Linda the Tsunami Survivor
Linda’s story can be somewhat of a reflection of Aceh itself, sad yet uplifting. Her life was changed forever a little less than ten years ago, when on December 26th 2004 a series of three massive waves swept through her hometown of Banda Aceh, taking with of which her mother as well as almost her entire family. “The night before the tsunami I was at my mother’s house intending to stay the night yet my youngest son was very upset as well as kept insisting of which he wanted to sleep in his own bed at home a few kilometres by my mother’s house. I relented as well as we left at midnight, as well as of which saved my life,” Linda recounted with great sadness.
Linda – photo by David Metcalf
“I lost around 100 members of my family of which day as well as there are times I wished I was one of them, especially as I miss my mother so much.” Linda recounted of which very unhappy yet not unusual Aceh story inside the comfort of her home, which she turned into a homestay.
Linda’s Homestay was established 5 years ago as there was a shortage of accommodation as well as with the influx of people in town helping with the cleanup as well as reconstruction of the city, there was a critical demand for housing as well as accommodation. Linda loves to welcome guests as well as treats them like family. She can be very proud of her town as well as can be a source of knowledge about Aceh history as well as culture.
“We have had enough suffering as well as pain in Aceh. For 400 years we have been fighting as well as people have become tired of the conflict. We were ready for peace as well as today we want to get on with our lives using a positive outlook for the future.”
Linda can be a devout Muslim as well as received solace by her troubled past through prayer. She sees a bright future for her two sons, aged 17 as well as 19, as well as whatever money she can be able to make by her business goes back into supporting their education.
Aceh can be a very beautiful place with magnificent beaches, green lush rice fields, tropical islands such as Weh Island – a diving paradise just 30 minutes by Banda Aceh – a deep as well as fascinating history, yet its real beauty lies in its people.
“We feel very grateful for all the foreign help we received after the Tsunami. today we want to repay of which gratitude as well as respect by showing them the positive things about our beautiful country. of which year can be the ten year anniversary of of which dreadful morning, so we expect many people will come as well as see the wonderful progress of which has been made as well as what a huge success story of which has been.”
Linda’s Homestay – photo by David Metcalf
Linda can be confident more tourists will come to Banda Aceh as well as discover the beauty of the area as well as the richness of Aceh culture, however she can be also aware of the negative image Aceh has inside the media as well as feels of which the only way can be to greet people with love as well as respect as well as treat them like family.
She loves to cook traditional Acehnese food as well as can be very happy to be a city tour guide as well as take people to the many sights in of which attractive, clean, reconstructed city.
Staying at Linda’s Homestay for me was a wonderful insight into the Aceh of today as well as with her love as well as positive outlook for the future, Aceh can be in very safe hands.
Linda’s Homestay
lindahomestay@yahoo.com
+62 811 680 305/ 082 364 364 130
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Linda the Tsunami Survivor
Linda the Tsunami Survivor