WEST SUMATRA IN BRIEF
The provinsi of West Sumatra, home of the Minangkabau people, has been called one the Earth’s last remaining paradises. It’s no exaggeration. This provinsi is blessed with vibrant, age-old cultures and unparalleled scenic beauty.
With a wealth OF RICHES ITS NO WONDER West Sumatra has long been a popular destination for travelers A trip to the cool hill town of Bukittinggi, flanked by volcanoes and traditional Minangkabau villages whose way of life has barely changed in centuries, or a visit to Padang, West Sumatra’s thriving capital city, famous throughout Southeast Asia for its culinary delight and its proximity to a host of nature reserves, is a trip any visitor won’t soon forget. Come to paradise. Come to West Sumatra.
LAND AND SOCIETY
West Sumatra covers an area 42,229 square kilometres. Its population is 4,5 million, of which 85 percent are people of Minangkabau descent. Approximately 85 percent of West Sumatra’s resident live ouside the province’sc cities in villages, earning their living as farmers. Minangkabau culture is matrilineal. Property and wealth is passed down to a familiy’s daughter, no sons. The tribal inhabitant of the Mentawai Archipelago, a group of island about 100 miles off the coast of West Sumatra, cling to a traditional agrarian lifestyle that is totally different from that of the Minangkabau.
LANGUAGE
West Sumatra primarily speak Bahasa Minang, a dialect closely related to the national language of Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia, wich West Sumatrans are also fluent in. English widely spoken in West Sumatra’s cities and tourist centres.
CLIMATE
Staddling the Equator, West Sumatra has only two seqsos. A rainy season that falls rouhtly between March and October, and a dry season that occurs between April and bin the coateteral area and 0 to 24 degrees Celcius in the mountains.
TELECOMMUNICATION
Public phone that use phonecards or coins are available in many location. Also available in many location. Also available at telecommunication stall, and telecom office, are International Direct Dialing (IDD), facsimile, Telex, and telegrams service.
CULTURE
ARTS AND ARTISANS
Embroidery and weaving are the most noteworthly of all Minangkabau crafts. And the most outstanding examples of Minangkabau textile skill are found in songket, a fabric wom by both men and women tradional events like weddings and funerals. Finely executed examples of songket, made of interwoven silk and gold threading, can take several months to complete.
MUSIC AND DANCE-CULTURAL PERFORMANCES
Each Minangkabau village has own dance group. Dance in West Sumatra is an integral part of everyday life, an specific dances are performed at wedding and other social gatherings. Each village usually has its own dance group called randai who are invited to perform at weddings, to celebrate the harvest festival, and to mark important social events.
One of the most popular dances is the Tari Piring, where a skilled dancer dances over razor-sharp shards of brokens pottery without so much as breaking his skin.
Dances are accompanied by small orchestras consisting. Of the talempong, the puput, and the salung bamboo flutes. The Minangs have their own version of pencak silat, a fluid dance-like form of self defence which every boy traditional learns during his formative years.
THE MATRIARCHAL MINANGKABAU
The Minangkabau are famous for their hospitaly. They share their home, their foods and their culture with any visitors who show interes.
Predominantly muslim, the Minangkabau society adheres to a matriarchal system of inheritance and power; West Sumatra is one of the few places in the world where women hold way and wealth.
Land, ricefields, and houses are passed from mother to daughter or to a close female relative. The adapt, of custom, encourages democratic thinking, where differences are resolved by discussion, or musyawarah, until an agreement known as mufakat is reached. This applies as much to villages councils as to family elders.
It is a custom amongst Minangkabau men to leave their homeland to seek fortune in other parts of Indonesia (merantau). Because of this custom, Padang-style restaurants are spread across the whole archipelago-and event further abroud.
A traditional Minangkabau house usually has six points. In front are two bams, one to hold the family, the other to house guests, The front hall of the house is to receive guests, while living quarters for daughters and their families flank the sides.
As family grows, so does its house, with new hom-shaped additions sprouting to accommodate them. A traditional house will support perhaps five generations under one roof under the strict eye of the oldest female family members.
Men are quite often excluded from the household, with young boys and bachelors sleeping in the Islamic prayer house known as surau, while married men often spend the night in their wife’s houses before returning to their mother’s houses at dawn.
Men are still considered the family’s leader, representing them at the villige council. One of the most spectacular events to witness in West Sumatra is a Minangkabau wedding, where neighbours converge in traditional dress to celebrate the marriage.
