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Indonesian rescuers search for 7 people missing in waters of Aceh, including 4 Australians

In this photo released by Nias office of Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), rescuers prepare for the search of a speedboat carrying Indonesian and Australian nationals that is reported missing, in North Nias, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. An Indonesian search and rescue team on Monday was searching for a number of people including some Australian tourists, reported missing in the waters off Aceh following bad weather. (BASARNAS via AP)

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — An Indonesian search and rescue team on Monday was searching for seven people, including four Australian tourists, reported missing in the waters of Aceh following bad weather.

The group was in a wooden speedboat in the waters around Sarang Alu and Banyak islands in Aceh Singkil district. They were part of a group of 12 Australian nationals and 5 Indonesians who were traveling to Pinang Island in two boats.

The area is known as a tourist destination with white sand beaches and good waves for surfing.

The boats left North Nias port in Nias island, which located around 150 kilometer (93 miles) from Indonesia’s Sumatra island, on Sunday afternoon and experienced bad weather with very heavy rain during the trip.

Ten of them decided to stay and shelter on Sarang Alu island, while the others continued the trip, said a written statement from Nias Search and Rescue Agency on Monday.

The resort on Pinang Island later reported to the agency that the boat with 10 passengers had safely arrived, but the boat that had left earlier had not been seen.

Rescuers were sending at least two rescue boats and a medical boat to the search area.

Indonesia is an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, and ferries and boats are a common form of transportation. With lax safety standards and problems with overcrowding, accidents occur frequently.

In July, an overloaded passenger boat capsized off Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, killing 15 people.

In 2018, an overcrowded ferry with about 200 people on board sank in a lake in North Sumatra province, killing 167 people. In one of the country’s worst recorded disasters, an overcrowded passenger ship sank in February 1999 with 332 people aboard. Only 20 people survived.

Australian tourist faces flogging over naked Indonesian rampage in Aceh province

Thomas Bywater

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Risby-Jones was detained in the province of Aceh after an alleged naked rampage. Photo / Facebook

A young Australian traveller faces corporal punishment and jail after an alleged naked rampage in the streets of Indonesia.

Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, a carpenter from Noosa was on a surfing holiday to a resort in Sumatra’s Aceh province.

The Queenslander allegedly left his room at the Lantik Moonbeach Resort in a state of undress, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Risby-Jones is accused of going into the village while naked, chasing and striking locals.

He allegedly caused distress and injury to residents of Simeulue, including a fisherman whose foot required 50 stitches.

The surfer, who denies drinking to excess, told Australian media that he was normally “a very nice guy.”

Talking to the ABC the tourist described a sensation of being “almost possessed” and “not myself.”

“It was not a good feeling.”

Local residents restrained the Australian tourist who is accused of trying to steal a motorbike, while without clothing.

Simeulue police chief detective Mayyuhdi told ABC that the tourist had created a disturbance and attacked unprovoked.

“According to the people who were present at the scene, Bodhi went out of his room completely naked and yelling and causing a ruckus,” he told ABC news.

Police said a half-empty bottle of duty-free Vodka was found at the resort address but Risby-Jones said he had not been drinking heavily. He later told reporters that he “only had one shot, just one shot”.

The Queensland man said that he could not remember what happened on the night and claimed to have been suffering from sunstroke. He says he was wearing underwear during the incident on Thursday morning.

Risby-Jones faces a jail sentence for assaulting and causing injury to residents of up to five years and further penal measures that could include flogging.

The island of Simeulue is a popular surfer’s destination off the coast of Sumatra in the Aceh province.

Since 2014 Aceh has observed a Sharia-based legal system, which finds consumption of alcohol, gambling and some relationships as punishable by law. The exacerbating factors of Risby-Jones state of undress and alleged consumption of alcohol could see the Queenslander facing corporal punishment.

MFAT’s Safe Travel website warns tourists that parts of Indonesia are extremely conservative and visitors are advised to observe cultural sensitivities.

“Some areas, such as Aceh are extremely conservative, and expectations of high moral conduct are enforced. Sharia law operates in Aceh and it is expected that all visitors to the province behave in an appropriate manner and respect local customs,” reads MFAT’s travel advisory .

