Aceh Traditional House

This is aceh traditional house. In the past people in aceh used to live on a stage house like this. There are 4 parts of the house. The first part is living room, or ruang tamu in Indonesia, or seuramoe keu in Aceh. You wouldn't find any chairs here. Carpet prefered replacing chair or sofa to welcome incoming guests.

The second part is middle room or connecting room. Indonesian called it ruang tengah and acehnese called it rambat. This room connects two bedrooms.

Back room is the third part. Ruang belakang in Indonesia or seuramoe likot in aceh is a place where all family member gathering. The last part is main bedroom, acehnese called it rumoh inong. This room located in west side or east side of rambat. Husband and wife sleep in this room.


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Tradisi Meugang di Aceh

Tanggal 22 Agustus ini seluruh muslim di dunia melaksanakan ibadah puasa selama 30 hari. Di Indonesia khususnya di Aceh pelaksanaan puasa terlihat nyata dan sakral. Pemerintah pusat maupun daerah mengeluarkan berbagai instruksi dan himbauan kepada pihak-pihak tertentu agar ibadah puasa ini dapat dilakukan secara khusyu'. Ada satu tradisi pada masyarakat sebelum memasuki bulan puasa atau ramadhan ini, yaitu penyembelihan hewan ternak atau di Aceh disebut dengan Meugang.


Meugang merupakan sebuah budaya lokal untuk mengkonsumsi daging di awal bulan puasa, meskipun harga daging pada saat itu terus melonjak mahal dibandingkan pada hari-hari biasa. Saat tulisan ini dibuat harga daging sudah bergerak ke Rp 110.000 sampai Rp 120.000, sebelumnya 'cuma' berkisar Rp 70.000 - Rp 80.000. Namun masyarakat tetap berupaya untuk membeli daging yang harganya terus melangit dikarenakan budaya yang telah mengakar.

Di Aceh meugang dilakukan 3 kali dalam setahun, yaitu ketika menyambut bulan puasa, sebelum perayaan Idul Fitri dan sebelum perayaan Idul Adha. Selama pelaksanan meugang, berbagai makanan tersedia dan seluruh anggota keluarga bersuka cita untuk saling berbagi dengan masyarakat kurang mampu.
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Panjat Pinang, A Game at 64th Indonesia's Independence Day

Couple days ago people of Indonesia celebrated their 64th Independence Day, including in Aceh. Republic of Indonesia annually commemorates its Independence Day on August 17th marked by the hoisting of the red and white flag and the singing of the national anthem 'Indonesia Raya'

There are many ways celebrating Independence Day, one of them is Panjat Pinang. Panjat pinang comes from the era of Dutch colonialism. Panjat pinang competition held by the Dutch out to complete event like weddings. Participants are local people. Gifts are usually competing are food such as cheese, sugar as well as clothes such as shirt. When the local people take pains to compete prizes, the Dutch people watch while laughing. Rules of the game has not changed since first.

Now people from all over Indonesia participating in this game to celebrate Independence Day. Anyone including foreigner could take a part and feel excited during the game.

Anyway, I never participate to this game. Afraid of height, I believe the main reason is.
In fact Panjat Pinang is worth to try.

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Aceh International Expo 2009

Aceh Cultural Festival V or usually called 'Pekan Kebudayaan Aceh' (PKA) in Indonesia is an important cultural event in order to promote Aceh's rich and various culture, especially for acehnese people and those who lives outside aceh with variety of aceh's art and cultural attraction. In 5th edition, this event also called 'Aceh International Expo 2009' due to participation of 5 countries.

With theme 'Unite Our Vision to Develop Aceh With Civilization' is aimed to enhance local's role in actualizing islamic cultural values, developing local's comprehension and appreciation towards aceh's culture, conserving aceh's cultural variety to sustain peace in aceh as well as promoting aceh's tourism potential.

First edition of this event took place in 1958 and should be held every 4 years to show and introduce aceh's culture and unite people. Somehow due to some reasons in the past, the event succeed to held 4 times only. Whole district in aceh will perform variety of cultural attraction and arts. Aceh International Expo 2009 will take place for 10 days from 2rd to 11th August 2009 at Sultanah Safiatuddin Park.

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Aceh Province

Aceh province is located in the northernmost of Sumatera island or in the westernmost of Indonesia's archipelago. It is strategically located along Indonesian Ocean on the west and Malacca Strait on the north and east. This province has 73 rivers, 3 lakes and 119 islands. Some of rivers are Krueng Aceh, Krueng Peureulak and Krueng Tamiang which flow into Malacca strait or into Indian ocean. There are also Laut Tawar lake in Central Aceh, Aneuk Laot lake in Weh Island and Laut Bangko lake in Southern Aceh. Aceh also has natural islands such as Rubiah, Rondo, Seulako, Breuh, Nasi and the most popular island 'Weh Island' or also known as 'Sabang Island'.

Located strategically along the international shipping line close to Malacca strait, Aceh has been famous as Indonesia's Military Defense and center for international trading activity. Beside its vast and dense tropical forest, Aceh also own variety of flora and fauna and other potential marine tourism resorts that are accompanied by great beaches. Aceh's marine tourism potentials consisting of various unique organism like coral reefs and colorful fish will be a lovely attraction for local or international tourists supported with aceh's marine life history in the past.

As an important asset, Aceh's marine attraction will be well maintaned and economically empowered for locals and natural sustainability. It is also a pride for acehnese and become a potential marine tourist destination beside other tourist attraction like Agro Tourism, Culture/Spiritual Tourism, Special Purpose Tourism and Tsunami Tourism.

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