February 17th Journal

It has been 5 days since my arrival at Banda Aceh for job purpose. My stomach is a bit hungry as I write this journal in my hotel room. There, it growls again. Don't worry, I'll feed ya soon!
I have my lunch in a hurry as I don't have much time during the afternoon. This situation has continued for straight 3 days :( and that's why I'm starving right now. Keep on mentioning it won't help I guess, so let's just leave it at that haha.

Kay, let me tell you a bit about this city I won't probable leave in the next few days - I hear someone shouting 'hurray!'. Aceh was literally annihilated by tsunami disaster several years ago but now as so many foreign donation comes in Aceh has finally and slowly recovered. At least, I see no more corpses and ruins of building or even a ship in the middle of the town while I'm here. Now if you come to Banda Aceh you will find lots of foreigners, either travelling or working here. As a matter of fact, I think Aceh's condition is far far better now compared to the time before disaster struck. Living cost is almost the same as Jakarta's, everything is quite expensive here.

Aceh is a suitable place if you want to find a living - in terms of job. If you are looking for entertainment you should think twice before deciding to come. I don't know what it was like before the tsunami but the only fun you can find here is food. No shopping centres, cinemas, big malls, clubs, karaoke, to mention some. For me, it is practically boring. Aceh's moslem influence is still strong, a bit fanaticism I think. They don't even allow swimming pool in a hotel and if they do - like in the one I'm staying at - you have to swim with your clothing on, regardless of whether you're a 'he' or a 'she'. In fact, I rarely see people swim here. *stomach growls

Talking bout food, last 2 or 3 nights - can't remember clearly, I went for dinner to a place just beside the ocean. The wooden floor was uneven, when people run or walk you can feel the floor shook, since the whole place was built above water. Since it is very near to the ocean, you can feel the wind blowing. I don't know how was it like during the day but I enjoy the wind breeze during the night, though my food got cold quickly due to that haha. You got to choose what seafood you'd like to have: from fish to lobster, crab to crocodiles hehe. The crabs are alive and others are kept in ice so they are all still fresh. I was quite satisfied with the food *yummy I'll rate them 8 out of 10. If you happen to come here I'll recommend BBQ Fish, Black Pepper Crab, and the fried banana dipped with milk. They're great! O yeah, the name of the place is 'Banda Seafood' without the 'Aceh'.

*growls. "Shut up stupid stomach!" think better take care of this stomach of mine. Will get back soon to you guys. See ya!

I'm back and they nearly didn't put my buffet on bill. If only I don't remember one principle I hold dear - integrity. Just finished my dinner down at the restaurant. It was crowded by people, though I don't know what occasion it is tonight. Well, I don't really care now that I'm full =P.

I'm involved in one hospital project and will be here for two more days. Think everything will be finished by Friday. Tired, think I'll go online for a while before go to sleep. End of report.