THE BABY CALF
The Minang people have taken the nam “Minangkabau” meaning “Victorious Buffallo”. Hundreds of years ago the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra were threatened byan attack from a huge army from neighbouring Java Greatly outnumberd, the Minang elders convened a meeting and came up with a plan. They proposed a contest between two buffalo of armed combats between their armies. The Javanese agreed and produced an enormous buffalo from Java. The Minang brought out nothing more than a tiny calf. But the Javanese were unaware that the baby calf was half starving, and to its snout was lied a razor-sharp dagger. As the calf nuzzled the belly of the large buffalo, mistaking it for its mother, it gored and killed the giant beast. The Javanese withdrew, defeated. The West Sumatrans took the name Minangkabau, meaning victorious buffalo, from this incident.
ATTRACTION
SURFING
The waves that crash against the shores of the islands of West Sumatra’s Mentawai Archipelago are some of the most impressive in Asia. In the last 30 years Mentawai has become one of the most highly regarded surfing location in the world.
MANINJAU LAKE
A creater lake 1000 meters above sea level. Perhaps the most beautiful lake in Sumatra, Maninjau is far smaller and less developed than Lake Toba to the north. The road to the lake is famous for its 44 bends, each offerinf suoerb panoramas as it meanders to the water’s egde.
The lake is punctuated bay pretty Morish-style mosque. Doted about the lake are small, friedly villages. Mountain bikes for rent offer a perpect way explore the backroads of the area.
ISLAND HOPPINGS
West Sumatra has some beautiful offshore islands worth visiting. Among the best are.
CUBADAK ISLAND
A 30 minute boat ride from Tarusan villige, Cubadak is a pristine slice of tropical heaven with a glorious stretch of white sand beach. Tourist facilities include bungalow, restaurant, and water sport facilities.
PARAGLIDING
West Sumatra many mountainous and hilly areas make it an ideal place for paragliding.
Lawang in the Regency of Agam was chosen as the venue for an internatonal paragliding contest called “Fun and Flay”.
SIKUAI ISLAND
A 30 inute boat ride from Bungus Bay near Padang, this island boasts a gorgeous tropical garden with a private terrace overlooking the beach. There are accommodation, as well as a restaurant, a coffe shop, ajogging and cycling track, a swimming pool, and water sport facilities.
RAFTING
West Sumatra has exellent rivers for rafting at all skill levels, The pristine environmental beauty along the riverbanks.
GOLFING ANAI RESORT AND GOLF COURSE
The Anai Resort is located in a gorgeous natural setting roughly 550 meters above sea level, providing an atmosphere other rewsort envy. The Anai Resort is incorporating first class hotel facilities to complement its lush surroundings.
The Anai Resort’s rooms will comprise luxurious hotel suites, as well as cozy private bungalows and villas designed by Atelier 6 which reflect the unique and rich traditional of Minang culture and West Sumatra.
PLACE OF INTEREST
PADANG CITY
Padang, the provincial capital, is the international gateway to West Sumatra. The capital of West Sumatra, this thriving city and regency is located on a narrow plain between the Bukit Barisan chair of mountain and the Indian Ocean. It support two large universities and a number of cultural attraction, including virually limitless opportunities for sampling Minangkabau cuisine at its best Padang is the home of Nasi Padang, famus throught Southeast Asia for its delicious. Other highlights in and around Padang : Bungus Beach, Sikuai Island, Adytiawarman Museum, Padang Lama, Air Manis, Jambak, Padang Beach.
BUKITTINGGI CITY
Bukittinggi, wich means “high hill” in both Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Minang is the cultural centre of the Minangkabau people.
This regency supports a university a zoo, a museum of Minangkabau heritage, and an exellent market. True to its name, the city is located 930 meters above sea level, providing a markedly cooler climate than lowland Padang. Its pleasant breezes and friendly residents have attracted visitors for years. A Among the regency’s other attractions are: Jam gadang, Japanese Tunnels, Sianok Canyon, Fort De Kock, Bung Hatta Palace, Bundo kanduang Zoo Lawas.
