P A D A N G

P A D A N G   Minangkabau, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Padang, is the capital of the province of West Sumatra in Indonesia. It is the largest city on the western coast of Sumatra. Before Indonesia’s independence, Padang was one of the major cities in the Dutch East Indies and nowadays the fifth largest city in Sumatra behind Medan, Batam, Palembang and Pekanbaru.

Padang is one of the cleanest big cities in Indonesia. Up to 2009, Padang has received the “Adipura” (cleanest and greenest city) award in the category of large city 17 times.

One of the reason we visited Padang because of the Pacu Jawi (Bull Racing)

Here is our itinerary

DAY 1.   Singapore – Batam – Padang – Ngarai Sianok – Bukittinggi

• Depart with Batamfast earliest ferry 07:40am from Habourfront center – Batam center  48SGD (two way included tax)
• Arrived at Batam center  07: 40am (Indonesia is 1hour behind)
• Continue taxi from Batam center to Hang Nadim airport  will cost about Rp. 100.000 and take 30min to arrive
• 10:10 am Flight depart from Batam to Padang by.Citilink   Rp.780.000 ( for 2 ways per person)

Citilink is a subsidiary of Indonesia’s flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, serving the segment of low budget.

• 11:20 Arrived at Minangkabau International airport, Padang.

Padang view from the top

Meet the driver Mr. Yul  from www.dreamlandholiday.com .

Total cost for our trip 2D1N  included car + driver + petrol + driver’s meal + 1N driver’s accommodation is Rp. 1.600.000 + Tips.

• 12:00 From airport we continue to Having a Lunch at Lamun Ombak

Lamun Ombak is famous for Minang cusine and one of the legendary culinary in Padang and one of the most famous restaurant, Which is also visited by one of Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. This restaurant located near the airport. A few menu worth to try is their Gulai ayam, ayam pop, rendang, dendeng balado, jumbo prawn and many more! (but for local, they prefer Lamun Ombak at city branch because it’s more authentic)

They will serve all the dishes but you only pay for what you eat, it’s count per plate.

It’s very clean and cozy

• 13:00 Drive to Ngarai Sianok ( at Bukittinggi, 2.5hours drive)

On the way to Ngarai Sianok we also pass by Anai waterfall.

Stop by Mak Syukur Sate Padang, this is also one of the legendary culinary in Padang. This restaurant is very popular to tourist and traveller passing Padang Panjang City. Driving from Padang it is after Lembah Anai on the left side.  This is one of the BEST sate Padang, a MUST visit if you are a sate padang lover.

 

• 04:00pm Arrived at Bukittinggi and check in to Novotel hotel (113sgd Per night per room)

The hotel interior design is superb and outstanding, the room is perfectly clean and the staff is very proffesional and nice. Location of the hotel is in the center of the town, walking distance to jam gadang, walking distance to Ngarai Sianok,  restaurant food is good and with affordable price. For breakfast is included with the room price and a lot of variaties.

 

Before check in to hotel, we  visit one restaurant nearby hotel , it’s call “ Itiak Lado Mudo”. And again…this Is one of legendary culinary in Bukittinggi. They famous for Itiak (duck), the meat is very tender and full of spice and chilli , we take away two packet of rice complete with duck, it cost Rp.40.000 each, and this is the Most delicious meal we had for today , the chilli is REAL killer and super nice.( please go there before 5pm, as they will sold out very fast)

After check in, we walk to Jam Gadang just next to hotel.

Jam Gadang is a clocktower and major landmark of the city of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located in the centre of the city, near the main market, Pasar Atas, and is a tourist attraction.

• 06:00pm Visit Ngarai Sianok for sunset

Ngarai Sianok also known as Sianok Grand Canyon is arguably the most beautiful scenery among West Sumatra’s many scenic sites, to be enjoyed particularly at sunrise or sunset. Sianok canyon is also often referred to as the “Dream Land of Sumatra ‘ has a fascinating natural scenery. The air is so cool. Like a velvet blanket of green surrounded by beautiful hills, this is the appearance of this beautiful valley when viewed from above. It’s 3 hours from Padang and 10 min from Bukittinggi.

We visit the beautiful Ngarai Sianok, just 3min from Novotel using car. Its awesome view, but too bad we only arrived 5min before it started to rain, but luckily we got a nice shoot before its rain.

