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Category: West Sumatra

  • Fort de Kock and Padri War

    I was still staring at Bung Hatta Birth House from sidewalk of Soekarno Hatta Street, not willing to leave it, but I kept thinking about how a work team built a replica of that house precisely because the original house had collapsed in 1962 ago. Stepping back towards the direction which I originally came, I…

  • Ontel bicycle in Pavilion of Bung Hatta Birthplace Museum

    The combination of yellow, blue and orange was slightly tarnished by peeling of Banto Trade Center wall paint. But that wasn’t the focus, Ramlan Nurmatias and Joko Widodo’s handshake had stunned me. It seems that the Mayor and the number one person of my country have agreed on laying the first stone of Ateh Market…

  • Janjang Ampek Puluah, Integration Manifestation in Colonial Era

    Moving from Bung Hatta Proclamator Monument Park, I moved down along Istana Street, across Plaza Bukittinggi, greeting Gadang Clock Tower, treading on Minangkabau Street and then entering Cindua Mato Street. A step later, I entered Pasar Atas. Most of stalls were still closed because I was too early to visited it. There was nothing I…

  • Bung Hatta Proclamator Monument Park and Its Unpretentious Story

    One hour I have peeled heroic story in Unknown Hero Monument. Now I would study other history in a different park. It’s precisely east across of that dragon-shaped black monument. Only need to cross for a moment on Istana Street. From a signboard display at park front gate, apparently West Sumatra was preparing to hold…

  • Opposing Colonial Tax in Version of Unknown Heroes Monument

    There was only Noah who snoring flounder due to residual effects of drunk last night at De Kock Cafe’s 1st floor. I tried to remain quiet to bath under shower at edge of room. Even until I was ready to wander, his snoring didn’t change at all. Cafe’s 1st floor remained wide open without a…

  • Following Sermon with Backpacker Style in Bukittinggi Grand Mosque.

    I instantly realized that I hadn’t fulfilled yet Maghrib Prayer. While time had shown at 19:10 hours and prayer sounds had disappeared since earlier. Then time forced me to immediately move from Bukittinggi Plaza courtyard. Walking through Cinduo Mato Street, I didn’t find a crowd like I imagined. Many shops on either side of road…

  • Staying at De Kock Hotel, Hunting the Gadang Clock Tower

    Driver: “Donny, just get off here, okay? This car will turn to right, then car will run further away from downtown“. Me: “Oh Okay, Uda. No problem for me“ I was lowered by Annanta Travel on Veteran Street, I sat for a moment and stretched muscle stiffness after sitting in the back seat for eight…

  • 16 Tourist Attractions in Bukittinggi

    Walking through Veteran Street, I slowly approached De Kock Hotel to check-in. Cool and peaceful is an image in my head about Bukittinggi when I arrived. 1. Limpapeh Bridge Halfway to hotel, I was fascinated by a suspension bridge. It is the Limpapeh Bridge which stretches over Ahmad Yani Street. It was built in 1992…

  • Annanta Travel from Pekanbaru to Bukittinggi

    The last evening in Pekanbaru became a nostalgic session in durian aroma and a savory portion of fried Malon (Manuk Londo-a type of quail) which looked plump on a plate. This was a meeting which I deliberately prepared with a durian businessman that I didn’t know how long we didn’t meet, before leaving Pekanbaru tomorrow.…