Annanta Travel

Singgah di De Kock Hotel, Berburu ke Jam Gadang

27 March 202124 August 2021travelingpersecond

Pengemudi: “Don, turun di sini saja ya. Mobil mau ambil arah kanan, nanti tambah jauh”.

Aku: “Oh Okay, Uda. Sini aja gapapa”.

Diturunkan Annanta Travel di Jalan Veteran, aku sejenak duduk meregangkan kekakuan otot setelah duduk di jok belakang selama 8 jam. Patung putih Tuanku Imam Bonjol diatas kudanya menjadi pemandangan pertama yang menjamu kedatanganku di Bukittinggi. Pemimpin Perang Paderi itu menebar berkharisma, gagah tanpa suara.

Pertigaan Jalan Veteran, Jalan Pemuda (kiri) dan Jalan Ahmad Yani (kanan).

Setelah dua hari tersiram panas menyengat di Pekanbaru, kini aku menikmati sejuknya udara Bukittinggi. Kini aku leluasa berlama-lama mengarahkan kameraku kemanapun tanpa sengatan surya. Aku memang harus sesekali berhenti karena kontur jalanan kota yang naik turun, membuatku terengah-engah dengan beban backpack di punggung.

Memasuki Jalan Teuku Umar yang mulai menurun.

Dari kejauhan, aku terus bertatapan dengan gadis muda berambut pirang yang duduk menikmati sore di atas moge. Yang kuprediksi adalah dia tepat berada di depan De Kock Hotel tempatku menginap.

Benar adanya, tiba tepat dimana moge itu terparkir, aku dihadapkan pada lobby hotel yang berwujud sebuah cafe, perempuan muda itu menyusul dan bergegas menuju meja resepsionis. Sepertinya dia adalah staff hotel yang bertugas sore itu.

Aku akan tidur lantai dua dormitory sederhana itu.

Aku: “Hi. Were you in Samosir four days ago?, I think that we stayed at a similar hotel, Bagus Bay Homestay”.

Noah: “Oh really? Yes, I was in Samosir four days ago”.

Aku: “I’m Donny. I am an Indonesian traveler. What is your name?”.

Noah: “I’m Noah form California”.

Aku: “Are you on vacation, No? What do you do in America?”.

Noah: “Yes, I’m on vacation. I am an engineer at oil company. What is your job in Indonesia? “.

Aku: “Marketing”.

Noah: “What marketing?”.

Aku: “I work in field, meet customers, and sell products”.

Noah: “Oh, you aren’t marketing. You are a sales. How about your income? Good income? I work with good income but with high risk in America … hahahaha”.

Aku:” Yes, of course, I’m a salesman. I got a lot of money from my work”.

Itulah Noah, kenalan baruku di Bukittinggi. Kebetulan kita hanya berdua yang menghuni ruang dormitory dengan lima tempat tidur tunggal itu.

—-****—-

Aku duduk di lobby, sebotol Coca Cola berukuran sedang berhasil membekukan keringat setelah berjalan sejauh satu kilometer. Sore itu aku berniat menyambangi Jam Gadang yang hanya berjarak setengah kilometer di barat laut hotel.

Sekitar pukul 17:30, aku mulai beranjak dengan mejinjing kamera menuju kesana. Aku memilih berjalan kaki melewati Jalan Yos Sudarso yang cenderung datar dan menurun di Jalan Istana.

Tepat di seberang Novotel adalah Plaza Bukittinggi. Aku hanya berdiri terdiam di pelataran plaza untuk menikmati keelokan Jam Gadang. Taman Sabai Nun Aluih yang berada di bawah menara jam itu tertutup lembarang seng proyek dengan rapat. Sedang ada renovasi taman rupanya.

Jam berusia 96 tahun yang didedikasikan untuk sekretaris Fort de Kock (Nama lama Bukittinggi).

Sesuai namanya “Gadang” yang dalam bahasa Minang berarti besar, menara jam ini berketinggian dua puluh enam meter dengan empat jam kembar berusia 128 tahun yang didatangkan langsung dari Rotterdam melalui Teluk Bayur.

