We left home at about 5.00 am on 6th.November 2006 in order to be on time for a flight to Padang, Sumatera,Indonesia .The Air Asia flight was supposed to take off at about 7.55 am but was delayed for about an hour due to technical problem .We found out later that it was because the door to the cockpit could not be opened .I was a bit worried because anything could happened to the second hand cheap air carrier during our flight. However , I felt relieved when we landed safely at Padang airport after about an hour's journey .
At the airport we were received by a getleman called Oyong . Apparently ,my son's ( Aizad )father in law contacted him to wait for us . Oyong was the guide and driver for Aizad's father in law when he visited Padang earlier and he recommended this person to be our guide and driver throughout our stay in West Sumatera. He drove a 4 wheel drive Toyota vehicle .He took us to a restaurant and had an early lunch .Wow , the food at the Nasi Padang Restaurant was superb and never had I tasted such a tasty food .
After lunch we were taken to our hotel - the Pangeran Hotel or Prince Hotel .They said it's the best hotel in Padang but according to Malaysian standard it's only an 2 or 3 star . Worst still it was under renovation and it looked a bit messy . The whole evening we did not go anywhere but stayed in our room as we were tired and sleepy . We had our dinner in the hotel but the food was horrible .
The next morning after breakfast we began our trip visiting places of interests .We went to Pagarruyung and visited the old palace of the Minangkabau king .It was quite a distance from Padang Town .On the way we could see padifields and lakes which were very scenic . We also went to the place where the legendry story of Malim Kundang ( equivalent to our Si Tanggang ) took place . It was near the seaside and we saw stone figures which looked like that of a ship and the man called Malim Kundang begging forgiveness from his mother .
We had lunch at a restaurant on the highway to Bukit Tinggi .The food was also good and cheap . We reached Bukit Tinggi at about noon and did some shopping at the bazar. The weather was slightly cool due to it's location on top of a hill .My wife was busy looking for 'telekung' because that was the only thing that was cheap there . She also bought cloth for making dress for her favourite daughter in law -Azman's wife .Alisya got a nice tudung while I just bought a sarong .
We were about to go back to Padang when our vehicle could not be started. The Indonesians were in the habit of mixing their petrol with diesel in order to save on petrol. This time the percentage was too much .My driver suggested we put up a night in Bukit Tinggi but I insist to go back to Padang because the hotel bill there was already paid .In the end he gave in and the car was sent to the workshop to have the infiltrated petrol removed .After filling with a new petrol we started our journey back to Padang . Before reaching our hotel we stopped to have dinner at an ikan bakar restaurant . The food was not that good except for the ikan bakar .We reached our hotel at about 8.00 pm .
On 8th,November morning after breakfast , the driver picked us up to go a round town because my wife wanted to buy keropok buah malinjau . We had lunch at a stall by the sea where the fish was very fresh - only one dish that was the fish .It was superb and satisfying .It was also very cheap.
In the evening we rested in our hotel room watching TV.
The next morning at about 6.00 am we checked out from our room to go back to Malaysia .Before reaching the airport we stopped for breakfast -lontong Sumatera ( comprise of ketupat and sayur pucuk paku ) .What a weird 'lontong' ?
We left Padang airport at about 8.00 am. and reached KLCT at about 10.30 am .Azman picked us for home.
On the whole it was a not so enjoyable holiday .Nothing that fascinate us there . It was just like our country .The thing that is a bit peculiar is that all the busineses were controlled by the local Minangkabaus .The Chinese were not seen doing reputable businesses .
Any way I think ,I should have gone to a place foreign to us ,like China or Australia . That should be our next destination .