“New Zealanders are advised to respect religious and social traditions throughout Indonesia to avoid offending local sensitivities.”

On Sunday the family of the accused tourist released a statement saying that Risby-Jones wishes to apologise to the victims and the people of Indonesia and Australia for the shame the incident has caused them.

“He is extremely remorseful and apologetic and acknowledges the pain he has caused the victim,” said the family in a written statement.

“He further acknowledges the waste of resources his actions have caused the Simeulue Police.

“He is embarrassed and ashamed of his behaviour and wants to hand on heart apologise.”

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The Perfect Itinerary for Banda Aceh and Sabang, Pulau Weh in Indonesia

September 6, 2019 by Bino 1 Comment

Traveling in and around Banda Aceh, in Sumatra’s northern tip, is an eye-opening experience. The place is a manifestation of the indomitable resilience of the human spirit, with the city having been ravaged by the tsunami that swept the Indian Ocean in 2004. This corner of Indonesia is not frequently visited despite its attractive coastal location. It’s no Bali in terms of popularity. This has been the case even prior to the tsunami. Those who make the effort to come here are often rewarded by turquoise colored waters, some seriously grand buildings and monuments as well as some of the more unique tourist attractions that one can find in a city. Banda Aceh is definitely worth a short weekend trip and in this guide, I’ve put up my suggestions for a one day or two day itinerary that you can easily follow. My decision to visit Banda Aceh wasn’t a spontaneous one. I have been curious about this far corner of Indonesia for a long time now and finally booked a trip when an opportunity came up.

Table of Contents

Day 1 – Exploring Banda Aceh

banda aceh airport

The main airport in Banda Aceh is the Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport and is located around 20 to 25 minutes from the center of town. Do note that cars booked through Grab can’t pick up passengers from the airport directly. If you are carrying a lot of luggage with you, you may wish to hop on one of the taxis which cost a bit more and require some haggling. If you are carrying only backpacks, it is still doable to book a car through Grab but you need to walk out to the main road (around 5 minutes walk) which is where Grab drivers can wait for passengers.

Once you reach the center of town, you will likely notice that Banda Aceh seems cleaner and more organized than other cities in Indonesia. This may be partly due to the tsunami disaster that occurred in December 2004. That left much of the city devastated and large chunks of Banda Aceh had to be rebuilt.

baiturrahman grand mosque banda aceh

After settling in the hotel, start your exploration of Banda Aceh over at the imposing Baiturrahman Grand Mosque . Especially attractive when seen in the morning with the sunlight shining over the whitewashed Moorish facade of the mosque, the building originates from the mid-1800s. Aceh is generally recognized as the first area where Islam spread in the Indonesian archipelago. The mosque had been expanded in the intervening years. Only the middle part of the building comes from the original construct, with the left, right and back portions added later on. One of the highlights of this mosque is its marbled floor which extends outside throughout its gated perimeter. This is one of the tidiest mosques that one can visit in Southeast Asia. To enter, one has to leave his shoes outside by the main gate. It’s different from other mosques where one only needs to remove shoes when entering the main building itself. Do note that non-muslims are not able to enter the building but are free to roam around the marble-floored compound.

tsunami museum banda aceh

From the mosque, many of Banda Aceh’s attractions are within reach. Found directly south by walking through a leafy boulevard is the Tsunami Museum (open daily 9AM to 4PM). This is one of Banda Aceh’s unique attractions, given the city’s recent history with the deadly disaster that paralyzed it in 2004. More than 150,000 people were said to have perished and the anguish of such a tragedy could be perceived as one goes thru the museum’s dramatic entrance. It’s made up of a dark tunnel with water dripping from the ceiling, with audible cries for help coming from the sound system. Although the museum commemorates a sad chapter in the city’s history, parts of the museum look visually appealing – especially its modern and instagrammable atrium.