Digerakkan mesin Brixlion yang kembarannya ada di Big Ben, London.

Di arsiteki oleh Radjo Mangkuto, Jam Gadang dibuat dengan 4 tingkatan. Tingkat bawah merupakan ruangan petugas, tingkat kedua berisi bandul pemberat jam. Mesin jam ditempatkan di tingkat ketiga dan tingkat paling atas sebagai puncak menara dimana lonceng jam ditempatkan.

Bahagia rasanya, bisa melihat Jam Gadang yang sedari kecil, aku hanya mengenalnya lewat buku pelajaran Sekolah Dasar.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Maestro Travel from Bukittinggi to Padang

9 August 20209 August 2020travelingpersecond

It’s so easy to order travel and bus services in Sumatra Island. Pick up the phone, mention the destination, convey the departure time then ask what time to get ready at travel or bus office!….No need to pay in advance….Then you will arrive at your destination if you aren’t late to come to their office.

INTRA Bus from Pematang Siantar to Pekanbaru….

Travel Annanta from Pekanbaru to Bukittinggi….

Now, an easy procedure was repeated for Maestro Travel from Bukittinggi to Padang….

—-****—-

The last day in Bukittinggi or if calculated from the beginning of my journey is my sixth day in Sumatra land, I recounted my journey with Maestro Travel when I began to phone call a woman front office staff at eight in the morning on departure day.

“You will sit in the back seat and please come half an hour before departure time, Uda (Uda is designation for brother in West Sumatra). Prepare a fare for about USD 3! “, She simply said.

—-****—-

I rushed to De Kock Hotel after my last visitation in Panorama Park. No time to took a shower again, I thought only one, tonight I would arrive in Jakarta and would soak with warm water in my bucket at home ….As long as I want….Hahaha.

Black Vixion (Vixion is brand name of Yamaha motorbike in Indonesia) picked me up on hotel terrace then drove fast through density of Sudirman Street to Maestro Travel office, three kilometers away. In fifteen minutes I arrived. Entering the office, I was greeted by a veiled young woman, I handed over the fare and held a ticket to Padang.

There were still twenty minutes left before travel car arrived. According to the front office staff, travel car were still driving around to picking up passengers at their respective homes. I just decided to go to a small restaurant around the office and order a serving of “Pecel Ayam” (Pecel Ayam is rice with fried chicken and chili sauce) and a glass of water. This time I ate it very quickly, like a snake swallowing a hedgehog….Uppsss.

I arrived back at travel office in situation that travel car was ready and all passengers seemed to be looking towards me. Apparently I was awaited by all the passengers, I hope they weren’t upset.

Middle seat and next to the driver were occupied by a small family package. Husband and wife, their little daughter and husband’s mother-in-law. While I sat in back seat with a Slovak named Boris. A young postman, bald-headed, thin-bodied and a hobby looking for silence.

In back seat we talked all the way. The story began with impression of his journey in Kazakhstan where no one bothered him when he went up the mountain alone. Then it continues on to his habit that he will feel dizzy when working in an office, therefore he chose to be a postman in Slovakia.

“Why is this car passing a small road like this? Can we arrive at the airport on time?”, he said to me.

“I think that driver is trying to get through the faster road, Boris …. Hahaha”, I answered.

“If he fails, It’s not funny….Not funny”, he was panicked. Indeed, his flight schedule was only one hour from estimated time of arrival which was said by Google Maps on my smartphone.

I tried to distract by continuing to talk. I didn’t know how the begining theme, so we could talk about Indonesian 0 km point in Sabang, Ijen Crater, Probolinggo, Lazada e-commerce, and secondhand iPhones which he thought it was cheap if purchased in Indonesia. One more thing, we discussed about direct flights from Manado to Manila. Until family head who sat next to the driver explained to Boris that that flight didn’t exist.

I passed a waterfall at the edge of road, I knew it was “Lembah Anai” Waterfall. That means I was forty kilometers from Padang City. Boris asked me to stopping the driver and allowed him to buy some mineral water, expensive if he had to buy it at airport. I thought it didn’t need to stop, I have some supply of bottled mineral water. It was result of collected it from Sri Indrayani Hotel in Pekanbaru, Annanta Travel and De Kock Hotel in Bukittinggi. I gave him two bottles. “I really appreciate you, Donny … very much appreciate,” he said while patting my arm.

