When you think back to happen back to a town so badly hit by tsunami and earthquake (with a estimated death tolls of 40,000 out of 120,000) , and the current activities noted in the town in less than 2 years after the disaster, you would surely salute the efforts taken by locals, NGOs and other organizations to rebuild the lives of the people.

It had been a privilege to be able to visit Meulaboh, to witness a town that struggled successfully to get back to its feet, to witness the resilience of a people, who I daresay are contented and happy with little, much as I would presume that were contented and happy with much, before the disaster struck. The Acehnese we had met in Aceh Barat, Meulaboh, greeted us with much friendliness, warmth and hospitality, and more than made our short stay in Meulaboh a most memorable and happy one.

Our trip to Meulaboh was surprising uneventful, except for Boonliong's proposal to Hazel ;) Our usually low-key leader must have hated all the teasing and the re-enactment we made him go through during our transit stop at Medan. Still to look at this from another angle, how many of us get to propose to our fiance in a military airport.

If I did remember correctly, Hazel was beaming almost ear-to-ear throughout the entire trip, except for the last day. So, this flight from Singapore to Medan must be, without doubt, one of her most memorable flight, and we were, at that time, re-enacting this happy moment. Trying to live out "joy shared are joy multiplied" experience, as we had also noted later throughout our trip, that "shared grief or sorrow are likely more bearable"...