 

 

DAY 2.  Bukittinggi – Lembah Harau – Kelok 9 – Pagaruyung Palace – Pacu Jawi – Padang

• 06:00 am  Depart from Hotel to Lembah Harau (1.5hours drive)

Lembah Harau or Harau Valley is sometimes known as the Yosemite of Indonesia.

On our visit, it’s very cloudy and start to drizzling

 

• 08:30 From Lembah Harau to jembatan Kelok 9 (20min)

Jembatan Kelok 9 is a highway connecting between West Sumatera and Province of Riau, it’s the biggest fly over project in West Sumatera, the longest bridge in West Sumatera.

Again…it’s VERY heavy rain

• 09:15 am From kelok 9 drive to Pagaruyung Palace (2hrs driving)

Pagaruyung Palace is the most famous and important socio-historical object of interest in Tanah Datar is revealed from the name, this palace is in Pagaruyung of Tanjung Emas subdistrict, the city of Batusangkar, about 5 kilometers from the downtown of Batusangkar city. Locals call the palace Istano Baso, the Great Palace.

Istana Silinduang Bulan (it’s very near to Pagaruyung Palace)

 

• 11.45am From Pagaruyung Palace to Tanah Datar for Pacu Jawi ( 20mins drive)

Pacu Jawi, the cow race in West Sumatra, taking place in the Tanah Datar regency.

The festival of cow racing celebrates the end of rice harvesting season by the Minangkabau people in West Sumatra, Indonesia.

While the race has become part of Indonesian culture, the main purpose of the Pacu Jawi is for sellers to exhibit the strength of their cows to potential buyers. And competitors head off across the paddy fields attached to pairs of animals.

A good race performance can lead to generating a higher price for those farmers that plan to sell their breeding stock.

A regular cow that’s bred for daily consumption costs about S$500 – S$700. But a Pacu Jawi racing cow can cost at least twice the regular cow. There are even racing cows that can cost up to S$3000 to S$4000!

The cows that run the fastest and straight till the finishing line are the winners. With their hands busy holding on tight, jockeys encourage their steeds to go faster by biting their tails.

After each run the cows are cleaned and herded into a display pen for the buyers to make their choice.

One of the Jockey

View of the location

One of the Warung (Canteen)

We are too hungry and its raining, so we order plain rice with telor balado. IT’S SOOOOOO DELICIOUS!

• 14:00 Tanah Datar to Padang (3-4hrs Drive)

Before check in to hotel, we are visiting Christine Hakim, one of the most famous snack brand in Padang.

• 18:00 Check in at Ibis Hotel (54SGD per room per night)

Ibis have a very beautiful view, one side is seaview and the other side is facing Beautiful Bukit Barisan.

At the Lobby

The Room

Toileteries

Bukit Barisan View from the Restaurant, it’s amazing for sunrise

View from lift aisle

• 19:30pm Having Dinner just opposite the hotel

At Ikan bakar Pak Tri’s, is also one of the famous ikan bakar at Padang.

Grilled fish with red sauce is the local authentic dish.

 

DAY 3. Padang – Batam – Singapore

• Ganti Nan Lamo (ice durian)

This is most famous ice durian in Padang since 1960, But when we tried..it’s a big disappointment, yes it’s from real Durian but not fresh and put too much sugar and the chocolate and other ingredient is too artificial.

We croos the street, and found one noodle stall is very crowded, here is what we order , Sate padang and bakmi ayam.

 

This is the lunch we had with our local friend before going back to Singapore, It’s delicious!

 

Here is the list of famous food in Padang and Bukittinggi

• Lamun Ombak (Nasi Padang) – Padang
• Ganti Nan Lamo (Ice Durian) – Padang
• Restaurant Soto Garuda – Padang
• Pondok Baselo Lubuk Idai (Grilled Seafood) – Padang
• Keripik Balado Christine Hakim – Padang
• Sate Padang Mak Syukur (Padang otw Bukittinggi)
• Itiak Lado Mudo (Bukittinggi)
• Nasi Kapau Uni Lis (Bukittinggi)
• Nasi Kapau Uni Cah (Bukittinggi)

 

Total Expenses  (287SGD per person)

*Ferry Singapore-Batam-Singapore $48

*Air ticket Citilink Batam-Padang-Batam $80

*Car Rental all in(driver+fuel+driver meal & accommodation) for 2D1N $160/3 = $53

*Bukittinggi Novotel Hotel $113/3 = $38

*Ibis Hotel Padang $54/3 = $18

*Meal for 3days+snack = $50