That was my farewell to him, he must get off at Minangkabau International Airport and heading to Malang. That family package would go to Bandung. While I would head to Padang downtown to explore it for four hours, considering I would back to Jakarta at eight o’clock at night.

Staying at De Kock Hotel, Hunting the Gadang Clock Tower

26 June 202026 June 2020travelingpersecond

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 hours. The white statue of Tuanku Imam Bonjol on his horse became the first sight which entertained my arrival in Bukittinggi. The “Paderi War” Leader spreaded charisma, valiantly without sound.

T-junction of Veteran Street, Pemuda Street (left) and Ahmad Yani Street (right).

After two days felt scalding heat in Pekanbaru, now I enjoyed Bukittinggi’s cool air. Now I was free to direct my camera to every where without sun sting. I had to occasionally stop because city contours which are up and down, making me gasped for breath with backpack’s burden on my back.

Entering Teuku Umar Street, which began to decline.

From a distance, I continued to look each other with a young blond girl who was sitting to enjoying the afternoon on big motorcycle. I predicted that she was precisely sitting in front of De Kock Hotel where I would stay in it.

It was true, arrived right at the big motorcycle was parked, I was confronted to hotel lobby in the form of a cafe, then young girl followed me and hurried to reception desk. It seemed like she was a hotel staff on duty that afternoon.

I would sleep on second floor of that simple dormitory.

Me: “Hi. Were you in Samosir four days ago?, I think that we stayed at a similar hotel, Bagus Bay Homestay”.

Noah: “Oh really? Yes, I was in Samosir four days ago”.

Me: “I’m Donny. I am an Indonesian traveler. What is your name?”.

Noah: “I’m Noah form California”.

Me: “Are you on vacation, No? What do you do in America?”.

Noah: “Yes, I’m on vacation. I am an engineer at oil company. What is your job in Indonesia? “.

Me: “Marketing”.

Noah: “What marketing?”.

Me: “I work in field, meet customers, and sell products”.

Noah: “Oh, you aren’t marketing. You are a sales. How about your income? Good income? I work with good income but with high risk in America … hahahaha”.

Me:” Yes, of course, I’m a salesman. I got a lot of money from my work”.

That was Noah, my new friend in Bukittinggi. Incidentally we were the only two who staying in the dormitory room with five single beds.

—-****—-

I sat in the lobby, a medium-sized bottle of Coca Cola managed to freeze my sweat after walking in a kilometer. That afternoon I intend to visit Gadang Clock Tower which is only half a kilometer to northwest of hotel.

Around 17:30 hours, I started to moving and carrying camera towards Gadang Clock Tower. I chose to walk through Yos Sudarso Street which tends to be flat and then descending on Istana Street.

Directly across from Novotel is Bukittinggi Plaza. I just quietly stood in mall courtyard to enjoy the beauty of Gadang Clock Tower. Sabai Nun Aluih Park, which was under the clock tower, was covered with a tight project’ iron sheeting. Apparently, There was park renovation.

96-years-old clock dedicated to secretary of Fort de Kock (old name of Bukittinggi).

As its name “Gadang” which in Minang language means “Large”, this clock tower is twenty-six meters in high with four 128-years-old twin clocks which was directly brought from Rotterdam via Bayur Port.

Operated by a Brixlion engine whose its twin is in Big Ben, London.

Was designed by Radjo Mangkuto, Gadang Clock Tower was made with 4 levels. The lowest level is the officer’s room, second level contains a clock’s ballast pendulum. Clock is placed on third level and the uppest level is tower top where clock’s bell are placed.

I was happy, being able to see Gadang Clock Tower which since I was a little boy, I only knew it through my elementary school textbook.

Annanta Travel from Pekanbaru to Bukittinggi

18 June 20205 June 2020travelingpersecond

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.

—-****—-

Morning came together with chewing toast from Ganda Bakery, which remained since my arrival in Madani City (other name of Pekanbaru), tasteless but still quite delicious to eat.

