SIMEULUE: THE FORGOTTEN PARADISE

The beauty of Simeulue attracts serious wave chasers from far away.

     This remote island is almost being forgotten by the world though it endowed with exquisite natural beauties. Simeulue unquestionably is a tropical paradise, hidden and untouched by the spiralling increase of travel and tour industries.

     Only a handful of enthusiast surfers, from as far as South Africa, Hawaii, Australia and Holland,  flocked here in Simeulue almost throughout the year, to enjoy the excitements and challenges of its waves and crystal clear water.

A selfie with Greg, an enthusiast surfer fromAustralia.

Greg takes the water to challenge the wave of Simeulue.

Mike came far away from Hawaii since the last two weeks. Today he's taking a good rest at Ranu Surf Camp in the village of Matanurung near Sinabang. A group of 40 enthusiasts surfers from Europe, Australia and US were here since the past few weeks in their search for favorable waves adventure.

Features of local islanders who will always welcome any visitor with open heart. The large ferry with about 400 passengers left Labuhan Haji that night. More than nine hours later the ship reached Sinabang waters, the main town of Simeulue.

Simeulue, sits on the western tip of the Pacific Ring of Fire, is 150 kilometre away from the little Aceh’s city of Labuhan Haji. Currently more than 80,000 people inhabited the island. 

At night a number of skilled local divers, equipped only with spear and underwater mask, will pry into every hole and corner along the island coastal rocks and corals in search for lobsters, the most precious treasure of the island, where they will be sold to international market.

Traditional wooden boats rest quietly near a beach of eastern Simeulue. These little boats will only be used by local fishermen between October until March every year when its sea is safe from the blustering storm of Indian Ocean.

A green grass area facing a serene lagoon near Sinabang.

Bamboo trunks were popularly used by local fishermen for safety and proper balance of their boats. The heavy dark clouds served as guidance for local islanders to look for safety and shelters before arrival of rainstorm.