Tsunami Museum

You may still remember the devastating earth quake and tsunami on Boxer day in 2006 that destroyed most of Banda Aceh. The Boxer Day Tsunami, with over 200.000 casualties the greatest disaster in human history, shocked and pulverized Aceh in Indonesia and coastal areas in other countries on the Indies Ocean, reaching as far as Africa. To remember this devestating tragedy the Tsunami Museum in Aceh was built. Opened in February 2009 the museam was with a cost of over IDR 140 billion (US $ 13 million) expensive to build but the museum architecture is very unique and it is called also an anti-tsunami building. The museum rests on a foundation which is a combination of a raised platform lifted onto a hill. When we see this museum from above, it is like rolling tsunami wave, but when we see this museum from beside or below, it is like a cruise ship.

When you enter this museum at the main gate, you will arrive in a dark hall with falling water from above which seems like you are in the tsunami wave. After that you arrive in the exhibition room, dominated by dark color. This room is filled with lots of pictures of the tsuname and the heartbreaking devestation it caused. Next is the Cahaya Tuhan (God's Light) room where you can test yourself facing tsunami waves. If you pass it you can continue to the next room Jembatan Harapan (Bridge of Hope). This bridge can lift you up, as if you were taken to a higher place save for the tsunami. In this room you can watch tsunami documentary movies, which will take just about 15 minutes.

If you are near Banda Aceh surely visit this museum as it does not only provide lots of information about the tsunami and the destruction but learning about it and how to respond to a tsunami may one day even save your life.