West Sumatera

So,I start to post something again at my blog, yeah for a long time , finally!

Because this morning, at oil&gas geology talked about central Sumatra basin, and Pak Dardji started to talk about west Sumatra,that’s why I want to recall my memory about some beauty place at west Sumatra

Padang

Of course, the most famous city in west sumatera, and we like to brand all people that come from west sumatera that their come from Padang (It must become annoying from people that isn’t really come from this city). For me, it’s a really quite than the other city in java, and it’s quite hard to find some public transport. And the Airport look like some magnificent Gadang House. Padang is the west city of this province and the location face with Hindia ocean(Kota Pantai), so that you will feel the air is so hot

Solok

Ok, this was my main destination, my brother in-laws hometown, Kota Solok (don’t read the ‘k’) . When you get enter this city you will find a lot of lake. There are koto singkarak, koto diatas, koto dibawah (koto means lake). They still have a lot of rice field and some fruit-farming, and the air is so fresh, remember me about my hometown at Java. But the most hated, I feel isolated because this city is surrounded by bukit barisan and there’s no signal for my modem(said sorry for my report Karsam team). Fortunately, I got fun time with their family, yeah a real big family,,,,, WOW,,,, and they have a lot of cute baby and kids.

Sawahlunto

You must remember about coal mining when you hear this city, do you think, is it dirty place? Remote area? No, wrong, they have unique structural city, the city is in the valley, so when I entered the city, I came from up the hills, and find the city in the under area, that’s why minang’s people called the city as ‘kota kuali’, and there are some holland architecture building. Pak Dardji said, Sawahlunto is the first place mining eksploitation in Indonesia, of course ‘kumpeni’ the one who started the mining activities. Unfortunately, I just was passing by this city, whereas a lot of interest place, like museum, Ombilin mining, and some interesting structural rock -___-

Batu Sangkar

Ok, at this place, It was my first time to ride a real hourse and it’s a little bit frightened even the horse is just get walking not running. You must know, when I was child, I was chicken-hearted, so don’t laughing when I say this was my first time to ride a horse, for me It’s a big achievement,hehehhehe.

Ok, what’s definitely you’ll find at this place, It’s Istana Basa Pagaruyung. It’s still under reconstrustion, because it was burned some years ago.

Padang panjang

I went to mifan (minang fantasi) at this city. Don’t think this place have look-like with Dunia Fantasi, It seems more similar with Bandung Carnival Land with their water world Karang Setra. It seems every cars in this province must be attached with mifan’s sticker. And there’s another some beauty natural place,like Lembah anai waterfall, also you can see unique structural of clay at behind the waterfall -___- And how about food? You must try Sate Padang Mak Syukur!

Bukit Tinggi

This is my favorite city in west Sumatera, because I didn’t feel traped like in the Solok. They have cooler air than at Bandung,,,,,,brrr, and they have some history sites, such as Jam Gadang, Benteng Fort De Kock, Museum Hatta, and Lobang Jepang. Let’s we see what we can learn and find from this city. Jam Gadang is located at alun-alun kota, and you must see the number at the clock? What do you find? can you find something different? =p How about the Benteng Fort De Kock? The location is inside the zoo, and a little bit undermantained, there is some cannon-gun surrounded the benteng. Benteng Fort De kock was made by Holland to control “perang Paderi” and you can see the whole of Bukit Tinggi at this high place, it’s such good place to spying, And the most impressive place is Museum Hatta and Lobang Jepang. Museum Hatta is Bung Hatta’s house. He is come from nobleman family, I was thought that their family maybe was the richest family at this city, because the house is luxurious for that past time. And you know, they have their own stables. And how about the Lobang Jepang? Lobang Jepang was made for world war preparation, the location is near ngarai sianok. Fortunately, we rented guider to tell some story from this Lobang, that’s why it’s make the tour more interested. He said that Japan army sent some Java people -____- (why must come from Java) to work ‘Romusha’ and made some weapon secretly, so that the bukit tinggi citizen didn’t know about their existence. It can be suggested a thousand people died at this romusha, but until now we couldn’t find any died body, and didn’t know where ‘s Japanese throw away the body, maybe we can find them by Georadar method -____- Ok, next the most excellent view nature at this city is Ngarai Sianok. I feel this is a great,great, great most magnificent view ever! They have little river and surrounded by beautiful cliff (ngarai), huuuuhh and must be have interested geological history -____- ( All of this was because I just arrived from field camp, so I got “Demam Karsam”, and west Sumatera still have a lot of natural geology viewing) . And how about the culinary, The most recommended is Gulai Itiak lado ngarai sianok, Duck with green sauce, It is so hot, spicy and the most tasty food.

Kabupaten Agam

My family was just hunting Maninjau Lake at this Place. And you must counting the turn of the street, and the nominal is 44. That’s why people called Kelok 44. We tried to find Museum Buya Hamka but we couldn’t find it. And we found the other interesting for the substitute, Masjid Raya Bayur.

Food and Beverages

You must try Martabak mesir, Sate Padang, and special Durian. You know when you tried Durian in Sumatra land, you will feel durian Java is nothing than durian Sumatra =) , padang people eat it with lemang. And about the souvenir you must bring sanjai, there are some well-known brand, such as sanjai Christine hakim, sanjai nita, sanjai bang tojin =p nyam, nyam,nyam.

That’s enough, I think =)