Catching the sunset over the Indian Ocean at Lampuuk...

Continued from On to Tanoh Abee... so what exist over there?

Despite spending some time at Tanoh Abee, despite leaving there sometime after 6.30 pm then having to rush back 42 km through a non-highway road to Banda Aceh then another 15 km to go to its west, we managed to arrive at our next destination, the beach of Lampuuk in time.

For the record, Lampuuk is the beach facing the Indian Ocean which is closest to Banda Aceh.

Its location facing the ocean near the northernmost tip of the island of Sumatera made it one of the closest open area to the underwater earthquake epicentre of the tsunami attack of 26th December 2004. Thus the beach of Lampuuk was totally devastated and destroyed. Now, just look at its beauty 4 years after the mishap...


Why, I couldn't help changing into shorts and taking a dip in the ocean myself. But no pictures of me doing that ya...

Anyway, this is as close to a superb sunset we could catch. While we had all the time, at least 15 minutes to watch the sun sets before it disappears into the horizon, it seemed like the sky had other plans. Patches of cloud blocked what could have a been a very interesting sight as I've been told this is where we could get the best sunset anywhere near Banda Aceh if not the whole of Aceh. Never mind, the view was good enough. With that you could say the day's activity for me was done. Except for a visit to the nearby mosque which became the only building to survive the tsunami for miles around, a mosque which I will feature in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART) next.

On to Tanoh Abee... so what exists over there?

Continued from the article Aceh rural views around Indrapuri

From Indrapuri and then the Teungku Chik di Tiro tomb complex, we decided to head on to Tanoh Abee, some 15 km further to the south... as we wriggled our way out of the nearby rural areas, fresh vistas opened up..

Its refreshing to see local kids playing about...

At certain junctures, the journey was slowed down by lorries like this while the road is too small for us to simply overtake.

Never mind, we could still savour the views to kill time...

It's just by then it's already past 5 pm...

We wanted to go to Tanoh Abee some 15 km south and do a proper visitation there, yet hope to return to Banda Aceh some 42 km from Tanoh Abee then head another 10 - 15 km to Lampuuk to catch the sunset. Can we make all these in time?

Thank God, after some time we're back on the main road...

One thing I noticed about Aceh is that they tend to use mosques with this standard design...

I can't remember where this is but I believe by the time we crossed this bridge it's already 6 pm...

Never mind, I still have faith we could get to Lampuuk facing the Indian Ocean for sunset. Or is it?

OK. We're getting off the main road again...

There's this watergate...

I think it lies over the river Aceh.

Meanwhile the mountain called Seulawah said to be an inactive volcano looms in the background.

We pass a smaller watergate controlling a canal...

So on to another rural part...

Where is this place in Tanoh Abee we're going to anyway?

It should lie just over this bridge said the driver...

Ah. At last. The information says this is the ancient library of Tanoh Abee. What ancient library? I'll continue the story at my Malay blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU later. Cheers! :]

Aceh rural views around Indrapuri

Continued from From Syiah Kuala to Kreung Aceh...

Later the same day me and wife went some 25 km inland and south of Banda Aceh to visit the old mosque of Indrapuri. Look at the articles Masjid (mosque of) Indrapuri... in the blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART) and Masjid Indrapuri, bukti agama Hindu memang berasal daripada syariat Nabi Ibrahim AS? in CATATAN SI MERAH SILU

We then went around the rural areas. This is a new mosque being built in one of the nearby village...

There's plenty of padi fields here, rice plants that is...

The wooden traditional houses are also interesting.

A mosque in another village...

And here, we are in front the tomb of a certain religious master listed as an Indonesian national hero. I will continue on the tomb and the religious master in my other blogspots later. Cheers! :]