PAYAKUMBUH CITY
Payakumbuh is located 124 kilometres from Padang and 35 kilometres from Bukittinggi. An important regcncy, market town, and Minangkabau cultural centre located 35 kilometres from Bukittinggi. Fine basketry is available here from a wide number of specialty vendors. Fifteen kilometers from Payakumbuh is harau canyon, a striking granitas fissure whose forests are home to tapirs, siamangs, and Sumatra tugers. Within the canyon is the Sarasah Bunta waterfall, a fine, 150 meter tall waterfall that makes a perpect spot for swimming or just relaxing.
PADANG PANJANG CITY
The town of Padang Panjang is located 73 kilometres north of Padang. This attractive town and regency is the first Minangkabau settlement that converted to Islam. Padang panjang is known as a centre os Islamic study and refered to as “Veranda of Mecca”. There is also a well known institute of Minagkabau dance and music in Padang Panjang. An attractive Minang palace lies just up the road to Bukittinggi.
SOLOK CITY
Solok is located 65 kilometres east of Padang. Located on the Trans Sumatra Highway, the regency of Solok is an exellent place to view Minangkabau architecture there are countless homes built in traditional Minangkabau style here, with their exotic built hom shaped sloping roofs and colorful exterior wood carvings. Near the town of Solok are the twin lakes of Danau Diatas and danau Dibawah. These lakes, situated high in the mountains, are located one kilomtres apart and make a perpfect spot for hiking, camping, or viewing the surrounding terraced rice paddies. Also nearby is lake Singkarak, an ideal place for water sport served by numerous hotels and restaurants, and Belibis and the surrounding terrced rice paddies.
TANAH DATAR REGENCY
The regency of batusangkar, whose capital Batusangkar is located about 96 kilometres from Padang, is a famous centre of Minang culture Batusangkar, the principal city of the Tanah Datar Regency, is situated on a cool, upland palteu surrounded by verdant rice fields and mountains. It is known as one of the cradles of Minanglabau civilization. Pagaruyung, a restored sultan’s palace, lies five kilometers from the town’s centre. The nearby village are perpect places to partake of rura Minangkabau lofe. Here, amidst winding country roads, cinnamon groves, and ancientMinagkabau homes, some built over 300 years ago, life moves at a blissfully slow pace.
AGAM REGENCY
Lake maninjau, located an hour from Bukittinggi within Agam regency, is one of the most beautiful sights in West Sumatra. Lake Maninjau, located an hour from Bukittinggi within Agam regency, is ahuge, water-filled volcanic crater surrounded by steep 600-metre-high walls and thick forest. Underwater springs make the lake’s water deliciously warm. Opportunities for water sports, including water skiing canoening, and fishing, abound. The verdant landscape that presses against the lake is perfect for nature rambles and cycling. The cultural focal point of Lake Maninjau is Maninjau village, where visitors will find a wide range of hotels, guest houses, and restaurants. Three kilomtres away is Bayur, a picturesque village with Dutch colonial architecture. Another village of note along the shore of Lake Maninjau is Puncak Lawang, internationally known for its para gliding opportunities.
LIMAPULUHKOTA REGENCY
The 50 Kota regency is home to ancient stone megaliths believed to have been erected by early Minangkabau people. This green regency, located in the eastem part of West Sumatra, is famed as a place where batu merjan, ancient stone megaliths believe to have been erected by early Minangkabau people, can be found. The picturesque village of Kubabg Andaleh is known for its slkilled basket weavens; their crafts are for sale in numerous local shops. Not far from Kubang Andaleh is the Harau Valley, a protected nature reserve where tigers, wild boars, tapirs, and a spectrum of tropical birds can be viewed. The valley itself is flanked by steep, rocky embankments and is home to Akar berayub waterfall, a cool, lush place for whiling away an afternoon.
PADANGPARIAMAN REGENCY The town of pariaman, hub of the Padang pariaman Regency, is located an hour north of the city of Padang. Traditional bendi, the clip-clopping horse carts favored by Minangkabau residents as opposed to noisy pediacabs, ply the town’s pleasant streets pariaman regency is home to a number of important Minangkabau festivals, including the tabuik Feast, held during the first ten days Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. The climax of the festival occurs during its ninth day, when an immense bouraq (an ornately concytucted horselike symbolic animal) is dramatically tossed into the Indian Ocean. Anai Resrt, an hour from pariaman, supports a luxury hotels and an international-class golf course. Designed by the golf-cours architectural team of Thomson, Wolveridge, and Perret, the challenging cours is surround by alush, jungle landscape.
