The Aceh tsunami becomes the darkest memory in Indonesian history for the last decade. It happened in 2004 when the tsunami destroyed Aceh and other countries around the Indian ocean. The tragedy becomes the most memorable moment, not only for Acehnese but also Indonesian.
If you visiting Indonesia, don’t forget to visit Aceh in the North of Sumatera to see the Aceh tsunami museum as the most memorable place in Indonesia. Before you go there, here we have some information about the museum that you should know. The museum is so different from another type of museum in Indonesia such as museums in Jakarta.
Let’s take a look at the Aceh tsunami museum from the background history and everything inside there. You may not find some of the paintings from Indonesian most famous painters there, but other things instead. Let’s experience the beauty of the Aceh museum from the tragedy behind it!
History
The Aceh tsunami museum builds as to reminisce about the tsunami that happened in 2004. The disaster becomes the darkest moment for most Indonesian and other countries. It devastated not only Aceh, but also parts of other countries in South and Southeast Asia, such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and many more.
It claims about 280,000 lives recorded in 14 countries in the tragedy. Some so many people lost their relatives and property due to this incident. Cries, sorrow, and tears will always remain in the memory of the victims.
That is why to reminisce about the tragedy, the government builds the museum that officially opens on February 27, 2009, by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the 6th of the president of Indonesia at that time.
The Unique Design
The Aceh tsunami museum has the most unique design that you can’t find everywhere but Aceh. The building is a reflection of the tsunami so that if you see it from above, you will find the tsunami wave. But, if you see it closer from the side of the building, you will find the big ship with a large deck.
The philosophy of the Aceh tsunami building is not only to reminisce about the tragedy but also becomes the save place like the shelter to save you from the tsunami. The basic design from the building are using the traditional Aceh house that calls as Omah Aceh
How The Building Works?
The Aceh tsunami museum not only builds as the usual museum but also as the protection if the tsunami comes. It is made with a specific construction that can save people from the tsunami.
The building is steady enough from some disasters such as earthquakes and tsunami. The developing process of the building cost more than IDR140 billion. That to make sure that the building was built properly and safe from any disasters.
What’s Inside of the Museum?
The contents of the Aceh Tsunami Museum construction consist of four floors. It has several collections that discuss the tsunami incident. It was named with a total collection of up to 55 units consisting of 22 props, 26 photos, and 7 mockups.
On the ground floor of the museum, there is an open space that can function as a public space. Once you are entering the museum on the first floor, you will find the meditation room. You will as if teh real in the tsunami tragedy in this room.
You should walk through the darker aisle where both sides of it come in a dark space completes with the flowing water and the roaring sound of the tsunami. A bit creepy while you walk there, but this is the way to remembrance the darkest tragedy in 2004.
Once you passed the darkest hallway, you will find the lighter room which calls as the memorial hill along the bridge of hope. The room is full of glass and monitors that shown the information about Acehnese when struggle to survive from the tsunami. 25 flags claim to help Aceh after the disaster to move on from the tragedy are hanging there.
After the memorial hill, you will find the light of God’s room. It has a unique design with the draw well design which shines the light. On top of it, there is an Allah word as the greatest Islamic god. Around the wall of the room, you will find the name of the tsunami victims who couldn’t survive during the disaster.
On the second floor, you will find the exhibition room that shown some multimedia rooms. You can see the tsunami movie which explains about before, during, and after the tsunami in Aceh.
On the third floor, you will find some Aceh souvenir shops, a library, a mosque, and a geological room. At the top of the building becomes the shelter as the safest place to protect you from the tsunami. It is not open to the public due to the concept of safety and security for visitors. It will only be opened when there is an emergency such as if only the disaster come.
How to Get There?
The Aceh tsunami museum is located in Sultan Iskandar Muda street. It is so easy to get there as the name implies at the center of Banda Aceh. It is so close to Blang Padang Field and only about 400 meters from the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh.
The Aceh tsunami museum opens daily from 9 am to 4 pm. It cost IDR 2,000 for the kid, IDR3,000 for students, and IDR10,000 for foreign tourists as per person. That means that if you are Indonesian the cost of living in Indonesia may vary, but the ticket will come cheap for you.
So, there is some information that you need to know about the Aceh Tsunami Museum. The museum significantly becomes part of the history of Indonesia’s economic growth in Aceh. Now, are you ready to experience the beauty of the museum there?
