Hi Hive Lovers
Kilometer Zero or Zero-Kilometer, also called Km 0, is a location that is the starting point for calculating a point, namely where a distance starts to be measured. Almost all countries have it; some cities also have it, and it is generally used to measure almost all roads in an area.
Km 0 in my country is on Sabang Island; local people call it "Pulau Weh." Kilometer 0 Indonesia on Sabang Island is marked by the existence of a "Kilometer 0 Monument."
Sabang has been designated as the westernmost point of the Indonesian archipelago and has extraordinary natural beauty, especially the beauty of its natural scenery and underwater natural beauty. This has made Sabang well-known and a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists.
I am sharing our holiday travel post at the beginning of this year, in which it is related to the choice of the right time to visit, the choice of transportation, the choice of favorite places to visit, the choice of activities we did while there, and finally about the kind-hearted people of Sabang.
Vacation time options
We came when everyone else had left.
It is recommended that you choose a time other than national holidays to visit Sabang. This will give you more comfort, and the privacy of a vacation can be maintained. You don't want to jostle other people into a vacation spot, do you?
My little family and I visited Sabang a few days ago and were there for 3 days, a short time for a holiday.
We purposefully avoided vacationing during the peak of the year-end holidays, which are said to be always crowded with local and foreign tourists at certain times. I have arranged time off from where I work, and our children also still have a few days of their school holidays. perfect timing for all of us.
Transportation options
The trip to Sabang can be made from Ulee Lheu Harbor in Banda Aceh City, which is only 15 miles by sea from Balohan Harbor in Sabang.
screenshot photo from the Google Maps application
There are only two sea transportation options to get there, namely by fast boat or ferry. If you want to use a special boat, you can rent one owned by the community, and it is very unusual for tourists to visit there.
This is the fast boat we took when we returned from Sabang. It is only loading passengers.
People who do not have personal vehicles or want to save time will choose to use fast boats to go to Sabang, which takes approximately 45 minutes.
This is the ferry that we took when heading to Sabang; inside, it can load several vehicles of all types of vehicles.
Meanwhile, for people who want to bring their vehicles, either cars or two-wheeled vehicles, they will choose to use the ferry, which takes approximately 2.5 hours.
I was advised by a friend of mine who lives there that we don't need to bring our car on vacation to Sabang this time; he has prepared it for us and we are free to use it while we are there. Thanks to him for being kind.
We used the ferry to get there. I wanted to give my kids the ferry experience because they had never been on one before. Meanwhile, when we go home, we use the fast boat to save time, and of course, they also get a different experience with the fast boat.
Of course, my kids prefer the ferry ride; they have more freedom to move around on the boat and get a firsthand view of the ocean, islands, or other ships that pass by during our sea crossings.
Here are some photos from the trip and what they saw while on the ferry.
You don't need to worry if you don't bring your vehicle to Sabang. Even though public vehicles are very limited there, you will easily find many places to rent vehicles, both cars and motorcycles.
If you want to be more comfortable, of course, you can take a vacation package that includes transportation for a shuttle or to get around while you are there.
Vacation location options
Our short vacation time has limited the beautiful places we can visit. Even though Sabang offers many choices of beautiful places to be visited by tourists, including:
- Various small islands
Wikipedia states that Pulau Weh, where the city of Sabang is located, is the largest island, which has an area of 121 km² and there are four other well-known islands whose area is just under 0 km², namely Rondo Island, Rubiah Island, Klah Island, and Seulako Island. - There are dozens of beautiful beaches, the majority of which have white sand and clear sea water. Some of the famous ones are Iboih beach, Gapang beach, Sumur Tiga beach, Mata Ie beach, Anoi Itam beach, Keuneukai beach, Kasih beach, Tapak Gajah beach, Ujong Kareung beach, etc.
- The Zero-Kilometer Monument
- Sabang Merauke Monument
- Sabang Hill, which is high enough to provide views of Sabang City's bay
- Various fort bunkers from the Second World War belonging to the #Netherlands and #Japan
- The Sabang Museum (Dutch Heritage Building), which contains documentation of the heyday of the Free Harbor of Sabang
- Cave Sarang, which is on the edge of the coral beach
- Keuneukai hot springs
- Mount Jaboi, an active volcano area
- Lake Aneuk Laot, which is the source of clean water for the people of Sabang
- Pria Laot Waterfall, which has a height of 15 meters
- Sirui Hidrothermal to witness underwater scenery in the form of air bubbles under water and a variety of fish
- Various lighthouses include the Balohan lighthouse, Ie Meule lighthouse, and Ujung Asam lighthouse, and
- Various hangout places for culinary tours
The places that we can visit on our short vacation this time are only the Zero Kilometer Monument as a mandatory visit place, Iboih Beach where we are staying, Rubiah Island for beautiful underwater views, Sumur Tiga Beach with green seas and shiny white sand beaches, and several hangout places for culinary hunting.
Our selection of holiday activities
Set foot on Kilometer 0, Indonesia
Location of the Zero-Kilometer Monument
The zero-kilometer monument is a unique geographic marker for us and a Sabang tourism icon. It is located west of Sabang City and is at the end of a hill in the Sabang Tourism Forest Area.
The zero-kilometer monument We made this monument the destination of our first visit, and we were able to get there after taking approximately 50 minutes with a distance of about 30s kilometers from downtown Sabang.
screenshot photo from the Google Maps application
After passing through the entrance gate, you will find many food stalls and typical Sabang souvenirs that are neatly lined up and have affordable prices.
When you are around the monument, you only need to be alert and careful of the monkeys that roam around. They become very bold to approach you to "ask for food."
If you are negligent or careless, then your wallet, glasses, or whatever is in your hands will become their target. I found one of the visitors waiting for his car keys in the hands of a monkey on a tree. !LOL
This monument has a height of about 43 meters with sturdy pillars as a support, and at the top of the monument there are two circles crossing each other, including "Rencong," which is also placed there.
We received information that every part of this monument has a message about the national spirit that has united Indonesia's diversity. That means that this monument has become one of the symbols that binds the Indonesian nation from #Sabang (in #Aceh, the westernmost region) to #Merauke (in #Papua, the easternmost region).
Every tourist who visits this monument can get a certificate as a sign that they have been to Zero-Kilometer Indonesia, and that is a matter of pride for them.
It would be too long if I shared it all at once in this post, so in Holidays in Sabang Part 2 later, I will share other interesting places that we have visited, such as the exotic Iboih Beach, underwater views on Rubiah Island, Sumur Tiga Beach with gentle waves, green seas, and clean beaches, and several places to hang out for culinary hunting.
If you have the opportunity to take a vacation, then Sabang is very worthy of being included in the list of places you must visit.
