renovated and had 3000-meter runway for wide-body jet liners. On October 9, 2011 the first Boeing 747 – 400 had taken off and landed successfully, it proved that the Airport could be transit Aerodrome for international airlines companies. It is planned that this airport will be the Airport that has the longest runway in Indonesia.

The Airport Terminal Building has a Dome and from a distance it looks like a Mosque.

There was no Immigration or Custom problem upon Arrival and Departure. Airport Porters with trolleys still hanging around and charge for each luggage. Group check in counter was swift and orderly. Smoking Room is available at Departure Lounge and access to plane is by aerobridge. That’s better than LCCT at Sepang.

Spacious International Departure Lounge.

Approaching the Airport.

Empty Runway.

The Airport Terminal look like a Mosque. Elegant Dome.

The Airport signage to welcome tourists.

Air Asia waiting to take us home. Aero bridge, no need to walk to the plane.

Motorized Becak in Banda Acheh.

There was one Malaysian operating the Motorized Becak without a safety helmet. However he escaped the Syariah Polisi and managed to be back safely in Malaysia.

I only charge in Malaysian Ringgit.

Other attraction in Banda Acheh.

Gunongan and Taman Putroe Pahang.

Gunongan had erected by Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607 - 1636) as a private playground and bathing place for this wife Putri Pahang (From Malaysia). This whimsical architectural fantasy had access to the Sultan's palace through the traditional 'Pintu Aceh', used by royalty only. This building likely functioned as an important recreational place located in the Taman Sari Park for the Queen and other royal family members to climb. It is quite enjoyable to visit this place during the late afternoon or sunset.

Putri Pahang, Kamaliah was brought over to Acheh to be married to Sultan Iskandar Muda by the legendry Malacca Warrior Tun Sri Lanang.

Indonesian Airline Monument - (Seulawah-Indonesian First Airplane).

The Monument was erected to commemorate the heroic contribution of the Acehnese to the emergence of the Republic of Indonesia. When Indonesia became independent in 1945 the Dutch intended to reoccupy the country. In the ensuing struggle in 1949 much area had fallen to the Dutch, the Republic of Indonesia was badly in need of an airplane to avoid the blockade of the enemy. Soekarno, Indonesian president at that time, urgently asked the Acehnese to donate money for an airplane. A Douglas DC-3 was purchased shortly afterwards, and paid for with the donation. This very early plane was the precursor of Garuda Indonesia fleet.

Kerkhof (Dutch military graveyards of Banda Aceh),

Teuku Umar St (the entrance gate is in front of the south eastern corner of Blang Padang). Kerkhoff or War Memorial Cemetery or known by local peoples as Peucut Kerkhoff, 2,000 Dutch soldiers who died in an Aceh War were buried in this graveyards. On the walls of the Kerkhoff entrance gate you may see the names list of the persons buried including details of where and when they died.