Once upon a time in BukitTinggi

Finally, My Bukittinggi trip was done. Bukittinggi located in the Minangkabau highlands, about 90 km by road from the West Sumatra capital city, Padang. While  I was there, I'm so impressed with Rumah Gadang architecture or many people said it as Rumah Bagonjong, traditional house of Minangkabau, home of minang poeple to live in with their families.

Clokwise : Minangkabau International Airport - Jam Gadang (A large clock tower at down town) - Balai adat Koto gadang (I dont know, balai adat in English :D )

In Bukittinggi, I stayed at Dayat's home in Koto Gadang, a small village near Bukittinggi and where Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon) located. On the first day, we went to lake Maninjau by motor cycle. From the first sight, Lake Maninjau is very beautiful. The route down to Lake Maninjau is called Kelok 44 (Route of 44 curves). On our ways to Lake Maninjau, I also stopped for a while at Museum Rohana kudus. Dayat said that Rohana Kudus was a famous women hero here, just like Kartini. She was established Yayasan Kerajinan Amai Setia, a school of craft and now become a souvenir shop. And if you see outside the museum, you will see the beauty of Mount Singgalang.

 

Lake Maninjau

Clockwise : one of Kelok 44 streets - Pensi (such a shells, a traditional food from Maninjau) - Kelok 44 looks in the mirror.

Up : Museum "Rohana Kudus" - Down : Ngarai Sianok.

Mount Singgalang

I think lake maninjau catered the beauty and calm atmosphere. I feel relax there, and cycling around the lake would be nice for spending your free time in afternoon. Satisfied with Lake Maninjau, I continued my trip to Mesjid Raya Bayur, one of the oldest Mesjid around Maninjau.

Mesjid Raya Bayur

After Ashar pray, Dayat asked me to look Museum Rumah Kelahiran Buya Hamka. I learned something here, learned the history and something I didn't know before. From there I knew that HAMKA is an abbreviation of Haji Abdul Malik Karim Abdullah. He was given the title Buya, derived from the Arabic word Abi or Abuya meaning Father or someone respectable. Actually, the museum was the buya's home. There, I found many things about Buya's activity, such as library about all buya's occupation, stick, bed, chair, desk with traditional ornament and so on. I'm so satisfied with it.

"Museum Rumah Kelahiran Buya Hamka

One of the important things in my entire journey, beside we found something to learn, we do found something to eat.. :D
And I called it as culinary tour. In my second day, we went to "Pasar Atas", the largest market in Bukittinggi, located near "Jam Gadang". We saw large tent that sells Bukittinggi traditional food, the menu i choose is "Sate Padang" and " Es Ampiang Dadiah". I really impressed with "Es Ampiang Dadiah", at the first time I tried, the tasted was friendly enough with my tongue. Made of fermented bufallo milk, (dadiah), and mixed with dry sticky rice (ampiang) and served well with ice and sugar.

Clockwise : Sate Padang, Dadiah, and Es Ampiang Dadiah.

Up : our menu at "Hau's Tea" cafe, Down : Yogurt, Kefir, and Banana grilled with Chocolate and cheese

Ok, My culinary tour not satisfied enough, and while Dayat inviting me to try the dish at "Hau's Tea"  cafe, I fallen into it. The atmosphere aroung there was cozy, with natural cool air of Bukittinggi. This cafe was right place, where you want to have sharing togetherness. "Hau's Tea" gives the delicious western menu, like a French fries, spaghetti, cappucino, tea and other snacks.

Overall my Bukittinggi trip was so interesting, My high desirability is to come back again to these Hills. :D

Jazakumullah Khairan Katsiran for Dayat and Family whose serve well of me being my host while I was there...

Jakarta, 


Fahmi Alfian (@fahm_al)