Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2005 6:40 AM
First day on Banda Aceh. There are a lot of similarities with African countries I went through, especially the coastal regions. Many coconut trees, bananas and green vegetation of all sorts. The roads are a bit like Nairobit, many potholes but in general good. In town you can see the destruction, both by the tsunami and the earth quakes. Heard about a boat which was washed up on top of a building. Hope it's still there. Shooting starts today in Banda Aceh, and tomorrow I will visit the areas that were destroyed by the tsunami. The reconstruction is on going, but far from finished.
Noticed one big difference with Kenya: Indonesians smoke like hell! The best is the clove smell of the indigenous kreteks. Not that I mind, but in Kenya you don't see so much of daily smoking, only in the bars in the evening.