Caught in memory forever!
Have been waiting for so long to write this story. I have shared to some people about my experience back in 2004, the biggest disaster in my life yet it was one of the amazing things I have experienced by far. Couldn't talk much at that time, I was very traumatized and very shocked. First of all, I'd like to thanks to the Almighty God, mom, siblings, family, friends and other great people who have been supportive to me. You all are incredible and gorgeous, I feel so blessed to have you. This blog has been delayed for a very long time due to language barrier and hard times to express the feeling and story in writing. Hopefully this story could bring you back to 2004 and feel how this beautiful land and life turned into a mess.
December 23rd, 2004 (departed to Banda Aceh)
It was such a big opportunity for me to visit my brother in Banda Aceh, it would also be my first time to visit Banda Aceh. So I was very excited about it and on the other hand I miss him so much. I did not tell my mom that I was going to visit my brother, I only spoke to my older sister that I was going to visit my brother on 23rd December 2004. She was fine with my plan, nothing wrong and there was no sign about something bad was about to come. I had my long Christmas holiday, 2 of my good friends at Senior High School dropped me off at the Bus station in Medan, the bus departs at 21:00hrs LT. I left Medan with peace and happiness, not saying much but goodbye to my good friends and thank them for the kindness that they have done to me.
December 24th, 2004 (safe and sound in Banda Aceh)
I safely arrived in Banda Aceh, the city where I had never been before and I thought my brother was waiting for me outside the bus station. I had no mobile phone with me, so I relied on Public telephone. I called my brother office and told him that I have just arrived in Banda Aceh, Are you going to pick me up? or I should get public transport to your place? he asked me to do the second option, so I followed his instructions. almost an hour to get to his place in Lhoknga, Aceh Besar. I was amazed by the view and the quietness. he lived in a Military Compound. His place was located 150 meter from the beach. The water was so blue and clear, the coconut trees were beautifuly waving at me. My brother was standing there and he found me stood next to the beach side. I ran into him and asked him to grab all my stuff (what a good brother). I planned to stay for 3 weeks with him, so I brought almost every clothes from Medan. I had no bad feeling or guts about what the hell was going to be happened. The only thing I still remember was happiness, maybe I was so excited meeting my brother and visiting Banda Aceh. We went to Church on 24th December 2004 evening, to celebrate Christmas Eve. I did not explore Banda Aceh that much on the first day, arrived in the morning and went to Church in the afternoon then back to Barrack. I stayed at my brother's barrack with his other military friends.
December 25th, 2004 (celebrating Christmas)
In the early morning I took shower and went to Church with my brother. We rode a motorbike from Lhoknga to Banda Aceh, the trip was about 35 to 40 minutes. The sun was so bright, sky was blue and people were seem so happy to celebrate Christmas and holiday. The time when all the family gathered. After Christmas at Church, me and my brother went to visit his girlfriend. They were in a relationship but different religion, she is Acehnese and Muslim but my brother is Batak and Christian Protestant. This is most likely not allowed in Indonesia to marry with different religion, most parents are very strict to this. So my brother did backstreet date, he did not tell my family. I was the only one who knew this relationship. She was very kind and friendly, so we spent a bit time together. We planned to visit Sabang on the next day after Church (26 December 2004). This plan even took me to the highest level of happiness.
December 26th, 2004 (Sunday, Boxing Day, Tsunami)
As I remember, it was around 7am. My bed was wobbling, I thought one of my brother's friends tried to wake me up. For a few seconds I realised that there was nobody but the building was shaking a bit stronger than before, earthquake was happening. I got up and ran out of the barrack, try to avoid the buildings. I found my brother was sitting outside with his friends. Everybody gathered on the Soccer field, and they were praying. They tried to call and screamed their beloved ones to be together instead of scattered. The earthquake was stopped for a few seconds, then I could feel the earth was shaking again. This was happened several times, until the massive earthquake hits. That moment I saw people were having panic attack and pray louder. Nobody could stand or sit, everyone was laying down and holding. I still remember how scared and terrified I was, how panic people were, how weak everybody was, how we did not know about what's next. It took about an hour on and off for the earthquake to destroy enough, before it calmed. I saw some of the buildings fell apart and so many rubble and some stood still but cracked. Once the earthquake calmed and stopped, everyone tries to find their family and gather. My brother, I and some of his other friends gathered together. Around 8:10am in the morning I heard very clear explosion pounding several times, All of us thought that was a ceasefire on the mountain. Conflict was still exist at that time. Shortly after the explosion sound, one of my brother's friends told me about the tsunami, he said maybe this is Suriname but then I realised and corrected him and maybe it is Tsunami. I think he pronounced it wrong, he said yes it is. I still remember what I said to him, it is impossible to have Tsunami here in Aceh. It only happens in Japan. Not many people really know about what is Tsunami, even that I know it is only in Japan. The guy who said this had been gone forever, until now I still remember our conversation before the giant and brutal waves hit us brother! Rest in Peace.
The water disappeared for a minute
No one really understood what is coming towards them? When they see the water disappeared, they came closer to the beach and witnessed the rare moment. Some tried to figure out what was happening, what was it? Some of them very happy to see that rare moment, some other wondered why? None of them knew they were about to capture the worst natural disaster in living memory.
