Visiting the tomb of Daeng Mansur with friends from Pidie

Peace be upon you on this blessed Friday. For the third day of our Aceh trip 23-30 March I have only one article for the blogspot.

Tuesday 25th 2014. After 2 nights at Banda Aceh its time to go out into the country. Our main destination was the town of Takengon which sits some 4,000 feet above sea level on a mountain range. On the way we stopped at Pidie where a number of local friends greeted us with much hospitality. We were feted at their organisation headquarters, then a villagers house before they accompanied us to this certain place.

It is the tomb complex of an Aceh royalty of Bugis descend, Daeng Mansur who thrived in the late 16th century AD.

It is in my plan to pay a visit as I believed Daeng Mansur is a main ancestor of mine. From him was isssued the rulers of Aceh from 1727 and on.

There. What you see here is about half who accompanied me and family. It feels right that the friends who want to fight for the return of Aceh to old traditional values too came with the right intentions.

To Lampuuk beach again for the sunset

Continued from Views from the roof of Rahmatullah mosque.

Not far from the mosque is the beautiful beach of Lampuuk.

It is the closest beach to Banda Aceh facing directly the Indian Ocean.

The first time I was here was with the wife in 2009.

We wanted to catch what is said to be a very beautiful sunset and this time we got some. Compare the view with that from the old article Catching the sunset over the Indian Ocean at Lampuuk....

Views from the roof of Rahmatullah mosque

Continued from Going on top the Tsunami stranded ship.

Another famous monument from the Tsunami of 26th December 2004 is the Rahmatullah mosque at Lampuuk, about 15 km south-west of Banda Aceh.

Situated at 600 metres or so from the beach facing the Indian Ocean it was the only man-made structure left standing when the big waves struck.

A part of the mosque is left damaged as a testimony to the event.

Our driver, Agam then showed a staircase behind.

So we climbed up to check out the views.

I bet the views are best from up this tower.

But after climbing up a few stairs I found it too rusty to continue supporting my weight.

I guess it was enough to just climb up the roof and check out the views from there...

The time was close to sunset. The Indian Ocean is just behind the last line of trees...

Going on top the Tsunami stranded ship

Continued from Bringing the family to Gunongan.

Next on our list is a ship stranded inland after being pushed some five kilometres from shore by the big waves of the 26th December 2004 Tsunami.

Me and wife have been here in 2009 and 2010. Much changes have been made to accomodate visitors including a monument shown below.

Unlike the boat at Lampulo (see The boat on top of houses at Lampulo) the ship which houses a big generator set totally wrecked everything in its path.

Then again look at its size.

Time to go up and enjoy the views...

Bringing the family to Gunongan

Continued from The muddy area near the mouth of Aceh river.

In the afternoon we went to the Aceh museum office where lies an interesting 400 year-old structure.

It is called Gunongan which literarily means mountains. It is said the structure was built so that the consort to the then ruler of Aceh, a princess from Pahang where there are plenty of mountains would not be so homesick.

It was built within a huge royal garden.

There is a special fountain (now dysfunctional) for the princess to wash her hair. My wife doing a pose...

Then she can play/climb up the Gunongan while her hair dries up.

So there I was with the kids sort of emulating the action of the princess.

I was told when this place was still a garden, only females were allowed it, members of the royal family and their maids. Perhaps certain male members are allowed too. For it is conceivable that husbands to princesses should be allowed in at least during certain periods.

My 72-year-old dad also climbed up.

A look down...