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FireFlyz | 21
Where to stay
RasaMala Hotel
This budget friendly hotel is strate-
gically located in the town centre.
It is only 12.6km away from Sultan
Iskandar Muda International Airport.
Major tourist sites are at a walking
distance with the Tsunami Museum
being a mere 1.3km away and the
Baiturrahman Mosque at only 2km
away. The hotel has 40 comfort-
able rooms and good WiFi service
throughout the hotel.
Book your stay at this hotel on
www.fireflyholiday.com/hotels
itinerary the next day. I had the luxury of
visiting several majestic mosques, starting
with Banda Aceh’s jewel, Baiturrahman
Mosque. While a symbol of the Acehnese
people, its architectural design surprisingly
showcases motifs of Persian, Indian and
Moorish influences. A casualty of the
Dutch Occupation, the Baiturrahman
Mosque that was originally built in 1292
was rebuilt in 1879, hence the current
mosque standing today looks very differ-
ent from its original architecture. During
the tsunami, it was this very building
which stood defiantly still amidst the shat-
tered and tattered landscape of the town.
Unknown to some, there are other
mosques that stood strong against the
tidal waves of the 2004 tsunami too, such
as BaiturrahimMosque in Ulee Lheue and
Lampuuk Mosque in Lampuuk. Another
unique tsunami site that I visited was the
PLTD Apung, a 2.6 tonne generator ship
that crashed on land. Try going on board
the ship – you will find that you will be
rewardedwith an expansive, glorious view
of Banda Aceh.
While visiting all these tsunami sites
proved quite emotionally taxing, the
‘Tsunami Museum’ was a refreshing
breath of air. Out of all the museums I’ve
ever visited, this one makes the list of
my top ten. With an exterior not unlike
the boat on the house in Lampulo, it was
built by Indonesian architect Ridwan
Kamir (current mayor of Bandung), and
artistically chronicles the journey of this
catastrophic event in a symbolic fashion.
Themuseumalso serves to educate the
public about earthquakes and tsunamis
and pays homage to the hundreds of
countries that helped to rebuild Aceh.
You start your journey in the first hall,
which is pitch dark and all you hear is the
sound of water streaming down the walls,
simulating the arrival of the tsunami. As
you walk into the next room, you will be
surrounded by mirrors and bright light,
which reflects hope. You then have to
meander an uneven, spiral walkway,
symbolic of the Acehnese peoples’ disori-
entation during the aftermath.
I found the visit there profound and
philosophically engaging – truly a deep
and moving allegory of human suffering,
hope, and survival.
Upon bidding Banda Aceh adieu, it
was amazing how this town had risen
high, like a phoenix out of flames and
ashes. Despite having gone through so
much pain, suffering, and loss, the people
here are full of life, warmth and are most
welcoming to those whowant to visit their
home of Banda Aceh.
Aceh Museum
Baiturrahman Mosque
Boat on the house
PLTD Apung
Lampuuk Beach
Tsunami Museum