Visiting the Tsunami Museum

Continuing from Krueng Aceh from Hotel Medan.

At 10.30 am local time we went to the Tsunami Museum at midtown Banda Aceh.

I have been inside once in 2009. But then there where no displays yet, just a recently completed building.

Since then I have visited Banda Aceh a number of times but only went past the building.

So this time is the first time I made a proper visit... with a group of Malaysian activists guided by a local friend who happens to run a tour and travel outfit.

A section with videos of the 26th November 2004 Tsunami and how it ravaged Aceh.

A chimney like section with names of dead casualties, known ones that is, immortalised on the wall.

For the record more than 200,000 Acehnese were killed by the incident.

A pathway going up while circling the chimney part tries to depict the confusion that follows after the Tsunami.

This section with flags of nations who came to help rescue and recover Aceh depicts the light of hope that came afterwards.

Then there's this giant map showing the region of Aceh and major towns/places.

At the exhibition section a model of the museum is shown shaped like a ship of sort.

Then there's pictures and models showing the devastating effects of the Tsunami.

At a theatre we spent time watching a documentary on the subject before going to another section with more models potraying the situation...

Krueng Aceh from Hotel Medan

On to the second day of the 13-19th Feb Aceh trip...

Satuday morning 14th February 2015. From the 2nd floor of Hotel Medan where we spent the night I caught sight of an open part overlooking Krueng (river of) Aceh.

The hotel itself faces the opposite sight. These are views from the rear of the hotel...

Tea at Kuala Changkoi

Continuing from Jumaat prayers at Baitur Rahman early 2015.

After visiting a number of other places we decided to close the day by having late tea at a scenic place.

I was told the name of the place is Kuala Changkoi, at least that's what I heard. We actually had tea at the side of a bridge.

Food and drinks were ordered from a stall on stilts.

The views around...

Jumaat prayers at Baitur Rahman early 2015

Peace be upon you all. Three days ago I completed a 7 day trip in Aceh 13-19 February. It was my 7th trip to that region. Time to share stories and pictures.

I arrived in the city of Banda Aceh Friday morning 13th February 2015 with a group of young researchers eager to learn about the history of Aceh. At noon, the men proceeded to the mosque of Baitur Rahman for Friday prayers.

I have been to this mosque many times. But for Friday prayers this could be my 3rd or 4th.

Among the group only one other man have been to Aceh before. I'm not sure if he's done his Friday prayers here.

Anyway it is a good start to the trip. And as far as I could remember this is the first time I arrived in Aceh on Friday.

Beruas river at Pulau Meranti

Continuing from The lake besides the tomb of Sultan Muzaffar Syah I Perak. Well, sort of...

The following day, Sunday 8th February 2015 we visited some places around the town of Beruas. Among it are old tombs at a place called Pulau Meranti. To reach it we have to go through an oil palm estate and cross a river.

On the way out I decided to take pictures at the bridge crossing the river.

The river is Beruas river. Here's a look upstream.

A look downstream...

The lake besides the tomb of Sultan Muzaffar Syah I Perak

Something from a recent trip to Perak.

Saturday 7th February 2015. Me and family visited the tomb of Sultan Muzaffar Syah I of Perak which has been recently renovated.

It seems that the surroundings have also been cleared and made more tidy. I have been to the tomb many times but this was the first time I noticed a rather wide body close by.

Ah. This is the lake the locals call Air Mati.

I understand it used to be part of the Perak river, a bend or so.

But a natural change in the course of the river over time left it isolated from the main body of the river. Thus the waters here became 'dead'. That is why it is called Air Mati which literally means dead (mati) water (air).