Just a short walk from the museum is a park called the Lapangan Blangpadang . This squarish piece of green in the middle of the city is a popular space for jogging but one can also find the Seulawah 001 Aircraft Monument . The Acehnese played a considerable part in Indonesia’ quest for independence from the Dutch by raising money to purchase an airplane for the cause. This is now immortalized through a monument with a replica of the plane that was contributed. Also within the park grounds is the Thanks to the World Monument . It’s a small corner with sculpture of waves meant to symbolize the tsunami in 2004. The monument was erected as a gesture of appreciation to the countries that helped in the relief effort following the disaster. The list of countries can also be found in the Tsunami Museum.

Walk to the east along the Jalan Sultan Iskandar Muda and walk south along Jalan Teuku Umar. Here, you will find the enigmatic Gunongan (open daily 8AM to 6PM). There is some debate about the origins of the whimsical whitewashed structure, with some evidence about it being constructed as a playground during the rule of Sultan Iskandar Thani. However, there are those who also believe that Gunongan’s origins are older than that.

mieh aceh from mie razali

For lunch, a spot of the city’s famous noodles called mie aceh is heartily recommended. In contrast to the mie goreng usually found all over Indonesia, mie aceh is spicy and can be topped with a wide variety of premium ingredients. Over at Mie Razali (open daily 11AM to 11PM, Fridays from 2AM to 11PM), one can choose to have his noodles topped with crab. One order of noodles with crab generously came with three crab legs. For just about US$4, it’s definitely a steal.

solong coffee banda aceh

After lunch, it’s time to wait out the searing midday / early afternoon heat with some of Banda Aceh’s famous coffee. Coffee shops are everywhere in Banda Aceh and to be honest, I have not found such a large concentration of cafes anywhere else in Asia except perhaps in Ipoh, Malaysia . One of the most popular coffee joints in town is Solong Coffee (open daily 6AM to 11PM). The brand has quite a number of outlets now but the original one located in Ulee Kareng is still the one to visit. While here, try the smooth and aromatic Kopi Sangger (filtered coffee with condensed milk). For those who can’t take dairy, this very local-looking coffee shop also has its own coffee machine that can dish out espresso. They also sell their own beans. I chanced upon the owner during one of my visits there and he proudly showed me their coffee grinder at the back. Other than coffee, they also make pretty good teh tarik (pulled tea). If you prefer something airconditioned and trendy, you can also check out Tanabata Coffee (open daily 10AM to 1AM except Fridays from 2PM to 1AM and Sunday 10AM to 7PM) which is only a few doors down at the opposite side of the street.

Many of Banda Aceh’s tourist attractions are centered around the 2004 tsunami. One glaring example is the aptly named “boat on the roof.” Survivors from the tsunami held on to their lives by staying on the boat as the city was flooded. The boat eventually settled on the roof of two houses in Lampulo. Authorities decided not to clear it in order to remember the disaster. Today, it is a tourist attraction. Entrance is free and an inclined path allows one to go up to to see the boat from a higher point of view.

Another boat that you have to see just to imagine the strength of the waves back in 2004 is the PLTD Apung , a large metallic ship that washed all the way several kilometers inland. The ship is now a tourist attraction and museum. Visitors can enter and see various dioramas and videos that depict the “route” it took when the tsunami hit Banda Aceh. You can also climb to the topmost area of the ship for a nice view of the city. There are few, if any, tall buildings in the city so spots that afford bird’s eye views are relatively rare.

museum aceh

Another museum worth checking out if you have time is the Museum Aceh (daily except Monday, 8:30AM to 12noon; 2PM to 4:15PM). One of the highlights here is a replica of a traditional Acehnese house called Rumoh Aceh, a wooden building with elaborate woodcarvings and patterns in the facade. Inside, one can also find scale models of the Baturrahman Grand Mosque tracing its origins from a small village mosque to its many expansions over the years.

Day 2 – Pulau Weh / Sabang

There is no shortage of beaches around Banda Aceh with Pulau Weh, located just an hour’s ferry ride away, generally considered one of the best beach destinations in the country. The island is filled with beaches and unbelievably blue waters. Although it is relatively known for such, it hasn’t witnessed the mass tourism that other similar islands in Southeast Asia have undergone. Many lodging options here are fairly basic but at the same time, you’ll find unspoiled corners and spectacular diving and snorkeling.

