We have extended our visit to Banda Aceh by an extra day. It is very different to other Indonesian cities we have visited and we need a little more time to explore. It may have appeared huge from the plane but the actual central area we are in is not so big!
It is a very strict Muslim city with Mosques scattered throughout. Almost all of the ladies are wearing hijabs and it is quite rare to see a lady without one.
The people here are very friendly and it seems as though it is fairly unusual to see visitors from the west. Some people look and stare with interest and some of the small children are a little nervous when they spot us. What is really great is the people wherever they are, always shout 'hello' to us!
We have now lost count of how many times we have been approached by a teenager keen to practice their English. The questions are always, where are you from and what is your name? The conversation (if you can call it that) then ends with a discussion of English football teams and the World cup!
The morning was spent strolling the street markets. There is a wider range of food here and and we stopped for lunch in a small cafe. What we ate we are not sure. Maybe an unusual vegetable that we didn't recognise?! We sat for a while talking (although we had no common language!) with the 4 giggling girls that ran the restautant. We went through every item on the menu and tried to work out what each was with the girls help. It was totally hilarious watching the girls try to imitate animals in the meat dishes.
After lunch we stumbled across a large department store, 'shoe street', 'fishing street' and 'doctor street'! That wasn't the actual street names but simailar stores seemed to be grouped together.
We ate dinner at a restaurant we had tried before. However, whatever we seem to choose, we always end up with prawns. Probably the worst thing to eat for 'travelling tummies'.
It is a very strict Muslim city with Mosques scattered throughout. Almost all of the ladies are wearing hijabs and it is quite rare to see a lady without one.
The people here are very friendly and it seems as though it is fairly unusual to see visitors from the west. Some people look and stare with interest and some of the small children are a little nervous when they spot us. What is really great is the people wherever they are, always shout 'hello' to us!
We have now lost count of how many times we have been approached by a teenager keen to practice their English. The questions are always, where are you from and what is your name? The conversation (if you can call it that) then ends with a discussion of English football teams and the World cup!
The morning was spent strolling the street markets. There is a wider range of food here and and we stopped for lunch in a small cafe. What we ate we are not sure. Maybe an unusual vegetable that we didn't recognise?! We sat for a while talking (although we had no common language!) with the 4 giggling girls that ran the restautant. We went through every item on the menu and tried to work out what each was with the girls help. It was totally hilarious watching the girls try to imitate animals in the meat dishes.
After lunch we stumbled across a large department store, 'shoe street', 'fishing street' and 'doctor street'! That wasn't the actual street names but simailar stores seemed to be grouped together.
We ate dinner at a restaurant we had tried before. However, whatever we seem to choose, we always end up with prawns. Probably the worst thing to eat for 'travelling tummies'.