Panic Attack and Chaos
Only 15 minutes after the explosion sound, I heard people who lived in the shore were screaming 'The water is coming'. What I thought was, maybe high tide is coming. So I was not that scared, until I heard they screamed again and said 'the very big wave is coming towards us'. I was very scared and panic like hell. I did not know what should I do, where should I run? how can I escape? how could I survive? I saw kids lost their parents and they did not know where to find? where to run? they were not strong enough to run among those people. I also saw some people running bumped each other, of course they got injured. But they still try to get up and run again. But nobody knows where to run exactly? no one could imagine what kind of wave is coming towards us? We couldn't see behind the buildings, walls and trees. Most people ran into back side, while me and my brother ran into right side towards the hills. The Military compound surrounded by the barbed wire 1,2meter high. I was running beyond my control, I saw people running, crying, screaming, praying, injured at the same time. I jumped off the barbed wire fence without touching it. Then I found a little boy was crying and asking for help to jump off the fence. My brother helped him from left side and I catched him on the right side. He asked us to help his mom, there was a lady bleeding and stuck on the barbed wire fence. I don't even want to know how it felt to witnes both of them. He saw his mom bleeding and stuck on the barbed wire, crying and asking for help the only thing he could do for his mom. The boy asked me to take him and help his mom, but I couldn't help both of them. I could hear their scream, suddenly they were gone... Tsunami took them away. I really need to keep running as fast as I can and leave people behind. My brother and I climbed the hill with no equipment and it was very steep. We were apart about 50 meter away, he was screaming and asked me to do this and that. I followed his instructions. Unfortunately not so many survivors made it to the hills.
On the top of the hills
If only I late for a few seconds, I will be gone by the GIANT wave. From the top of the hills, I saw how BIG the wave was and how strong the wave hits everything ahead. I had no idea how big the Tsunami was, but I can remember that the Tsunami was higher than the coconut tree. I think there were few times water hit the land, the first tsunami rolled everything and I still see some people were floating. Tried to get their head out of the water, so they could breathe but the the second and thrird Tsunami sinked them again. Very little chance to survive when you were in the water. The little boy and his mom scream loud for help until the water hits them both, I witnessed this by myself. I feel so sad... guilty... If only I could take one of them up to the hills :( . There was also a girl recording the moment with her mobile phone, I still remember it was Nokia 6600 black. She could not made it to the hills.
I had to run to the first hill but it was not high enough to keep me safe. Then I ran like crazy, heart beats so fast, panic, barely feel my feet and lost my feeling, couldn't feel pain at all even my barefoot stepped on everything. Suddenly all the land becomes an ocean. When we were on the top, we met some other survivors. I counted, we were 15 people in total. Only me and my brother were not original Acehnese among those survivors.
Jumped into the water to survive
It was only an hour on the hill, we could not stay longer than that due to Separatism attack (Aceh Independence Movement). They will not let my brother and I alive if they caught us both. It was still conflict in Aceh, so we decided to run before they came. I said to myself, surviving from deadly Tsunami but maybe I would not survive from this Aceh Independence Movement attack. I couraged myself to jumped into the water, even though I know that I couldn't swim. That was the first time I forced myself swimming, I swam for about 2km then I hold on a tree. I told my brother to keep swimming and left me behind while I was crying. I said to God, if this is the end of my life, please do not hurt and suffer me. Don't let me dying here... just take me right away so I won't feel any pain before I die. But if you want me alive, please help me out of this situation.
Believe, Hope and Faith
Just a few minutes after I said that, some of plastic tanks were floating towards us. My brother took 2 of them, and pull out the fuel of the tanks. So we both were floating by the current until we reached the land. We were drifting further and stranded in a graveyard, there were people waiting for us. They were looking for survivors and pull them out of the water. I was really glad to see those people, they helped us out of the water and gave us a pair of clothes. I had nothing with me. The only village did not affected by Tsunami was "Keude Bieng". This was the place where we stranded and stayed. I took shower but I did not get the food or water. Everyone busy with their family and friends as priority. I found so many bodies in the water and I heard the survivors screaming. Some lost their hands, legs, broken bones, scars, wound, bleeding and so on. We met one of my brother colleagues was dying under the coconut tree. Oh my God, I felt so bad for him, he was alive and so much pain in his leg. It was underneath the coconut trunk and bleeding. We couldn't do much for him, the coconut trunk was huge and heavy.
Emergency assembly point to Survive
All people and survivors requested to stay overnight up on the hills, just in case if earthquake or Tsunami happens. So we all evacuated to the hills. My brother and I did not get a blanket or mattress, we slept right on the ground. It was so cold and I got fever because of my feet injured. Maybe because this morning I ran barefoot and stepped on something. I had no medicine with me. The clinic was full of serious injured people, they injured so bad and wounded. They just put them in the clinic until they died. So you can imagine how smelly it was in there. This area was isolated by the floods and difficult access. That is why slow respond and many injured people died. I stayed at Keude Bieng for 3 days, then I left my brother. I headed to Banda Aceh to find the way back home and he should stay to find other survivors from his Military Compound.
