Aceh : Tsunami Disaster on 26 dec 2004

The western coastal areas of Aceh, including the cities of Banda Aceh, Calang, and Meulaboh, were among the areas hardest-hit by the tsunami resulting from the Indian Ocean earthquake on 26 December 2004.^[19] While estimates vary, over 170,000 people were killed by tsunami in Aceh and about 500,000 were left homeless. The tragedy of the tsunami was further compounded several months later on 26 March 2005 when a second off-shore earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale struck the sea bed between the islands of Simeulue Island in Aceh and Nias in North Sumatra. This second quake killed a further 905 people on Nias and Simeulue, displaced tens of thousands more, and caused the tsunami response to be expanded to include Nias.

The population of Aceh before the December 2004 tsunami was 4,271,000 (2004). The population as of 15 September 2005 was 4,031,589.

As of February 2006, more than a year after the tsunami, a large number of people were still living in barrack-style temporary living centers (TLC) or tents. Reconstruction was visible everywhere, but due to the sheer scale of the disaster, and logistical issues, progress was slow.

The ramifications of the tsunami went beyond the immediate impact to the lives and infrastructure of the Acehnese living on the coast. Since the disaster, the Acehnese rebel movement GAM, which had been fighting for independence against the Indonesian authorities for 29 years, has signed a peace deal (August 15, 2005). The perception that the tsunami was punishment for insufficient piety in this proudly Muslim province is partly behind the increased emphasis on the importance of religion post-tsunami. This has been most obvious in the increased implementation of Sharia law, including the introduction of the controversial 'WH' or Syariah police. As homes are being built and people's basic needs are met, the people are also looking to improve the quality of education, increase tourism, and develop responsible, sustainable industry. Well-qualified educators are in high demand in Aceh.

While parts of the capital Banda Aceh were unscathed, the areas closest to the water, especially the areas of Kampung Jawa and Meuraxa, were completely destroyed. Most of the rest of the western coast of Aceh was severely damaged. Manytowns completely disappeared. Other towns on Aceh's west coast hit by the disaster included Lhoknga, Leupung, Lamno, Patek, Calang, Teunom, and the island of Simeulue. Affected or destroyed towns on the region's north & east coast were Pidie Regency, Samalanga, and Lhokseumawe.

The area was slowly rebuilt after the disaster. The government initially proposed the creation of a two-kilometer buffer zone along low-lying coastal areas within which permanent construction was not permitted. This proposal was unpopular among some local inhabitants and proved impractical in most situations, especially fishing families that are dependent on living near to the sea.

The Indonesian government set up a special agency for Aceh reconstruction, the Badan Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi (BRR) headed by Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, a former Indonesian Minister. This agency had ministry level of authority and incorporated officials, professionals and community leaders from all backgrounds. Most of the reconstruction work was performed by local people using a mix of traditional methods and partial prefabricated structures, with funding coming from many international organizations and individuals, governments, and the people themselves.

The Government of Indonesia estimated in their Preliminary Damage and Losses Assessment^[20] that damages amounted to US$4.5 billion (before inflation, and US$6.2 billion including inflation). Three years after the tsunami, reconstruction was still ongoing. The World Bank monitored funding for reconstruction in Aceh and reported that US$7.7 billion had been earmarked for the reconstruction whilst at June 2007 US$5.8 billion had been allocated to specific reconstruction projects, of which US$3.4 billion had actually been spent (58%).^[21]

In 2009, the government opened a US$5.6 million museum to commemorate the tsunami with photographs, stories, and a simulation of the earthquake that triggered the tsunami.^[22]

On April 11, 2012 a Magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck in the Aceh, and tsunami warnings were issued to 28 countries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nde2-UAuWG0&feature=related

Aceh Traditional Food

Food & Cuisine in Aceh

Food info sections | Eating locally

The restaurants in Aceh, and throughout many parts of Sumatra, provide every diner with a plate of rice and then fill the table with a large assortment of delicacies each on its own small plate, stacked on the table in pyramids. You eat only what you want, and pay only for what you eat. A table could come with 25 different offerings! The Acehnese breakfast staple is nasi gurih, rice cooked in coconut milk, sold in coffee shops everywhere.
Make a stop at a warung for coffee and some snacks. Try the popular fried buffalo skins and fermented cassava wrapped in banana leaves!
Shopping in Aceh offers all the basic items, typically expected of an Indonesian city. Read our Aceh Restaurant Guide below to find the best places to eat at, as well as some local specialities.
Aceh Food & Cuisine Guide
Local Cuisine

