All posts focusing on Sumatra as a travel destination. Covering culture, language, travel tips and more.
Today we had the privilege of handing out the bulk of our donations to the people of Ketambe whose homes were destroyed. Thanks to your generosity, we had the means to help these families with essential items that were lost to the flood on that terrible night. When people were Read more…
It’s been one month since Ketambe and most of Aceh was changed forever by the flash flood. The situation in our village is now somewhat stable – we have temporary road access, electricity and phone towers are all working. People have enough food. Excavators have spent several days working to Read more…
In the past few days Ketambe has been hit by a major disaster, with the village torn apart by the flooded river. We’ve lost over 50 homes and two guesthouses in the village. For now, Ketambe is still cut off and inaccessible. We also can’t reach the jungle from here Read more…
What is the best month to travel to Ketambe? Which time of year offers ideal conditions for spotting wild orangutans? When is rainy season in Sumatra? These are some of the most common questions we get asked by people when planning a trip to Ketambe. Considering you’ll be spending days Read more…
Choosing the right clothing for a country can be a daunting task. There’s a delicate balance between dressing for the environment and being respectful to local customs, which can definitely limit options. When people think of Sumatra they think hot, humid, tropical. This is very true for the cities, but Read more…
It’s July and the driest time of the year in this narrow rainforest valley. The Gurah River from the jungle meets the Alas River snaking its way south between the two mountain ranges. Then spreads out into a miniature delta behind Ketambe village. The rain hasn’t come for over a Read more…
I first travelled to Ketambe in 2016 when I met Safar. Since then it’s been a rollercoaster of exciting new experiences and cultural differences – some of which I may never get used to! Here are my top 10: 1. Conversations can switch between different languages without a second Read more…