Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I wake up in Meulaboh, right? The sun’s blaring, and I’m like, “Ugh, another day of digging through dusty old files.” But little did I know, today was gonna be a rollercoaster.
First off, I hit up Jalan Teuku Umar for some breakfast. You know, the usual nasi goreng and kopi. I swear, that place has the best fried rice in town. I’m munching away, and this old dude next to me starts chatting. Turns out, he’s a survivor from the tsunami back in ’04. I mean, wow. He’s telling me stories that’ll make your hair stand on end. I’m sitting there, mouth full, just nodding like a bobblehead. Crazy stuff, man.
After that, I head to the archives. It’s on Jalan Diponegoro, and let me tell ya, it’s like a treasure chest in there. Old maps, documents, you name it. But today? Today was different. I’m flipping through some records, and I find this ancient letter. Like, from the Dutch colonial days or something. My heart’s racing. I’m thinking, “This is gold!” But then, my boss walks in. Ugh, the guy’s a total buzzkill. He’s all like, “Don’t get too excited, it’s just paper.” Just paper? Dude, it’s history!
So, I’m trying to keep my cool, but inside, I’m fuming. I mean, how can you not appreciate this stuff? Anyway, I take a break and step outside. The heat hits me like a brick wall. I stroll down to the beach on Jalan Pantai, and wow, the waves are crashing. It’s beautiful, but also kinda sad. You can feel the weight of what happened here. I sit on the sand, just staring at the ocean, and I’m hit with this wave of emotion. Like, how did this place survive? It’s resilient, man.
Then, outta nowhere, I see this group of kids playing soccer. They’re laughing, kicking the ball around like there’s no tomorrow. I can’t help but smile. It’s like they don’t even know the history of this place. They’re just living in the moment. I snap a quick pic for the ‘gram, caption it “Joy in the ruins.” Classic, right?
But then, I get a text from my buddy. He’s like, “Dude, you gotta come to the market!” So, I hustle over to Pasar Meulaboh. It’s packed! The smells, the colors, the chaos! I’m dodging people left and right. I grab some fresh fruit, and this lady tries to overcharge me. I’m like, “Nah, lady, I know my prices!” We end up haggling like it’s a scene from a movie. I finally get my mangosteen for a decent price, and I’m feeling like a champ.
But then, I see this street vendor selling these weird snacks. I’m curious, right? So, I buy one. It’s some fried thing that looks like a UFO. I take a bite, and it’s... interesting. Not bad, but definitely not what I expected. I’m chewing and trying to keep a straight face while the vendor’s watching me. I’m like, “Yeah, totally love it!” while my taste buds are screaming.
As the sun starts to set, I head back to the archives. I’m exhausted but happy. I sit down, and I can’t help but think about how much this city has been through. Meulaboh is tough, man. It’s got scars, but it’s also got spirit. I’m just an archivist, but I feel connected to this place. It’s like I’m part of its story.
So, yeah, that was my day. Full of surprises, emotions, and a bit of chaos. I love this city, even when it drives me nuts. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!