PLACES OF INTEREST
BUKIT TINGGI
Here, at this road, all public vehicle stop at this place. People then can resume their journey to their home.
The
heart of the highlands, Bukittinggi is a two-hours drive through beautiful countryside
of the Anai falley and up to the Agam Plateau. A centre of attraction is the
town's clocktower topped with a hornshaped roof and referred to by the people
as Jam Gadang. It overloks the market square and the citys magnificent surroundings.
Located 930 metres above sea level, Bukittinggi formerly named Fort De Cock
by the Dutch has a cool climate and is surrounded by three volcanoes: Tandikat,
Singgalang and Merapi. In the outskirts of the town is the Ngarai Sianok, a
canyon separating Bukittinggi from Kota Gadang, 12 km away overland.
Kota Gadang is renowned for its fine silver filigree and hand embroidery.
Also worth visiting is the Museum which is a Rumah Gadang, a traditional extended
family house built in the 19th century.
There are dance performances at the museum's open stage every Sunday and on public holidays. Night dance performances are at Sliguri. It is also worth seeing the bullfights at Padang Lawas (6 km south of Bukittinggi every Tuesday at 05.00. p.m.
NGARAI SIANOK ( SIANOK CANYON )
The high hills of Bukittinggi (Ngarai Sianok) Bukittinggi, north of Padang in the Minangkabau highlands, is located at an altitude of approx. 920 m. The name Bukittinggi means high hill or top. This is a charming city with a cooler climate than Padang, it is one of the most important cities of the Minang people and is greatly influenced by their traditional culture. The name "Minangkabau" is put together by "menang" (victory) and "kerbau" (ox or water buffalo). According to legends there was a fight over West Sumatra between two bulls, one from Sumatra and one from Java. The Sumatra bull, an young calf, was victorious, and the bull is today the symbol of the Minang people. Traditionally this people lived in longhouses with several families, and they lived by the unique adat-laws. For example a man or woman can only get the influence they inherit from their mother, and the children are supposed to be raised in their mothers longhouse. Even if the Minang's today are strong believers in Islam they will often let the traditional adat-laws get priority before Islamic laws. These traditions are weakening today, but are still strong in many areas.
In the center of Bukittinggi there is a famous, characteristic clock tower which is the symbol of the city, it is sometimes referred to as "Kota Jam Gadang", the big clock town. Another name of the city is "Tri Arga" after the three mountains that surrounds it; Merapi, Singgalang and Sago. The clock tower is built in the traditional Minangkabau style. Close by is a market where you can buy local art, handicraft and souvenirs for a reasonable price. There is a museum at the highest point of the city which contains an impressing, traditional Rumah Adat (clan house), more than 140 years old. Inside the house there are exhibitions of traditional art and handicraft. The museum was built in 1934 by the Dutch governor in this district, and is the oldest museum in the province. Next to the museum is a zoo with some interesting species from Sumatra, unfortunately the conditions for the animals are not optimal to put it mildly.
Bukittinggi was a Dutch headquarter during the Padri wars between 1821 and 1837 (see Facts about Sumatra), and it was here that a group of rebels from Sumatra declared a rival government in 1958. The Dutch built a fort, Benteng de Kock, on a hill not far from the museum. It was built in 1825, and is overlooking the city and the surrounding mountains. Also the Japanese left a memorial; underneath the city they built several kilometers of tunnels by using prisoners as labor. Parts of the tunnels are open for tourists.
The Taman Panorama park on the south side of the city is overlooking another large attraction; Ngarai Sianok, a long and deep valley popularly called the Indonesian equivalent to Grand Canyon. It is located to the west of the city, is 4 km long and has steep walls. At the end of the canyon is the Kota Gadang village , known for its skilled silver- and goldsmiths. Also textiles and other handicrafts are produced here and sold on the market in Bukittinggi. You can walk to the village in about one hour if you follow the valley.
It is easy to get to Bukittinggi from Padang, you can go by bus or rent a car. The drive will take about two hours one way and is about 90 km long. The road itself is an attraction, it passes through fertile agricultural landscapes and dense jungle, with the view of the great volcanoes as a mighty background. The Lembah Anai nature reserve is located along this road, known for it's waterfalls and beautiful orchids, if you are lucky you might also see the enormous Rafflesia flower here, it will normally bloom between August and November.
BATU SANGKAR
Pagaruyung Palace
An old small town, 50 km southeast of Bukittinggi, is a centre of the ancient Minangkabau culture. Pagaruyung is the historical site of a Minangkabau kingdom in the 14th century, Near Batusangkar is where some archaeological vestiges, such as the Written Stone, the Stabbed Stone and some other relics can be found.
VISITING LAKE AT PADANG
Maninjau Lake
The Minang Highlands comprise some beautiful crater lakes. The most spectacular of them is undoubly Danau ("Lake") Maninjau. The lake measures 17 by 8 kilometres and is surrounded by steep, more than 500 metres high crater walls. It can be easily reached from Bukittinggi in approximately one hour. The road to the lake winds up the crater's rim to Embun Pagi. From here, the view over the lake is breathtaking. On a windless day, the lake shimmers like a mirror, reflecting an image of the crater walls. From Embun Pagi, the road winds down to the lake via Kelok Empat-puluh-empat, or 44 hairpin turns to the village Maninjau on the shore of the lake. Before making the descent, stop at one of the stalls to buy some peanuts. This will be highly appreciated by the monkeys who will be awaiting you on the way down.
Singkarak Lake
Danau Singarak is located south of Padangpanjang and can also be easily reached from Bukittinggi. The lake is similar in size compared to Danau Maninjau, however the views are less spectacular, and the location of the lake is less peaceful. Along the east shore runs a part of the Trans Sumatra Highway, and a rail track used for freight trains transporting black coal from the mines in the region of Umbilin.
Down lake
Further to the south, southwest of the city of Solok, are the twin lakes Danau Diatas ("Lake Above") and Danau Dibawah ("Lake Below"), located with a distance of only a few hundred metres between each other. The distance from Bukittinggi is some 130 kilometres and takes you along Danau Singkarak. After Solok, take the road in the direction of Padang and turn left at Lubukselasih. People grow markisa (passion fruit), the specialty of the region, which is sold at small road-side stalls. The road takes you through scenic tea plantations.
Some 30 kilometres from Lubukselasih you will reach the twin lakes. There is a junction where you can turn right, down to the shore of the "upper" lake, Danau Diatas. Turning left will take you up to a panorama point from which you have a scenic view over both the lakes. On top of the hill, passion fruits are growing and being sold by the local community. A small shop sells drinks and there are some facilities for a family picnic. However, hungry dogs begging for the remainders of your food makes the stay less relaxing than you would wish in this serene environment.
Passion fruit
MENTAWAI ISLAND
The Mentawai Islands are a chain of islands off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. Siberut Island (4030 sq km) is the largest island of the four Mentawai Islands. The other islands are Sipura , North Pagai (Pagai Utara) and South Pagai (Pagai Selatan). The islands lie approximately 150 km off the Sumatran coast, across the Mentawai Strait .
The Mentawai Islands are part of West Sumatra (Sumatera Barat) province. Padang, the capital of the province, lies on the Sumatran mainland opposite Siberut.
The Mentawai Islands are home to the Mentawai Islands rain forests ecoregion, home to many endemic species, including Four endemic primates: the Mentawai gibbon (Hylobates klossii), Mentawai macaque (Macaca pagensis), Mentawai leaf-monkey (Presbytis potenziani), and snub-nosed monkey (Simias concolor).
The Mentawai Islands have become a noted destination for surfing.