Smartphone ring which I was waiting for finally arrived.

“Is this Donny?“, he shortly said.

“Annanta Travel, Sir?“, I briefly replied and asked.

“Yes, Don. What is an easy landmark to find the hotel?”, he asked in detail.

Quickly reflex, I ran to reception desk and handed my smartphone to the staff on duty. Somehow the staff explained to driver. As I understood, they spoke in Minang language.

Ten minutes later, a black Kijang (Toyota’s varian) which labeled “ANNANTA” stopped its engine roar in Sri Indrayani Hotel courtyard. Saying thanks to reception staff, I left the lobby and entered travel car in right rear seat.

*Snack and mineral water provided by travel agency.*

“Do you understand Javanese language, Uda (mention for brother in West Sumatra)?“, I was curious because driver played Didi Kempot’s song which stored on his blue flashdisk.

“Ah, I don’t really understand, Donny. Just tunable to listen it“, he was laughing.

“Ha ha ha“, I laughed off.

I became the first passenger who he picked up. I just enjoyed every step on gas pedal into narrow alleys and streets in some housing complexs to pick up five other passengers. On second taking, I finally found my seat couple, a smiling grandmother who only could speak Minang language. Meanwhile, the last passenger was a stocky young man who seated in the front seat next to driver.

222 km journey would be taken in 7 hours interval and through the famous Kampar River. Pekanbaru-Bangkinang highway was like a street race track like Monaco Circuit. Annanta Travel was so swiftly moving among heavy and slow-goods trucks. Grandmother who sat next to me only occasionally smiled to face me while enjoying this single race.

Entering Payakumbuh City, I kept awake. Didn’t want to lose a brief moment when passing a scenic spot. It was none other than Kelok Sembilan. I was so fascinated when I crossed this overpass, along 2.5 km and as high as 58 meters. Tall, dashing and charming to everyone who passes it.

Fascinated when Marshall Sastra and David John Schaap peeled it off on a Indonesian TV program “My Trip My Adventure”.

Overland journey for USD 11.8 passed 4 Regencies (Kampar, Rokan Hulu, Lima Puluh Kota and Tanah Datar) and 3 Cities (Pekanbaru, Payakumbuh and Bukittinggi) and leaved a natural beauty which is tempting to my eyes.

A trip which only provided a lunch break. This morning toast wasn’t longer able to withstand hunger, even wind had acquired my stomach. That afternoon, Minang’s typical black rendang (West Sumatra’s typical meat with spices) became my dining companion. This was the first time I felt rendang in its origin land.

Annanta Travel, “The Fast” from Sumatra.

Uwan Labuak Bangku Restaurant in Lima Puluh Kota Regency.

Rain began to fall when the trip entered Bukittinggi City through Tanah Datar District. I started to get ready to got off, because Annanta Travel have last destination in Padang. I was dropped off at Veteran Street, right at T-junction with Tuanku Imam Bonjol (Indonesian national hero) Monument in the middle.

Towards dark, I must head to De Kock Hotel.

Bus INTRA from Pematang Siantar to Pekanbaru

2 July 20192 July 2019travelingpersecond

I left Lake Toba by a taxi (in Jakarta, it may be called “omprengan”.…(using minibus to transport passengers) for USD 3 with 1 hour 50 minutes travel time. It finally led me to visit a new city … yes, Pematang Siantar. The city that I never think to visit it.

The taxi dropped me off in Parluasan area, an area which famous as hoodlums producer in Indonesia. Horrific, but for me this was an extraordinary mental experience.

The driver drove me right across INTRA bus office on Sisingamangaraja street. A INTRA bus parked to upload passengers makes it was easy for me to make sure that I didn’t get it wrong.

Hurrying up and heading to ticket sales counter then paid for my ticket which was ordered by phone call a day before. Fearing if my order didn’t recorded and I could miss Pekanbaru in next day.

Buy a ticket here !….You better order at least a day before departing

Thank to God, my name was in list and I gave USD 17,5 to exchange with a sheet of ticket to Pekanbaru … Yes, welcome Pekanbaru.

