April 22nd 2008 was the year I begun to realize how importance the historical site is. In that year, I travelled to Acheh with a renounce Mideaval History professor, Ataullah Boghdan Kopanski who is presently lecturing at International Islamic University Malaysia(IIUM) where I received my Bachelor degree in 2009. The journey was to find important historical places such as Batu Aceh( Middle Age Tombstone) and Fortresses that still intact. The purpose of the visit was to take a close view of the places so that the professor may take the pictures and measurement for his book about Batu Acheh. It took seven days started from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, then cut through Malaka straits to Belawan Port/Medan. On April 23rd, me and professor went to Lhokseumawe where the first city for historical visit.
April 24th, we visited several important places. A famous tombstone at Minye Tujoh which is known as Ratu Nurul A'la. On this tombstone, there is a script which is written in Malay-Jawi style. The script later explained about early Malay literature. on the way back, we passed by the most famous tombstone of Samudra Pasai. Sultan Malikussaleh tombstones and his son Malikul Dhahir who were the sulthans of Pasai during 12-13th Century, then we also visited his Granddaughter tombstone Sulthanah Nahrasyiah a few kilometers away. Most of the tombstones at this places are still intact and only a few of them are devastated by the Tsunami at 2004. On the next day April 25th, We travelled to Aceh Pidie, Sigli. With our rent car, we visited a Cave known as "Guha Tujoh" one and half hour from the Capital. This beautifully misterius cave is believed to be part of the place for pious Muslims. From its view, the cave seems to be untouched for long time. However, the place should have be cleaned so the visitor will be satisfied . Our next journey was to Makam Tungku DiKandang.
After our visit at makam Tungku dikandang, we went to Banda Aceh. April 26th, The Acehneses at Banda Aceh was busy with their activity. At 7.00am the shops started the business, the restaurants owners prepared for their incoming costumers and the public transportation were busy with their own activities. I was also busy with my hand phone, trying to contact a friend who rent a car, Innova supposed to be the one. Well, after one hour negotiated, I finally arranged a car for a day and half. I and my professor prepared for our great historical visit around Banda Aceh. At 8.30am we were on the road to Krueng Raya, our destiny was Indra Patra fortress. The trip took around 30 minutes to reach the fortress.
Indra Patra is a pre-Islamic fortress which was strategically located. The fortress was built exactly at the coast forward over the Malaka Straits and its protected the invasion from the Portuguese and other invaders. During the era of Iskandar Muda( 16-17th Century) the fortress has been used to defend from the Portuguese invasion. There are a few parts of Indra Patra fortress has been devastated by Tsunami in 2004, however, the main building was still intact and it has been repaired.
Besides Indra Patra, Iskandar Muda was also built a fortress and named it after his name Iskandar Muda fortress” which is also located in Krueng Raya. Its only 30 Minutes east from Indra Patra.
After we took a look at Indra Patra fortress, we moved to Makam Syiah Kuala. A famous 16th-17th century Ulama and sufi during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda. Besides Makam Syiah Kuala, There many other tombstones who may considered as his family, students and Ulama during his life. The tsunami was also hit the tombstones and there are many of them has been devastated, even disappeared.
The next trip after syiah Kuala was Museum Banda Aceh. At the Museum, we visited the tombstone of the great sultan, Iskandar Muda and others sultans. We finished our historical visit at 6pm and returned to hotel and prepared for the next historical visit, Ujong Pancu.
Cakra Donya Hotel, April 27th . Me and professor were ready to go to Ujong Pancu, The main location for my professor which has to be visited. The trip took only 30 minutes with our nice driver, Bang Wali. At ujong Pancu, we enjoy our historical visit much more in the beach.
One kilometer from the land off the shore, there is a grave yard which is believed that the tombstones are belonged to 16th- 17th Ulama as the same period to Syiah Kuala/ Syech Abdurrauf al-Singkili. It was an extraordinary place to visit as we have to take a boat in order to reach the grave yard. Within 20 minutes by boat, we reached the land of grave yard and found out there were seven middle age tombstones remained, but most of them have devastated by the Tsunami in 2004. This small grave land is approximately 10X10 meters and only appeared when the tide is low and its must be around 7.00am to 8.00am. Therefore, we were only having one hour in order to have a close look at the land of the grave.
Within one hour, the water is rising and we just took the boat and leaved the land of the grave alone and by the time, I believed this land will be abandoned by anyone who does not appreciate the historical evidence. On the way back to hotel, Professor Kopanski said” I was just lucky to have opportunity to take a close look at an extraordinary land of the graves, maybe next 3 years, this land will be disappeared forever.., but I enjoy the journey today…”.
We continued our trip to Meulaboh on April 28, the trip to meulaboh will take 12 hours. Well, it was the challenge for us and we took it. by 12 am in the morning, we arrived at Meulaboh and check in a hotel nearby the city. I enjoyed the night rest in peace, Meulaboh... here I come.
In the morning, April 29th, I woke up at 7.00 am and coffee and breakfast already served, what a nice day I thought..., then I enjoyed the breakfast and thinking of where we are heading after.
At 8.00am in the morning, I and professor were ready to continue our trip to Medan, but apparently there was no transportation to Medan in the early morning, so we waited and took a chance for a short trip arround Meulaboh. We passed by a beautiful beach called" Suak Ribee", an open Indian Ocean beach which has huge waves and a fantastic views. Then, we took a nap after Zhuhur prayer at the most exotic "mesjid Agung" nearby the Suak Ribee beach. After an hour, we departed from Meulaboh to Medan at 3.00pm. on the way, I saw the "bukit Barisan" with a very extraordinary pictures. my eyes started to close and my dream started.
At 4.00 am in the morning in April 30, we arrived at Medan and passed by a water fall"Si Piso-Piso". We had our breakfast next to the waterfall and looked at the sunrise through Toba Lake. at 8.00am we arrived at Medan and checked in the hotel and prepared for tomorrow, Malaysia is waiting.
May 1st 2008, we departed from Medan to Penang and by 10 hours, we arrived to Kuala Lumpur with exhausted happy feeling. I was thinking that I will make another journey by myself and enjoy the second historical visit all alone. I thanks to Professor Kopanski who trusted me to guide him during the historical visit 2008.
