Inside AdSense: Celebrating 50,000 of you

Inside AdSense: Celebrating 50,000 of you

FOREWORD

Aceh is a special territory of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Nanggröe Aceh Darussalam.

For centuries, Aceh produced numerous materials, including various spices and therefore were able to attract many western traders interested in coming to the region to purchase supplies.

There is a long history behind Aceh’s well-known Islamic Kingdom and Nanggröe Aceh Darussalam has inherited a lot of historical relics and still boasts a very rich traditional culture.

Since the devastating tsunami of 26^th December 2004 and the more recent MoU between the Government of Indonesia and the Acehnese Separatist Movement, Aceh has re-opened and now welcomes the arrival of increasing numbers of tourists.

This blog has been produced in order to assist visitors to Aceh to discover for themselves the delights and wonders of Aceh’s countryside, its people and traditional culture.

I would like to welcome you to Aceh and hope that you enjoy your stay

WELCOME TO ACEH

Aceh was the closest point of land to the epicenter of the massive 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, which triggered a tsunami that devastated much of the western coast of the region, including part of the capital of Banda Aceh. Between 130,000 - 238,000 people were estimated to have died or gone missing, with more than 500,000 left homeless.

The ramifications of the tsunami went beyond the immediate impact on the lives and infrastructure of the Acehnese living on the coast. Since the disaster, the Acehnese rebel movement GAM, which had been fighting for independence against the Indonesian authorities for 29 years, has signed a peace agreement (August 15th 2005). As of June 2006, the peace has held. As homes are being built and people's basic needs are met, the people are also looking to improve the quality of education, increase tourism, and develop responsible, sustainable industry. It has always been a pleasure to welcome visitors to the province of Nanggröe Aceh Darussalam. We feel that those who have chosen to visit this special destination would like to learn more about Indonesia’s ancient history and cultural heritage and they will not be disappointed.

The province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam is comprised of 21 newly formed regions. This province’s unique culture, ancient traditions, mystical way of life and natural beauty make it a notable addition to any travel experience.

I sincerely hope that this blog will be of help to tourists looking for an insight into the Acehnese culture and heritage.