Sitting in a waiting room, my gaze was fixed on my watch and INTRA office yard … Never seen when He arrived, from right end of bus office yard He shouted for me. Happy, meet old friend.

His name is Andy Erwin, we met on Hop On Hop Off (HoHo) bus in Kuala Lumpur in 2013. Since it, we have been friend and I never thought that I could stop by to his home….an umpteenth surprise on my journey.

Waiting for four hours wasn’t a pleasant thing, it would be nice to go around city. Incidentally, Erwin was ready to take me around by his motorbike. I won’t discuss what I got for 4 hours journey in the city, I’d better tell it in another article.

After returning from my exploration in city which famous for its “war veteran bentor” (bentor is public transportation in Pematang Siantar which using old Harley Davidson) , I went back to INTRA bus office and was ready for departing to Pekanbaru. Thanks Erwin for brought me to sightseeing Pematang Siantar.

Me and Erwin.

Slowly I started to get in INTRA Bus. It is embedded in my mindset that I must ready to ride this land roller coaster all night. There is a lot of info which I have gotten in internet that this “running box” will run very fast through roads towards Riau. Indeed, drivers from Sumatra are very well known for their high adrenaline in driving cars or buses. I’ll also tell you later when I couldn’t sleep when riding ANNANTA travel from Pekanbaru to Bukittinggi which is just as crazy in its speed.

That soft seats that I will occupy for 14 hours to travel about 600 km towards Pekanbaru.

I said that this bus is very comfortable, as comfortable as Jakarta to Solo buses (Jakarta is capital city of Indonesia, Solo is my hometown in Central Java) that I often ride when going to my hometown.…Well, you just know my origin.

It will become perfect if a socket under my seat is functioning, so I can just write on laptop or just charge my camera which is low battery. Unfortunately, all socket on all seats didn’t work.

Of course, I can’t enjoy night views out there because condition was really dark. I can only enjoy speed of bus in preceding every vehicle in front of it. This driver is amazing.

On next day, I could see real views from suburb of Trans Sumatra Highway.

Or economic growth was seen from appearance of these shop houses.

Only 1 or 2 traffic jams which I encountered along the way because there was a road renovation, so all vehicles had to queue with other side to get through half of road.

Entering Pekanbaru city, bus began to slow down because urban traffic would certainly be more dense.

It wasn’t a terminal like I imagined where I will be taken down. But it was only a non-permanent building which is the final destination of INTRA bus:

A restaurant with a row of clean toilets.

After cleaning my body then I was exiting the building, I was offered by motorbike and taxi drivers to head to downtown. But to avoided a high price, I prefered to use online transportation services to go to Hotel.

I put my backpack and started exploring “Madani City” (madani city is another name of Pekanbaru city)

Bus INTRA dari Pematang Siantar ke Pekanbaru

10 May 201928 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Perjalanan meninggalkan Danau Toba menggunakan taxi (di Jakarta mungkin disebutnya omprengan…menggunakan mobil Avanza untuk mengangkut penumpang) seharga Rp. 40.000 dengan waktu tempuh 1 jam 50 menit akhirnya mengantarkanku untuk mengoleksi kota baru…..yes, Pematang Siantar. Kota yang tak pernah terpikirkan untuk ku kunjungi.

Taxi menurunkanku di daerah Parluasan, daerah yang konon terkenal sebagai produsen preman di Indonesia. Ngeri-ngeri sedap, tapi buatku ini adalah pengalaman mental yang luar biasa.

Si sopir mengantarkanku tepat di seberang kantor bus INTRA di bilangan jalan Sisingamangaraja. Satu armada INTRA yang sedang terparkir untuk menaikkan penumpang memudahkanku untuk memastikan bahwa Aku tak salah tujuan.

Bergegaslah kaki menuju loket penjualan tiket untuk membayar pesanan tanpa notifikasi lewat telpon sehari sebelumnya. Khawatir pesananku tak tercatat dan bisa-bisa Aku melewatkan Pekanbaru di keesokan harinya.

Belilah tiket disini….lebih baik pesan minimal sehari sebelumya

Bersyukur namaku ada disana dan kuserahkan Rp. 235.000 untuk bertukar dengan selembar tiket menuju Pekanbaru…..Yes, welcome Pekanbaru.