Try the many varieties of smoked, marinated, curried, and spiced fish, curried goat hearts, giant grilled shrimp, and spicy miniature snails in oil, which are a local favourite. Other specialty dishes in Aceh include mie kepiting, an Acehnese specialty of noodles with crab. For the sweet-tooths, don't despair, during all meals, you will be plied with copious sweets made of rice, coconut, bananas, rambutan, mangosteen, and snake-skin fruit.
Warung kopi (coffee shop)
The well known area in Banda Aceh to sip the famous strong black Robusta coffee of Aceh is Ulee Kareng village. Stop by at one of typical coffee shop along Teuku Iskandar street (try the busy Jasa Ayah Solong) and experience not only the strong coffee, but also the hectic ambience of people chatting and serving. For more expensive coffee in air-conditioned room accompanied by cheese cake or the like, try Banda Aceh's Caswell's in Peunayong which is a sister of its Bali and Jakarta coffee shops.
Acehnese Dishes
Spicy Acehnese food has had a strong influence from India and can be distinguished from the famous Padang dishes as the latter use much more coconut milk in their preparation. 'Ayam tangkap' chicken dish is a must when you dine at Acehnese restaurants such as Aceh Rayeuk in Lueng Bata, Banda Aceh. Acehnese spicy noodles (crab noodle deliciously cooked at Mie Razali, Peunayong) is also worth trying.
Padang Food in Aceh
Across Indonesia, you can find the ready-to-eat curried dishes in restaurants dubbed 'Restoran / rumah makan Padang,' and Aceh is no exception. There is always a vast array of curried or spiced food to choose from: chicken, beef, squid, prawn, fish, eggs, veggies - even the organs such as cow brain or 'gulai otak' (often the signature dish of certain Padang restaurants). While in Banda Aceh try Rumah Makan Bundo or the much smaller Ragil just off the grand Mosque.
Chinese / Oriental Food in Aceh
There are a few restaurants in Banda Aceh, which typically have the word 'kitchen' in their names, and they invariably offer chinese food. Some examples are the Imperial Kitchen and Marina Kitchen. The food here is freshly cooked and selection usually includes stir-fry veggies, black-pepper beef, steam fish, sweet and sour prawn, etc.
Grilled Seafood at Simpang Mesra
Been to Bali and dined at Jimbaran beach? Well, the concept is similar but Simpang Mesra is more laid back and situated on the river bank rather than a beach. Nonetheless, the prawns here are guaranteed to be tastier and offer great value for money. The fresh grilled fish is also recommended. For a healthy natural drink, ask for tender coconut in the shell.
Italian Food in Aceh
Pace Bene at the back of Jl. Sri Ratu Safiatuddin serves good value Italian food with relaxed, romantic ambience. Famous among expatriates in Aceh.
Pulau Weh Restaurant Guide
Gapang Beach
On Gapang beach, there are at least four restaurants serving simple food of fried rice, fried noodles, sandwiches and pancakes. The restaurants open early in the morning till late in the evening. The tables are set on the beach facing the calm water and Sabang on the other tip of Pulau Weh. Don’t be surprised if locals usually take the freedom to join your table and start up a conversation. Just relax and enjoy your meal. The restaurant in the centre of Gapang beach is Zero Café. Breakfast here costs Rp. 25,000 - 40,000. Their fruit salad and sandwiches are worth trying.
Perdagangan Street in Sabang
Sabang offers plenty of small restaurants offering various kinds of menu from the Acehnese gulai kambing, Sumatran dishes, to seafood and Chinese food. Most of the restaurants are on Jalan Perdagangan. For coffee and light meals, try Aneka Ria, which serves grilled toasts with home-made jams and steamy black coffee. The restaurant opens from early morning to about 9pm. You can also order tasty fried rice or noodles from a seller in front of the restaurant.
Iboih Beach
Further north-west from Gapang beach, Iboih offers more a secluded corner, facing the famous Rubiah Island. On Iboih beach, there are a few small restaurants serving standard nasi campur (a plate of rice and a few side dishes), fried rice and noodles. Try Chill Out Lounge or Warung Hanum food stall for simpler dishes.

Special Coffee From Aceh

Kopi Luwak Gayo Aceh Premiun Class

Arabica Luwak / Civet Coffee from Aceh Gayo

The Gayo highland still geniue just like before. cool. green, forest, and coffee in them. 

Our sources from the silent site of the forest where luwak live in harmony. and share

some of our preserved not picked coffee just for them and expect their poop in return.

every body happy in harmony.

Species Arabica/Typica the heart of Gayo highland, 1250m asl. volcano land, virgin forest, rain forest, we share some land inside them.

