Greetings all. I guess I have been procrastinating long enough regarding the Aceh stories. So here we are, continuing from the last Aceh story, Catching the sunset over the Indian Ocean at Lampuuk... made almost two weeks ago!
This one starts on my third day in Aceh, Wednesday 17th June 2009. The destination in mind is the tomb of the ancient ruler, Sultan Malikus Salih in Geudong, some 300 km or so south-east of Banda Aceh. After sometime waiting at the hotel for our host Kak Ann to start making the move, we left sometime after 3 pm. Above is the main stadium of Banda Aceh as we head out of the city.
This is the main range of Bukit Barisan which could be seen from the city. The road we used at this point is the same main road we used to get to Indrapuri and then Tanoh Abee. Look at the articles Aceh rural views around Indrapuri and On to Tanoh Abee... so what exists over there? 
Oh. This time me and wife went in the same car as Kak Ann, a bulky Landcruiser...
There, a nice view of the mountain Seulewah. Don't be fooled by the small size seen from this point. The mountain is about 5,500 feet tall...
Miles later, a better view of Seulawah...
We soon started taking some uphill bends...
While we are already more than 40 km away from Banda Aceh, the mountain Seulawah still looms far away...
On this side of the horizon lies the further parts of the mountain range Bukit Barisan...
We zoomed pass some villages...
Soon, we began to climb towards the slopes of Seulawah. Some parts of roads are rough. So we stopped for a minute to adjust the Landcruiser's suspension system. Pretty nifty this car as the body practically rises a few inches higher off the wheels to better take more shock while maintaining smooth driving... good for my then 6-months pregnant wife.
We went higher uphill passing corner after corner...
At this point, I believe we should already be more than 1,000 feet above sea level.
I can't remember where this is at. It looks like some sort of nature park...
Meanwhile, another car in our little convoy follows behind, the Toyota Innova which has been used to ferry me and wife across Banda Aceh and around for the previous 2 days...
This part looks cooler with plenty of pine trees.
Ah. After an hour of driving or so, I believe we are entering the hillside town of Pekan Saree..
From this angle it might look like a dead cowboy town...
But from other angles, this little town situated some 1,500 feet or more above sea level at the slopes of Seulawah does have the flavour of a mountain resort town.
Anyway, we stopped here for a brief rest and a good cup of coffee. To be continued...
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