How to get from Banda Aceh to Pulau Weh (Sabang)

ferry schedule banda aceh sabang pulau weh

The name Pulau Weh is usually used interchangeably with the island’s largest town, Sabang. To get here, there are ferries making the trip from Banda Aceh. You can check out the above ferry schedule for the trip between Banda Aceh and Sabang, Pulau Weh. The ferries don’t actually land in Sabang itself but in Balohan port from where it is around 15 to 20 minutes by car to the town center of Sabang. Most travelers head straight to Gapang or Iboih for the best beaches, which are around 50 minutes by car from the ferry pier.

Looking at the ferry schedule, it is entirely possible to make a day trip out of Sabang. You can simply take the earliest ferry, followed by a car ride to the beaches. The entire journey will take about 2 hours to get to the beaches. On your way back in the afternoon, you will find yourself on the road/at sea for another 2 hours which can be a bit draining. Doing Sabang as a day trip from Banda Aceh will leave you roughly just 3 to 4 hours of non-traveling time in the beach / leisure areas. That may be enough if all you are after is a walk by the beach or a spot of sunbathing followed by lunch. But this is probably not enough time if you also plan to snorkel or dive.

Travel Tips for Banda Aceh

• Aceh is the only region in Indonesia that is under Sharia law so it is stricter here in terms of dressing, especially for women. As a guy, I had no problems walking around town in shorts but women are encouraged to wear trousers and avoid sleeveless tops. The only exception is on the beaches of Pulau Weh where it’s totally fine to wear swimsuits.
• Many establishments are closed on Fridays between 12 noon to 2pm due to Friday prayers so do take note of that when arranging your lunch plans.
• For trips within the city, Grab is highly recommended. Most trips within the city are around US$1 to $3. The only thing is that most Grab drivers in Indonesia have this habit of calling (not chargeable, thankfully!) just to confirm on your location. Most of them don’t speak English so it would be handy to learn a bit of Bahasa in this sense. I usually go with “saya di….” which means “I am at…”

Where to Stay in Banda Aceh

Banda Aceh is not exactly in the main tourist trail so the city is almost entirely devoid of international chain hotels. The only semblance of an international hotel is the Kyriad Muraya Aceh which is located right in the heart of town. Rooms are spacious and thoroughly modern. This is the best hotel in Banda Aceh. Many of the city’s famous eateries, such as Mie Razali, are just within a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. 

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Hi, my name is Bino and I started I Wander around 15 years ago with the aim of sharing about some of my personal journeys and experiences, hoping that the information may benefit readers like yourselves. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook , Telegram , or Instagram . Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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May 12, 2021 at 4:35 pm

I m so glad tha you visited my town. Hope you enjoyed your time here

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Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones felt 'almost possessed' during alleged drunken rampage in Aceh

An Australian man accused of going on a drunken naked rampage in Indonesia's most conservative province says he felt "almost possessed" during the incident.

Key points:

• Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones was arrested on Thursday morning after allegedly attacking people on Simeulue Island in Aceh
• Mr Risby-Jones said he did not feel like himself during the incident
• Under Sharia law, Mr Risby-Jones could be flogged 40 times if found guilty

Noosa man Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones was arrested by police in Aceh in the early hours of Thursday morning after the incident at the Lantik Moonbeach Resort on Simeulue Island off the west coast of Sumatra.

It is alleged that shortly after midnight, Mr Risby-Jones chased and struck residents in the village.

He was also accused of attacking a fisherman, causing an injury to his foot that required 50 stitches and broke a bone.

Mr Risby-Jones, 23, had been on a surfing holiday in Aceh and he said he did not feel like himself when the alleged attack happened.

"I feel like not myself, like almost possessed," he told the ABC.

"It was not a good feeling.

"I wasn't myself. Normally I am a very nice guy."

Mr Risby-Jones, who appeared to have a black eye, said he could "not really" remember what happened on the night.

