+alveta rorio+ | Bukittinggi & Padang

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Bukittinggi & Padang

Posted by: ndin | 06/02 2006, 04:57

--eat, shop, views...

last long weekend, i've got the chance to visit the land where it's not safe to go sky diving

"di sini banyak sekali restoran, ya?"
--Bu Puji, commenting on how every building seem to have a Bagonjong roof

"No kidding, they're actually really lining up!"
--me, upon witnessing Bukit Barisan for the very first time

Arriving before noon at the new Minangkabau airport, the fresh air of seaside meets highlands welcome me. The day's plan was to go straight to Bukittinggi through Padang Panjang. For lunch, we picked a well known restaurant, Pak Datuk.

I'm not really a sucker for Padang cuisine, but honestly, Dendeng lambo & batoko served there were simply divine! Unusually easy to chew too. Of course, you've gotta have the stomach for it. The spice could go right up to your head!

After lunch, we stopped by the artcraft center, Pandai Sikek. There were several houses used as kiosks along the road selling hand crafts ranging from key chains, songket (traditionally-made extravagant cloth), clutches, bags, sandals, wooden carved furniture, mukena (Muslims' clothes used for praying) and many others. Your bargaining skills would be tested to the limits here.

Turns out later that shopping here was more expensive than at Bukittinggi since the place was destined for foreign tourists.

Afterwards, we visitted Ngarai Sianok and viewing Lobang Jepang from the outside. A few people from the group wanted to pass through the actual tunnel, but the management asked for a lot of petty fees, so the plan was cancelled.

It's quite annoying and happened many time during the journey. The sum was not that many, most priced below Rp 5000 per person to enter a tourism site, but often there were no tickets and no guarantee that nobody else would ask for other fees when you got inside.

My favorite take on this trip is this ape picture, so nicely posing for the camera with a beautiful background scenery. I flashed my camera many times, trying to get the best pose and not once did it run away nor feel disturbed in any way.

I felt bad having suspected it as a pickpocketters as those in Sangeh, Bali.

After viewing the Ngarai, we went to Fort de Kock which also has a zoo inside. Too bad it's too late to get in since it was already nearing the sunset.

Found an interesting common misconception as captured by this picture here, the sign says "Dining place & Restaurant", which seem to be perceived as two different things in this side of the world.

Now, this is the area around the famous Jam Gadang. Pay attention to the andong on the right. I suspected it's pregnant.

Cruel kusir, eh?

Anyway, it's always crowded and lively since the marketplace is only across the street.

The clock is the most prominent landmark in Bukittinggi. It is also famous for it's mark for 4 (written in Roman as "IIII", instead of "IV"). Deliberate attraction or sole mistake?

Keep guessing ;)

At the palace of some Datuk, we could rent a set of traditional dress and take pictures in front of some decorated corners.

Next destination, Lake Maninjau. Unfortunately, the weather was not very friendly. The fog was so thick all I could see is white everywhere. Somebody seemed to take pitty on us, having to had travelled all the way, and so it rained cats and dogs for about half and hour, clearing the fog a little.

This picture here was the best I could get. Hope you can catch the glimpse of the shore lines...

On the way back to Padang, we stopped by the Lake Singkarak. The ladies in the group bought a lot of ikan bilih, small fried fish which supossedly only available here.

Yep, there surely are a lot of lakes here in Sumatra. Before reaching Padang, we viewed a twin, Lake Upperside and Lake Lowerside (horrible translation, but it really is Danau Diatas Danau Dibawah originally).

The cool air with decoration of beautiful flower shops reminded me of Puncak.

how very Nirina Zubir of me, huh? This is Padang Beach. The place was pretty crowded during the afternoon. Had a taste of crispy fried fresh shrimp sold by the gerobak along the beach.

The next day we visitted Malin Kundang at Air Manis. Too bad my camera is out of memory =(

~ complete photo album right there..

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