stranded boats in Banda Aceh

Stranded boats in Banda Aceh - darkometer rating : 4 - In addition to the big PLTD Apung 1 , many smaller vessels, especially fishing boats, were also carried inland by the 2004 tsunami in Banda Aceh . At least one that came to rest on top of a house has been integrated into the local tourist infrastructure as a special attraction, but there are also other, less commodified specimens. More background info: see under Banda Aceh . What there is to see: At the better known location presented here, the so-called “boat in the roof” this is precisely what you get to see. A ca. 75ft (25m) long wooden fishing boat that the tsunami deposited on top of somebody's house. In this case it was actually a blessing. People living in that house took refuge on board the boat as the tsunami waters were ravaging the area. They believe that without this boat they too would not have survived. Hence the boat is sometimes called a “mini Noah's Ark”. The site no longer looks as raw as some of the photos you may have seen. In the meantime it has been much altered and commodified. The most noticeable change, other than a bright new coat of paint, are the steel supports that now hold the boat in place. I suppose these were necessary to prevent the boat from finally falling off the roof after all.