"I've got hit a lot of times on the ground, people kicked my head, made me forget," he said.

"But I'm a really nice guy at heart. [I] never want to hurt people, so it was very out of character for me. I've never done that before."

Mr Risby-Jones said he had just one small shot of vodka prior to the incident but had been suffering from sunstroke from surfing the day prior.

"We were at the pool and we had a duty-free bottle of vodka. I only had one shot, just one shot.

"And then I was surfing a lot the day before, so I had like sunstroke, not enough drinking water. So it was a lot of things."

He also maintained that he was wearing underwear during the incident.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was questioned about Mr Risby-Jones's predicament, but said he had not been briefed on it.

"I don't make comments about things that have happened overseas without being briefed," Mr Albanese said.

"But DFAT, when incidents occur, DFAT do a very good job."

Queenslander could face 'flogging'

Aceh has been governed under a Sharia-based legal system since 2014, banning the consumption of alcohol, gambling and some forms of dating.

On Friday, Simeulue police chief detective Mayyuhdi said Mr Risby-Jones told police he was holidaying in Aceh because "he's been depressed".

"According to the people who were present at the scene, Bodhi went out of his room completely naked and yelling and causing a ruckus," he said.

"The people there tried to stop him, but Bodhi hit one of them instead."

Mr Risby-Jones faces either two and a half years in prison if the injuries caused are minor or up to five years in prison if the victims' injuries are more serious.

The police chief also said Mr Risby-Jones would be prosecuted for drinking alcohol, which is illegal for Muslims and non-Muslims in Aceh.

He will have a choice to be prosecuted under Sharia law or provincial law in relation to drinking alcohol. Under Sharia law, he would be flogged 40 times if found guilty.

Police said he would be detained for up to 20 days while they investigated the case.

Man's family says he takes 'full responsibility'

Mr Risby-Jones's family issued a statement on Sunday, saying he wanted to apologise to the people of Indonesia for disrespecting their culture and laws.

"He is extremely remorseful and apologetic and acknowledges the pain he has caused the victim," the statement said.

"He further acknowledges the waste of resources his actions have caused the Simeulue Police."

"He is embarrassed and ashamed of his behaviour and wants to hand on heart apologise."

Mr Risby-Jones's family has requested privacy.

"Bodhi would also like to apologise to the Australian people for embarrassing them and is deeply ashamed of the trauma and ongoing distress he has inflicted upon his family," the statement said.

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Aceh to deport Australian surfer after drunken assault

Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, from Noosa in southern Queensland was facing five years in prison after attacking several people in April on the surf island of Simeulue.

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An Australian surfer detained after launching a drunken assault in Aceh will be deported, officials said Wednesday.

But the Australian tourist will return home after apologising and paying compensation to a wounded victim, the head of the immigration office in Meulaboh city in West Aceh told AFP.

"Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones is currently in our detention, awaiting to be returned to his home country," Fauzi said.

Ultra-conservative Aceh -- a province granted special autonomous status -- prohibits alcohol and is the only region in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country that imposes Islamic law.

Officials said the tourist appeared naked from his local resort and started to hit passersby including a fisherman on a motorcycle, throwing him off and wounding him.

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That victim of the alleged attack agreed to forgive him, allowing the case to be dropped, Risby-Jones' lawyer told reporters.

Risby-Jones paid 250 million rupiah ($16,814) to the fisherman in part to cover his medical costs, the lawyer said.

Those acts of repentance allowed him to avoid trial for assault, which carried a maximum sentence of five years.

Risby-Jones was taken from detention on Simeulue island Tuesday to Meulaboh, from where he was due to fly home later this week.

He was paraded before the media after his release Tuesday at a press conference, shown in a dark shirt standing alongside officials.

"I made a fool of myself and it was shown publicly worldwide. Respect the rules," he said in a message to Australians.

The tourist appeared again at an immigration office on Wednesday where he spoke of his relief.

"I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face yesterday, it just felt so good to be out of prison," he told reporters. 

Asked if he would ever return to Indonesia, he said: "I'd like to. Yeh, I'd like to."