Duduk di ruang tunggu, tatapku terus tertuju pada jam tangan dan halaman kantor bus INTRA….Tak pernah melihat kapan Dia tiba, dari ujung halaman sebelah kanan Dia berteriak memanggilku. Senangnya hati, bertemu teman lama.

Namanya Andy Erwin, Kita bertemu diatas bus Hop On Hop Off di Kuala Lumpur pada 2013 lalu. Semenjak itu Kita berteman dan tak kusangka Aku bisa mampir ke rumahnya kali ini….kejutan kesekian dalam perjalananku.

Ruang tunggu di kantor bus INTRA Parluasan

Menunggu empat jam bukanlah hal yang menyenangkan, alangkah baiknya Aku berkeliling kota. Kebetulan ada Bang Erwin yang dengan motornya siap mengantarkanku berkeliling. Aku tak akan membahas apa yang kudapatkan selama 4 jam di kota itu, lebih baik kuceritakan di artikel lain saja.

Sekembali berpetualang di kota yang terkenal dengan “bentor veteran perang”nya ini, Aku kembali ke pool bus INTRA untuk segera berangkat menuju Pekanbaru. Thanks bang Erwin atas 4 jam waktunya mengantarkanku mengenal sejenak Pematang Siantar.

Perlahan aku mulai menaiki Bus INTRA. Sudah tertanam di mindsetku bahwa Aku harus bersiap naik roller coaster darat ini semalaman. Banyak info yang kudapatkan di dunia maya bahwa kotak berjalan ini akan melaju kencang membelah jalanan menuju Riau. Memang begitu adanya para sopir di Sumatera sangat terkenal dengan adrenalinnya yang tinggi dalam mengemudikan kendaraan. Nanti juga akan kuceritakan bagaimana ketika Aku tak bisa tidur ketika menaiki travel ANNANTA dari Pekanbaru ke Bukittinggi yang sama gilanya dalam hal kecepatan.

Kursi empuk itulah yang akan kududuki selama 14 jam untuk menempuh jarak sejauh 600 km menuju Pekanbaru.

Kubilang Bus ini sangat nyaman, senyaman bus-bus Jakarta-Solo yang sering kunaiki ketika mudik ke kampung halaman…..Nah Kamu baru tahu kan asalku dari Solo…..Solo coret…melipir dikit….SRAGENtina.

Akan menjadi perfect apabila stop kontak yang ada dibawah kakiku itu berfungsi karena Aku bisa saja menulis atau sekedar mencharge kameraku yang sudah sekarat baterainya. Ternyata stop kontak di semua bangku memang tidaklah berfungsi.

Tentu Aku tak bisa menikmati pemandangan malam di luar sana karena kondisi benar-benar gulita. Aku hanya bisa menikmati kecepatan bus melahap setiap kendaraan didepannya untuk didahului. Luar biasa si Sopir ini.

Keesokan harinya baru Aku bisa melihat gambaran sesungguhnya dari potret pinggiran Lintas Sumetera.

Atau geliat ekonomi yang terlihat dari penampakan ruko-ruko ini.

Hanya 1 atau 2 kemacetan yang kutemui sepanjang perjalanan karena sedang ada renovasi jalan, jadi kendaraan harus bergantian dengan sisi yang lain untuk melewati separuh badan jalan.

Memasuki Kota Pekanbaru, Bus mulai melambat karena lalu lintas perkotaan tentu akan lebih padat.

Bukan sebuah terminal seperti yang Aku bayangkan dimana Aku akan diturunkan. Melainkan hanya sebuah bangunan non-permanen inilah yang menjadi tujuan akhir si INTRA:

Sebuah rumah makan dengan sederet toilet bersih.

Selesai bersih-bersih dan keluar bangunan itu, Aku diserbu para pengojek atau taxi-er untuk menuju ke pusat kota. Tapi untuk menghindari mahalnya harga, Aku lebih memilih menggunakan jasa transpotasi online untuk menuju ke Hotel.

Kutaruh backpack-ku dan mulai kueksplore “Kota Madani” itu.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->