The bridge itself is just ordinary steel suspension bridge. Yes it has the magnificent view, but what gives more to the existence of this bridge is the history of Barelang (Batam-Rempang-Galang). Galang island was used for Vietnamese as their refugees camp until late 1990s. This bridge is the 1st out ouf 6 bridges which connected series of small islands between Batam island, Rempang island, and Galang island. From those 6 bridges, this 1st bridge is the most beautiful and the longest one.

Crossing these bridges one by one, makes you feel closer and closer turn back to the time when they were still lots of Vietnamese around. At the last island (Galang island), you can find the Vietnamese cemetery, the old church, the old hospital, the old dorm, the wooden boat that they use to come here, and a museum of pictures of their activities in the island during those time.

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I don’t know how heavy the floating power plant is. I guess it’s very heavy! But the Aceh 2004 tsunami could very easy lifted it a couple of meters and pushed it into the mainland to a distance about 2 kilometers, until it stranded on the area near the housing complex. Government didn’t moved the power plant, they transformed it into a museum instead. A tsunami museum.

You can enjoy the park, which is very beautiful surrounds the power plant. You can take the stairs to the roof of the power plant to take some pictures of surrounding neighborhood from up high. Or you can enter the museum and take some time to absorb the tragedy by looking photographs and video of tsunami.

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I met a lady who survived the 2004 tsunami in Aceh by climbing to this boat when the boat landed on the top of her house. Her name is Mrs. Bundiah. The site was almost close in one afternoon when I visited here, but since she was there, she companied my around the complex and visited the photographs of the site when it happened. They arranged the photograph on the second floor of the house in a way that it gives you the scale of how big the tsunami was. She told me and my friends the first hand story about the tragedy and how she and other 51 people survived after climbing up to this boat when the boat landed on the top of her house after being thrown here and there by the tsunami.

I suggest you find her and ask her to tell the story when you visit this site.

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It only took you 45 minutes to travel by Ferry from Banda Aceh to Weh Island or “W” island. This is the most north west island of Indonesia, the place of Sabang city and it is consider the starting point of millage in Indonesia. In this island you can do snorkeling or just enjoying the view of open sea of Indian Ocean.

After you ‘landed’ you must stop here to take some pictures. It’s the place of the sign of “I Love Sabang” and it is very good place to take selfie to be uploaded your Face book wall.

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When tsunami strike this place in 2004, this beach was disappeared from the map. But after 12 years, this beach has restored to its beauty. Actually this beach is separated from Sumatra island and only connected with a bridge. That’s why they named this beach Ulle Lehue which means the separated head. This is the right place to enjoy the sunset. Especially when you witness the fisherman boat comes home from open sea with the silhouette background of sunset. It was just like the picture in the postcards.

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Bukit Soeharto or Soeharto hill is the best place to enjoy the Malahayati container harbor from up high. The scenary is breath taking and you will never get enough taking pictures and videos in this place. Just don’t forget to bring your hat along, because it gets very hot in the day time.

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When I visited this place, the monument of 0 KM point of Indonesia was under massive facelift. So I miss the opportunity to enjoy the open sea of Indian Ocean from up high. But at least I got the chance to take lots pictures near the sign. And I got my certificate of visitor as on of not so many people has privilege to visit the furthest South West point of Indonesia.

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When I visited this mosque, the mosque was under construction of making giant umbrellas like the one in Nabawi Mosque, Madina, KSA. I took lots of pictures inside, but not from the outside since the hard work machinery is in operation trying to complete the construction in time.

This mosque is the silence witness of 2004 tsunami when it still stood strong when other building surrounds it collapse due to the wave force of tsunami. Therefore, visiting this mosque will take your senses back to the time and share the feeling of the tragedy when this mosque become the shelter of survivors.

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Overall Rating: GOOD

Reviewed February 10, 2016
Visited January 2016

If you visited the West Lake, don't miss the Leifeng Tower. In fact you have to go here first before you play by the lake. In this tower, you will told about the famous legend, The White Snake Legend. And of course to take pictures from the top level with the West Lake as the background. The view was breath taking, you will not regret it, trust me!

Don't worry about getting tired climbing up, because they have the escalator for going up, though you have to take stairs while going down. It's not recommended for the wheel chair, unless you have someone to carry you down.

Overall Rating: GOOD

Reviewed February 10, 2016
Visited January 2016

It was 1 degree Celsius when we visited West Lake. The cold weather plus the foggy horizon just great for making the situation felt unreal. It felt like being in the legend, The White Snake Legend. Especially when we took pictures in the bridge where Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian met. This, must be, the must visited site where you are in HangZhou.

One set back though, on the island at the middle of the lake, the only toilet was under big repair while we were there. They provide the portable toilet instead. But it was the worst toilet I’ve ever seen. You name it: no water for flushing, no water to wash your hand, stinky to the point that even when you hold your breath you still can smell it!

If it was not because of the toilet, I would had been given the full 5 stars for this review.