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The Aceh Tsunami Museum

The Aceh Tsunami Museum is located on Jalan Iskandar Muda Street, Banda Aceh , and is open daily (except Friday) from 10.00-12.00 noon, and 15.00-17.00 West Indonesia Time. The Museum building has adopted the traditional raised Aceh House, while at the same time it resembles a ship with its protruding funnel.

Stepping inside, one will find a narrow corridor with water flowing from either side accompanied by a scary rumbling sounds,reminding of the devastations made by the 2004 tsunami. The Museum also features an electronic simulation of the Indian Ocean earthquake, pictures of the casualties, and stories and testimonies of survivors. Building the museum had cost about IDR70 billion, and consists of 2 floors. The first floor is an open space area which serves as reminder of the tsunami disaster.

There are several sections on the first floor which recall the unfortunate day including pre-tsunami, during the tsunami, and post-tsunami pictures. Several images, remnants, and a diorama are showcased here. Some of the most notable dioramas are fishing boats being hit by the high waves and dashed onto the shore. There is also a picture of the PLTD Apung Ship which was swept up and carried far inland to finally come aground at Punge Blang Cut.

The 2nd floor features educational media including a library, simulation rooms, 4D room, and a souvenirs shop. Some of the simulation showcased here are an earthquake resistant building and a model of the earth’s crust. There is also a room displaying tsunami disaster paintings and diorama.

The Aceh Tsunami Museum is located at Jalan Iskandar Muda street in the heart of the  city  of Banda Aceh, near the Simpang Jam, the Clock tower Intersection. It is situated near the Blang Padang Field, next to the Dutch Cemetery or Kerkhof Peutjut.

Nearby Spectacles

The Grand Mosque of Baiturrahman

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What They Say

Romantic bandung - the paris of java.

Well, I just love Bali so much, and we fell in love with the culture, people, the food. Everything was just amazing. I feel like in Bali, you can find serenity anywhere, literally. It's our favorite place that we've been to on our entire trip.

by Jack Morris Influencer

#attraction.

Wonderful.Indonesia

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This is the official website of the Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia. The contents listed on this website are intended for informational purposes rather than commercial. Any displayed sale is meant as a token of partnership and will always redirect you to our partners' sites.

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INTRODUCING ACEH TRADITIONAL CULINARY AS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

In recent time, tourism industry has not only been one of the rapidly growing fields of the world economy, but also has brought about economy development for diverse states and regions. Food is one of the principal factors are items that have been neglected in the most of the studies. To survive, in the first place, every tourist as an organism need to eat and drink and the uniqueness of culinary make it more interest them. We choose Aceh because it is one of the provinces in Indonesia which has a long cultural history, including the potential culinary.

This study was designed to find local culinary deserve to be featured as an identifier of Aceh as a culinary destination. The approach used in this study is a descriptive exploratory study, because this study is a description of the data in tabular form and narrative facts corresponding field. The primary data obtained from interviews, observations and focus groups involving all tourism stakeholders.

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Symons, M. (1999). Gastronomic authenticity and the sense of place. Paper presented at the 9th Australian Tourism and Hospitality Research Conference for Australian University Tourism and Hospitality Education.

Turgarini, Dewi and Abdillah, Fitri. (2016). Laporan Akhir Profil Wisata Kuliner Kota Banda Aceh. Jakarta. Asisten Deputi Pengembangan Wisata Budaya.Kementrian Pariwisata

UNWTO. (2013). UNWTO Tourism Highlight 2010 Edition. New York: UNWTO Publications Department.

Viva. (2015). Kolak Khas Aceh Bulukat Kuah Tuhe. http://www.viva.co.id/ramadhan2015/news/read/ 647875/kolak-khas-aceh--bulukat-kuah-tuhe. Diakses pada 21 Mei 2016.

Wolf, E. (2006). Culinary Tourism: The Hidden Harvest. Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt Publishing.

Wurianto, A.B (2008). Aspek Budaya pada Tradisi Kuliner Tradisional di Kota Malang sebagai Identitas Sosial Budaya (Sebuah Tinjauan Folklore). UMM. Malang.

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