PESISIR SELATAN REGENCY
The regency of Pesisir Selatan, whose capital is Painan, is located about 77 kilontres south of Padang. Among its many temptations are tropical island and quiet white-sand beachs, offers numerous opportunities for exploring the stunning landscapes of West Sumatra. Of particular interest is a visit to Cubadak island. Located offshore, a half-hour boat ride from the mainland village of Tarusan, the island is blanketed in rain forest, while its warm surrounding waters are bursting with colorful coral reefs. A unique bridge made entirely of the roots of the bayan tree can be found in the nearby subdistric of Bayang. Those interested in little more than lazing about on a palm-fringed, white-sand beach will find that Carocok Beach, five kilomtres south of the rown of painan, is just what the doctor ordered.
SOLOK REGENCY
The Solok regenc, whose capital is Koto baru, is located 60 kilomtres from padang. The regency is famous as being home to four of West Sumatra’s most important lakes, including Diatas, Dibawah, talang, and Singkarak. The eegency is known as “beauty Solok” in the Minang dialect not only because of its physical beauty but because of its reputation for hospitality.
The Solok regency boats a wide range of accommodation, particularly around Lakes Singkarak, Diatas, and Dibawah, and the villages of Alahan Panjang and Muara Labuh. The regency is also celebrated for its fine Minang cuisine the excellent Sari Manggis restaurant in Nagari Guguk is particulary well loved. Among other highlights.
The huge rumah gadang (traditional house) located at Nagari Cupak, Gunung Talang district, built in the honor of the Penghulu Suku of Solok.
The Turkish-style mosque in tanjung Bingkuang, Kubung District, built in 1915.
Lakes Diatas and Danau Dibawah, beautiful twin lakes located about 54 kilometres from Padang, Lake Talang, in the Lembang Jaya District at 1700 metres, a gorgeous sight flanked by leafly marquise trees. Lake Singkarak, in X Koto Singkarak District and 1229 square kilometres in size, is the largest lake in West Sumatra, Mt. Merah Putih, located at Nagari Sulitr Air, X Koto Diatas District. At the top of this mountain is a small lake with clear water. In 1992 the resident of Sulit Air constructed stairway with a thousand steps to reach the summit. Lukah Gilo, a unique magic-based form of dancing at the village of Nagari Muara Panas. The beautiful tea plantation of Mt. Talang managed by PT. Perkebunan Nusantara VI Danau Kembar.
SAWAHLUNTO SIJUNJUNG REGENCY
A Mountainous regency located four hours from Padang. White-water rafting enthusiasts will discover that the sport reigns supreme in the regency of Sawahlunto-Sijunjung. The most impressive of numerous rafting rivers is Kuantan River, which flows from the village of Muara Sijunjung into the neighboring province of Riau. Along this route are anumber of exciting rapids that range from level IV to V technical grade. The surrounding jungle landscapes, with campgrounds available for overnight stays, are unforgettably pristine.
MENTAWAI ISLAND REGENCY
The regency of Mentawai Islands has Tua pejat Sipora as its capital, located 135 kilometres from padang and can be accessed by in about six to 10 hours.
Lovers of adventure won’t be disappointed by a trip to the regency of the Mentawai Island, a small archipelago off the coast of West Sumatra consisting of the island of Siberut, Sipora, Pagai Utara and Pagai Selatan. Of these, Siberut Island is perhaps the most remarkable. Its vast nature reserve, SiberutNational park, home to a wide range of native flora and fauna, is one of the most impressive in Indonesia. The indigenous tribal inhabitants of Siberut Orang Mentawai are welcoming to visitors. Cut off from mainland.
Minangkabau culture, they developed an animistic, simple way of life deeply connected to the rhythms of nature-an almost Stone Age existence. Expeditions to visit Siberut Island and its people are easy to arrange, either independently or with a tour group. Those interested inmaking a quick visit from Padang on Sunday which stops at all four Mentawai islands before returning in the evening.
PASAMAN EGENCY
The Pasaman eregency, whose capital is Lubuk Sikaping, is located 188 kilometres from padang. The village of Bonjol in Pasaman regency mark the Equator’s location in West Sumatra. At the precise sight is an impressive global sculpture. Nearby are the remnants of a bulwark built in the 19th century bt Tuanku Imam Bonjol, the rebel leader in the Padri War against the Dutch. Also within this rgency is the magnificent Rimbo Panti wildife reserve, home to black panthers, tigers, tapir, and a wide range of indigenous wildlife.