Wild, from the forest, the luwak live conserved without disturbance, our bean collected only

from happy living luwak in their wild inhabitant. no stress, no exploit, no trick, or no cheat on them.

they provide us fortume, we never know their home, in jugle they be.

the happy luwak can to preserve the unique and long lasting aroma and taste.

well graded to minimized the taind and fault in the cup.

Carefully treated from the sources till ready for roasting.

only cupped best by location were chose for productions.

you must compare the other before you make a decision.

not only legend, but truely legend in the cup.

Taste profice: vanilla sweet, floral, fruity, slight spicy, full body, wide range medium acidity, extraordinary aftertasted, very smooth, balanced, extraordinary, peace and harmony.

Bean size: big arabica bean uniform.

Kelda's handwriting

Qibas mereka-pun masih berlari kencang
Menembus malam,merobek dinginnya alam
Aduen-ku disana dengan sejuta cita,namun dia juga pikul berjuta asa dari para laskar berhati baja...
Smoga esok kan berjalan sesuai harap,dibawah damai Merah,Hitam,Putih yang berdiri tegap...
*malam12pebruari

Menempuh malam,menjejaki bumi...
Smua deret syair tlah usai kumainkan,namun diri masih harus tetap berdiri tuk menunggu tepukan hati2 yang bahagia...
Tetap tersenyum karna hati trus meyakini,bahwa smua akan indah pada masanya...
*menantimasa

Kembali meninggalkan asalmula-ku
pergi tuk mengikuti alur syair yang sebentar lagi akan usai...
Berharap semua hati dapat tersenyum bahagia dengan harmonisasi yang kucoba mainkan selama ini...semoga!!!
*menantiwaktu

Bersandar pada gelap,berharap esok terang 'kan berjalan sesuai harap...
Langkah terakhir,meskipun tertatih namun smua-nya akan genap terlewati...
Smoga....
*menjemput fajar

Duduk melewati senja, mencoba untuk mengerti akan apa yang sedang ada di dalam fikir ini....
mohon maaf jika tangan pernah berlaku kasar, jika kata pernah salah berucap, jika laku pernah menyakiti...
Yakinlah bahwa raga dan jiwa selalu mencoba menjadi yang terbaik bagi sang CINTA...
*lepas senja di batas kota

berlomba dengan malam....
berusaha menyelesaikan apa yang menjadi kewajiban
raga ini lelah, jiwa teramat ingin rehat sejenak
semoga apa yang dilakukan dapat memberi kebahagiaan
sehingga raga dan jiwa dapat tersenyum pada akhirnya...
*selamat menikmati malam


Laku belum sesuai harap,ingin belum seperti pinta...
Maaf diri ini masih belum sempurna...
Kedua tangan masih meminta,belum bisa berusaha...sehingga banyak gerak yg mungkin masih tertahan dan terkadang seperti tak berdaya...
MAAF...
*sendiri dalam larut

Berusaha jujur,meski tak dapat dipercaya
Mungkin diri ini terlalu banyak menyimpan sampul keluguan,sehingga laku yang tak benar pun tertutupi oleh nya...
Berharap bahwa apa yg raga ini perbuat memank selalu sejalan dengan inginnya jiwa...
Yakin bahwa tak pernah ada DUSTA...
*selamat malam

Hujan yang membasahi dedaunan,meninggalkan bekas angin dalam keheningan malam... Sendiri dalam kerinduan,merasa waktu berjalan begitu perlahan...
*slamat bermalam minggu

Cut Ika Liana - Simphoni hitam ( Final Bintang Radio Tingkat Nasional )

tulisan-NYA

Siang kali ini matahari biaskan teriknya, desau semilir angin disela cemara yg tak lagi rimbun mengitari bibir pantai dekat rumahku, lamunanku kembali menyeruak,kala itu aku bermain disana,bermain dan terus bermain tak peduli panas yg myengat,sayup2 terdengar bapak bertanya "mana anak2?" ummi mjawab biasa pak mereka sedang bermain, aku masih terus bersenda,melompat dan sesekali berteriak melagukan syair2 yg tak berjudul,hingga ummi mengingatkan dan berkata "sudah cukup mainnya siap2 dhuhur kemudian makan siang" saat itu kesal bercampur senang.. Lantunan ayat2 suci dari meunasah dikampungku membuyarkan lamunanku, ya aku hrs bersiap2 untuk kembali,ya kembali menemui cintaku (adinda tunggu cut bang kembali ya)..(kenangan)

Sore ditepi pantai,dikotaku,terasa kembali pada masa lalu, kaki2 kecil berlari mhindar debur ombak, bahagianya, tersentak oleh sapaan seorang wanita peminta renta..miris hati ini, dan dia mendoakan kbaikan untukku,subhanallah berqahi dia ya RABB..setelah itu aku kembali lg mnerawang masa kecilku (kenangan)
 

Aku kembali nyusuri jalan ini, hampir setiap tikungannya tlah terlukis jelas karena acap kali terlalui, jalan ini mbuatku sll bertaruh harap, dan doa mu adalah penerangnya, RABBI,kau maha tahu harapan hamba dan kapan waktu yg terbaik u terwujud, hamba ikhlas.

