Exploring Aceh (5) – From Zero to Hero..

Aceh nowadays is different from so many years ago. Thanks to Tsunami perhaps.. Well, you could guarantee that a disaster sometimes bring you some good influences. After Tsunami (around December 2004), the situation in Aceh went back to normal again, one step at a time. It used to be ‘under military services’ and a lot of robbing and criminals activity after 19.00 o’clock (they blamed it on GAM – Party of Independence for Aceh, but I think I couldn’t blame them since it was hard to define accurately about such an accusation). But now, I’ve seen a lot of city activity that never sleeps here..

Tsunami brought so many NGO (Non-Governmental Organization comes here. On a plane, I felt that I would have gone to.. NEW YORK! Hehehehe… Many foreigners in Aceh, speaking in so many languages that was difficult to be understood. The foreigners (indirectly) demand a modern city situation. Therefore you could see that this city is alive now! Trading is all everywhere, but of course, along with the Moslem spirit (which encouraged most in this city), you couldn’t find some entertainment places (such as cinema, discotheque or live music show around here) like in a big city as Medan, Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta or Surabaya.

So many development activities are going on around here. National Reconstruction Agency (NRA) helps Aceh to build itself into a modern city again. Houses, buildings, public facilities are build everywhere. Not to mention that they intend to build a Museum of Tsunami, which will be completed around next year (poor alas, that I come here before it has been finished). I think, this city will grow bigger more than we imagined before.

And do not playing with the price! Hehehehe.. The standard of living costs could be relatively expensive. Sometimes I was shocked for its cost of dining (lunch and dinner), since frequently it could result the bigger expense compare to Jakarta, my hometown. Mas X (here we go again.. hehehe), the one who has so many relatives in this city told me, “Mas Adhi, my relative said that they rented a room for Rp10 millions a month. The room was normal according to my opinion. Not such a luxurious place I think..” What? 10 millions a month? In Jakarta, you could rent a very luxurious place for just Rp20-30 millions a year!

It is glad to see Aceh raises itself up nowadays.. and I hope that it won’t stop to grow. If it is so, then the city stands for nothing..

Except for a history..