WOX TRAVEL CONTEST WEEK 7 | Talise Beach In Palu City, A Year After The Tsunami

On September 28, 2018, the city of Palu, Indonesia, experienced one of the most devastating natural disasters in its history. A 7.5 Richter scale earthquake, followed by a 5-6 meters of tsunami, wreaked havoc on Palu, including one of its famous tourist destinations, Talise Beach. I will try to take you on a travel story to closely explore Talise Beach after the impacts of that tragedy.

I took this journey one year after that tragic disaster occurred, I made this visit due to work that required me to travel to the city of Palu. At that time, i can see the destruction everywhere, Palu was still eerily quiet, like a ghost town. The most severe impact could be seen on the shores of Talise Beach.

Elite housing, malls, and stores that once stood and serve as Luxury life style for People in Palu have almost nothing left; everything is leveled to the ground. The yellow bridge that used to be a landmark of the city collapsed due to the earthquake.

The Floating Mosque, which served as a landmark and religious site for the city of Palu, was not spared from the earthquake and tsunami. Most of the Building is still intake, but the bridge is now collapse. A sense of sadness emerged when witnessing the damage that occurred. I tried to capture this moment in this place, with a heavy heart.

I continue my travel to the east side of this beach to the place were i once visit 2 years before the tsunami. There were a large park with many tree in this place. But now there is nothing left but destruction. One thing for sure, we can't underestimate the Force of Nature.

An old man walked past me, searching for who-knows-what among the ruins of the buildings here. The earthquake and tsunami leveled everything without a trace. They even altered the coastline that used to be far out there.

I took out a tripod from my bag, prepared my camera, and tried to capture a photo as the waves from the beach swept over the ruins of the buildings. In front of me, there were some dried-up trees, but they still stood in the sea. I couldn't help but imagine when these trees used to be on the shoreline, now they seemed to blend with it.

I had been exploring this place for quite some time, walking and witnessing the devastation that occurred. It was time to find accommodation for the next few days in this city. The feeling of fear crept in, "What if another tsunami and earthquake were to occur?"

However, I tried to resist that thought. Because wherever we are, even in what we consider the safest place, if it is our time to go, we will go. Likewise, on the flip side, no matter how close we are to a deadly disaster, if it is not our time to leave, we will surely survive.

Upon arriving at the hotel and checking in, I requested a room on a lower floor, but it wasn't available. The influence of the earthquake and tsunami had led many hotel guests to choose rooms on lower floors. I ended up getting a room on the 10th floor, and there was no other option for me but to go along with it. The view from this hotel room was quite nice; I could see the cityscape during sunset and at night from above.

Fast Forward to 2023, i come back to Palu City Again, this time the city is already moved on. I can see many Building repaired. And in Talise Beach, The Government build a 3-4 meter stone wall surrounding the Shoreline.

I give you a link of the news that cover what happen that day in chronological order, you can found in here

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Thats all I can share about my travel story to Palu City 1 year after the Earthquake and Tsunami. What do you think all my Steemian Friend, Write your comment down below! Thank You
With Regards @mytravelandscape

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