Lewat tengah malam, fikir mrantau mcari apa yg terbias, dari berbagai warna yg terjadi hari ini, kalut yg bergelayut coba tuk singkirkan walau masih melekat, aku masih terdiam disini diatas sajadah merah pmberianmu, derdoa dlm diam dan raga bergetar krn dinginnya air wudhu yg masih terasa..aku masih disini, dengarlah pintaku...semakin lirih.

Mngambang kemasa lalu, saat lelah ku rebahkan kepala dipangkuanmu, kau usap sambil terus lafazkan doa2 lirih hingga pergi penat ini, sesekali kau kecup kening ini dan berkata tidurlah nak, esok kan kau temui bahagia dari dukamu hari ini..aku lara.

Siang ini didipan sbuah rumah sakit, aku menunggu..lalu lalang dihadapanku bermacam insan dgn berbagai ekspresi dan rasa sakit, semua ingin lbh baik, mnilik kembali keruang hatiku, aku jg demikian berada disini untuk harapan lebih baik..walau hrs mnanti.

Menggugat hati agar tak larut dalam prosesi yg mhentikan rasa, ritual demi ritual yg dilakoni semestinya tetap dalam logika, jika tak berpengaruh biar kan ia pergi walau suatu masa akan kembali, agar lega sang jiwa mengikuti rotasi pada porosnya.

Semalam bersamamu
Kau tampak sedikit kepayahan
Namun terus temani aku
Itulah kekuatan sepenuhnya
Walau tak yersadari
Mbahagiakan org lain adalah ibadah
Dan kamu melakukannya malam itu

Jika air mata tercipta untuk mruahkan rasa, lalu knapa hrs ada perih, bukan kah perih bisa pergi dgn aliran nya? Jika cinta mberikan bahagia lalu mengapa hrs ada duka? Jika semua hrs seperti keinginan tak perlu ada takdir kan? Tp semua ada tempat dan porosnya masing2, tak semua org sama kekuatan dan rasanya untuk siap menerima luka.

Jgn ragu tuk memutuskan apa yg mjadi getar di hati yg terdalam, krn tuhan mciptakan hati dengan berbagai sisi yg fitrah, hingga suatu ketika hati berbisik padamu yg terbaik dgn sgala pilihan..maka jgn kotori hati dan mengabaikannya.

Berhentilah mengeluh, lihat dan renungilah bukankah nikmat yg terasa lebih besar dari pada duka mu, mengeluh hanya kan membuatmu terhenti pada satu titik yg mjerumuskanmu dalam kputusasaan yg tak berujung..

Jadikan cinta sebagai rasa yg bertahta pada tempatnya, krn sebenarnya cinta adalah ketika ktulusan dan keikhlasan mgitarinya tanpa keinginan yg mnuntut sbuah keharusan yg menghalalkan dosa atas nama cinta.


Tak pernah berharap lebih agar kecewa tak menghampiri, langkah kemarin mamacuku tuk melangkah beberapa saat lagi sebelum mnemukan tempat myandarkan lelah kemudian istirahat tuk sebuah penat.

Memberikan yg terbaik agar mjadi pesona yg terukir diingatan sang penikmat,kemenangan bukan tujuan tp hanya harapan, terwujud atau tidak itu hanya proses.

Masih pada pementasan yang sama, sang penari terus merangkai harap lewat gerak yg terkadang tak beraturan, melompat,berlari kecil tak jarang berteriak mgimbangi ritme kegelisahan tanpa syair, sang penari terus bergerak walau tlah lelah, krn pmentasan masih belum usai.

Jelang 13 februari 2012
Setahun yg lalu aku menyusuri jln yang sama, pulang..pulang kerumah tua kami, rumah kami dibesarkan. Dijalan yg sama ini setahun yg lalu perasaan ini berkecamuk, pulang ya dek..suara dr kampung menyeruku..dan aku pulang dengan doa sepanjang jalan ini, wajah ummi begitu lekat dlm setiap desah ku dan kejapan mata mnahan tangis, setahun yg lalu disepanjang jalan ini aku terus mohon ketenangan jiwa,dan hr ini kenangan itu kembali seperti kuulangi.

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