Survivors find their love ones & the way back home
Bodies were everywhere, people were crying, laughing, talking to themselve nearly losing their mind. You can see how much pain they had, how much anger and disappoinment on their face. If only you were there and witnessed it, I can't even describe about the situation and condition but the frustruation. I wish I could skip the part of seeing those bodies and the fact people were losing the people that they love. It was really breathtaking moment. Some of survivors searched for their family, relatives or friends after the land dries. They wanted to make sure whether they had lost one of the family or they might be injured badly. As I have my brother with me, I did not search for anybody. After 3 days stayed at Keude Bieng, I decided to leave Keude Bieng for Banda Aceh. My brother agreed to my decision, because he knew I need to meet our family and tell them we were survived, yeah both of us.
Walking through the water, rubble and bodies to Banda Aceh
When I think the flood might be decreased, I left "Keude Bieng" in the morning, it was still 1 meter deep. I walked with 2 other girls and saw many people came from another city just to check their house, family, relatives, friends and neighbours. None of them seemed happy, just the frustration face. Tears, sadness, shocked, panic, scream and emptiness. Bodies were everywhere, I could not stand to the smell but there was no other way to run. Since I did not have money at the time, I took some money from the dead bodies. I said sorry to them and because I knew they would not need that money. I definitely need this money to buy water and food on my way back home. But one thing I should tell you, instead of the smelly, I was dying for drinking water. My throat was dry and the sun right above my head, I was struggling to walk in the water for hours but still could not find anyone wants to give me water. I reached Banda Aceh in the afternoon, I think it was around 3pm.
Aftershocks keept on going
I thought this disaster only happened in the area where my Brother lived, but then I found Banda Aceh was destroyed. I couldn't believe my eyes, there was no life. Even though it has been 3 days, but there were aftershocks. Everytime earthquake happened, people are going crazy and panic. They did not care about their belongings, sometimes some people use this as an opportunity to steal it. How on earth they did this to us, if only they could feel what we feel. I ran like I am a super sonic when this earth shaking. I am very traumatic to this disaster, how can't I? This is the biggest disaster I ever have in my life.
A glimmer of hope
No matter what do you believe and who do you believe or if you don't believe in something. But I do believe there is always hope in any kind of situations. As I walked through the city barefoot and found a mini bus from Banda Aceh to Sigli. I did not know exactly where to go, I was just following the girl that walked with me from Keude Bieng. Arrived at Sigli in the evening and got somebody to help me. He gave me a pair of clothes, food and water. I even stayed at his place for a night. In the next day he took me to the bus for free. This time I left Sigli for Langsa. Langsa is my hometown, where my sister lives as well. Usually from Sigli to Langsa is about 7-8 hours driving, but due to Tsunami it took more than 15 hours. What I had in my mind was meeting my family and how grateful I am having such incredible second chance of life. I can hardly wait to see them all again.
No one would believe I made it through
I can't even think how? But I was so glad to be home again. I knocked the door as I arrived in the middle of the night. I bet it was around 3am. My sister and brother in law opened the door and scream at that time, They could not believe their eyes seeing me alive and back home. My older sister was crying very loud even she awakened her neighbour. Tears streaming down... nothing to say but thankful and grateful. Everyone wanted to hear my survivor story, neighbours, friends and family visited me. They were very curious and wondered, how could I survived? But I did not talk that much, they understood me. I was just crying... they could feel the pain and sadness. How did it feel to lost your family, friends, people that you love and to experience Tsunami? Tears stream down my face every time I throw memory back in December 2004.
Mom... I am home
Spent almost a week at my sister's house (Langsa, East Aceh). Waited for my brother to come to Langsa and then we went to Kutacane (where my mom lives), Langsa to Kutacane is pretty far but nothing could stop us. My mom was waiting for her sons and ready to hug us. She was worried and happy at the same time. She prepared a small ceremony in a traditional way as her thankful to God that we're both survived. I eventually meet my mom in the night, she ran towards us and cried, not because she was sad but she feels moved and blown. She thought she would never see us again. Everybody was crying and relieved. How I miss my mom and grateful I am to be back home. I am home and crying still. I cried for people who lost their loved ones, injured survivors and for the land had been taken by the raging Tsunami.
Reflection
Writing this story brought me back to where I was. Tears are streaming down on my face and it feels like yesterday, I could remember everything. I could see their faces and hear their scream for help. I am one of a few people who made it through and tell you this story. Since then, I told myself please be a better person. Appreciate life for what you have got, what you have now, learn from mistake, love people more, keep believing & faith and enjoy your life because we never know is our time. Thank to all my friends for your support and encouraged me to write this story. Special thanks to: Mamak Dewi, mas Wahyu, mas Anton, and my friends at Save the Children, Friska, Vita, Nova, mpok Iday, Teh Dedes, Enti Retna, Juek, Bang Toru, Johan, Dedi, Gilang, Subhan Al Hafiz, Luna, Andri, Anwar, Lex, Wessel, Job, Jonas, mba Wien, bibik Tifa and people that I can't mention the names. Thank you for reading and have a good day!
