Wei to quiet

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Flew on super cheap Air Asia flight from KL to Banda Aceh for a Valentine's Day getaway. Found Aceh province to be much more developed than I expected - good roads, clean, lot of building activity but one major disappointment- though not unexpected - no alcohol. The only place I could get a beer in Banda was upstairs at Tropicana Seafood Restaurant - expensive though at 30,000 rupiah a can. You have to try Mee Aceh when in this part of Indonesia - yummy. There are 3 traveler hotels in a row near centre of town - the Hotel Medan is the pick but dearest, though definitely worth the extra for aircon and hot water + breakfast

One night in Banda and then becak to port for ferry to Pulau Wei. There were a number of travelers doing same thing - probably only reason anyone goes to Aceh is to get to Wei. What to say about Wei - cows and goats on the road, hot and sultry main town - Sabang with shuttered shops in afternoon, winding seaside roads, small beach at Samur Tiga, derelict backpacker shanty village at Iboih. It has its charm but so quiet you can hear yourself think. The water is beautiful, Freddies and Casanemo bungalows are only places with any real sense of seaside living but still so so quiet. At least you could get a beer there though and if very lucky a bottle of wine to accompany your pasta ha.

Planned to stay 3 days but after touring most of the island on a motorbike on 2nd day, decided more things to do in Banda Aceh than swim and sleep at Samur Tiga. Caught slow boat back and was thrilled with the accompanying dolphin jumping show. After a night of sampling Aceh cuisine, hired a becak and did the tsunami memory trail. All very interesting - they have built a stunning Tsunami Museum which will open soon. Only thing that was disappointing is we couldnt find the Moving Dome though we traveled 20+ kms down the beach road south. The dome was washed off a mosque and apparently stands alone in a paddy field.

So that was Wei and Banda Aceh - one of those trips that grow on you after the event

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