THE CHARM OF THE HAGU RIVER // A Hidden Natural Paradise Filled with Peace, Fresh Air, and Stunning Views

Good night to all my beloved hive friends ❤️

Today, my family and I took a trip to an open-air natural tourist destination, a large river located in Hagu Village, Peudada District, Bireuen Regency. Before leaving home, we already had high expectations that this place would be even better than before, considering that it is located right on the banks of the great Hagu River. We did not prepare many supplies from home because we thought we would order food at the tourist site. At exactly 10:00 am, we decided to begin our journey. The tourist destination is not too far from my house, and it only takes about 30 minutes to get there by motorcycle.

However, to reach the tourist destination, we had to pass through several villages first, and its location is also quite remote, making this place fairly well hidden.

This was my second visit to this tourist destination. However, as soon as we arrived at the location, I was immediately surprised by its condition. I could no longer see any shops, food stalls, chairs, or huts there. The place looked completely empty and resembled nothing more than an ordinary river. Fortunately, I managed to meet one of the local villagers, I asked him what had happened to the tourist destination that was once very popular throughout Bireuen Regency. It turned out that the tourist attraction no longer existed, as all of the facilities had been washed away by the flood. It was at that moment that I realized the impact of the massive flood that struck Aceh a year ago, it turned out that this tourist destination had also been severely affected.

The river has also become much wider, and a great deal of land along its banks has continued to be eroded by the water. Even several footpaths that were once crowded with visitors have now completely disappeared. Every member of my family was shocked by what we saw, as the situation was truly heartbreaking. However, since we had already arrived at this place, it was impossible for us to leave immediately without taking home at least a few memorable moments from our visit. The first thing I did was look for a suitable place to park our motorcycle.

The river water was also slightly murky at that time, which made me hesitate to swim in it. Moreover, since a major flood had struck this river a year earlier, I had no idea how deep it was now or which areas might be dangerous. Meanwhile, several of my younger cousins went straight to play along the riverbank, of course under the close supervision of their parents.

Believe me, there used to be many kiosks and food stalls neatly lined up along the riverbank. There were also plenty of chairs and huts where visitors could sit, relax, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. However, none of those facilities can be seen anymore,all that remains now is an empty stretch of land covered with rocks and grass.

To make the atmosphere even more enjoyable, my uncle and I decided to go to the market to buy some supplies and a few fresh fish to grill by the riverside. Our goal was to fill the day with enjoyable moments, as this trip was meant to be a healing getaway.