The Local's Guide to Banda Aceh

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If you come all the way to Banda (and you should if you come to Sumatra), don't just head directly to Sabang. See the major sites (Grande Mosque, beaches, Pasar Atjeh, etc..) but click on the photo's below to get information on other things to see and do in and around Banda.

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Photos

Bike Ride through Villages
Take a bike ride through the villages around Mata Ei too see the friendly faces peeking out from the rice fields. Contact the Aceh Biking Club to go with the crew. (contact me for details)

Elephant Rides!
Go to Saree and take a ride on Noni, the elephant or one of her friends. 1 hour ride from Banda. No charge, but tip appreciated 30,000 Rp. ($3.30)

Get LOST
Ask one of the fisherman at Ulee Lheu to take you to Pulo Batee, or one of the islands and get lost. Don't forget to arrange for pick-up too! Expect to pay about 150,000 Rp. per person, roundtrip. ($16.40)

Jungle Joe Adventures
Ask Joe to take you on a half-day hike to Mata Ei or overnight to Seulawah. Pictured here is the "swimming pool." Just you and the eagles. Email [e-mail]. About 150,000 Rp. for half-day ($16.40)

Aceh Traditional Dance
Be entertained for free...come see the Sanggar Cut Dancers practice on Sunday mornings, 11am at Pedopo.

Sanger
Sip kopi aceh (sweet and black) or sanger (with milk) in Ulee Karing's most famous coffee shop, Solong. 3,000 Rp. ($.33)

Suhom Waterfall
Only one hour from Aceh in Lloong district. There is no excuse to not to go. Beautiful and refreshing. Free.

Eat with your hands!
Go to Lamyoeng (sp??) on the way to Darussalam and eat the most delicious BBQ ever. No utensils. Dig in and enjoy. At the Darussalam rotary, go right and pull over at any of the fish stalls on the left. 70,000 Rp. per person for full meal. ($7.67)

Tsunami Sights
That building is not a building. It's an enormous barge that the tsunami flung 5km inland and dropped on a neighborhood. It's the best example i've seen of the power of those waves. when i saw it, it literally brought me to my knees. The city hooked up the on-board generator and it now provides power to part of the city.

Comments

[mom]

beautiful photo's !!! i think you should bring a whole new industry to B.A. tourism. get well and stay safe. xoxo

[cousin Al]

Great site, pics, and philosophical comments, especially people who talk on planes. Best of luck in Africa and hope you enjoy it as much as you did here. Hope you are getting better and stay safe.

[Mohammed Ali]

I commend you
I have a lot of respect for the work you are doing. I would love the opportunity to do what you are doing. Some of us sit in our homes just thinking of ways to help the people who survived the greatest and most facinating natural disaster in recenty history...But you and your collegues have stood up and done something. I appreciate the pictures you have shown us also. Your parents must be extremely proud of you. Keep up the good work Mohammed UK.