The building covered with red color with golden yellow touch seemed to dominate the side of Jalan Teuku Panglima Polem, Peunayong, Kuta Alam Subdistrict, Banda Aceh. Dragons and lanterns protruding here and there affirm the oriental nuances.
Decorating the room with a similar theme is so easy to find when we set foot in the area known as the Chinatown Village.
Not only in the house of worship, but also in shops to the residence. This area has been inhabited by ethnic Chinese for generations. Its existence is mixed with natives who inhabit the heart of Banda Aceh.
Once centuries ago a Chinese navy, Admiral Cheng Ho penetrated into the world's largest archipelago called the archipelago. The cities he also visited developed into a trading center.
Including a village now called Peunayong or in local language means peumayong (umbrella). Now about 1,000 or 4,000 Chinese people from four ethnic groups, Hakka, Hainan, Konghu, and Tio-Ciu are the traces of the admiral.
"In addition to the trade links, the relationship with the natives is also established through marriage by becoming converts," said Chairman of Hakka Aceh, Kho Khie Siong (50) an inter-tribal and religious Chinese association.
Most of them are merchants whose talents are inherited from generation to generation and become toke in Aceh. Hakka, Hainan, Konghu, and Tio-Ciu are the four dominant tribes and became diverse religious followers of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Hakka Foundation itself is an inter-tribal and religious Chinese community.
Peunayong increasingly affirmed its identity as Chinatown Village when welcoming the Lunar New Year recently. The gate is equipped with lanterns hanging over the canal of Jalan WR Supratman Street Market.
A glow of bright red with golden yellow spikes was striking with the condition of the old building that flanked the narrow alley. Writing kanji insert on dozens of typical lamp Bamboo Curtain country.
In his native country of China and wherever the ethnic people live, lanterns are a mandatory décor. So it is with the lion dances that fill the day-to-day, including enliven the anniversary of Banda Aceh.
When the political frenzy ceaselessly resonates and the issue of inter-faith reverberates. At the heart of Banda Aceh City named Peunayong, the indigenous community with the slanted-eyed peoples even more intimately showcase togetherness.
Look at the crowded shops in the left-right alley belonging to toke Tionghoa, patio filled with native traders who used to occupy the side of Jalan Kartini.
If a special Chinese ethnic group opens its breakfast menu, the indigenous people fill the pavement to peddle raw food in the form of vegetables and fruits.
Under the canopy flanking the narrow alley, together they scavenge sustenance.
Simply use the services of motorized rickshaws or cycling ria, travelers can travel around enjoy the peculiarities of Kampong Chinatown ala 'Bumi Serambi Mecca'. If you want to stay, the hotel class of jasmine and homestay rate of Rp 150,000 spread in Peunayong.
"It is an initiative of the Hakka Foundation, the Gampong Peunayong Government, and the local Youth Organization. The idea has long been wacanakan with the Department of Transportation and Tourism (Disbudpar) city of Banda Aceh, "said Aky.
The Ganges at Gang Pasar Pasar WR Supratman reflect the cultural marriage between ethnic Chinese and Aceh. Dragons and umbrellas are typical of China match with the door and typical Aceh skull.
All of them are also in the touch of a golden yellow colored red background. The symbol of the king of affluence and the prosperity of two different cultures. Latin script in Indonesian with a touch of Kanji letters featuring a new face Peunayong.
Cultural acculturation to marriage with the local population is the reason behind the birth of the diversity. Gapura 'China Town, Peunayong Gampong Diversity' becomes the new icon of the place. New blood tourism sector.