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West Sumatra (Sumatra Barat) is in Sumatra, Indonesia.

[edit] Cities

• Padang - Indonesia's capital of spicy food
• Bukittinggi - A mild weather city, to run away from the heat
• Padang Panjang - A pleasant market down near Bukittinggi

[edit] Other destinations

• Mentawai Islands - surf's up
• Sikuai Island - 45 minute boat ride from Bungus Bay harbor
• Cubadak Island - 75 minute boat ride from Padang

[edit] Understand

West Sumatra bounded in the north by the province of North Sumatra, in the west by the Indian ocean, in the south by the provinces of Bengkulu and Jambi, and in the east by Riau province.

85% of the population are Minangkabau, notable in the annals of anthropology as the world's largest matriarchal society: children take their names from their mother's side and, on marriage, the husband moves into the wife's family. Culturally, the hallmarks of Minangkabau culture are their famously spicy food, served all around Indonesia in Padang restaurants (named after the capital), and the soaring-eaved rumah gadang house, shaped like a series of buffalo horns.

On the other hand, the tribal inhabitants of the Mentawai archipelago, a group of islands about 100 miles off the coast of west Sumatra, cling to a traditional agrarian lifestyle that is totally different from that of Minangkabau.

[edit] Talk

Every day, west sumatra use minang language. It's like melayu language

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Minangkabau International Airport (Bandara Internasional Minangkabau - BIM) (PDG), located 23 km north-west of Padang, is the main gateway to West Sumatra, with frequent flights to destinations throughout Sumatra and Java, as well as Singapore (Tiger Airways, SilkAir) and Kuala Lumpur (AirAsia).

Note that if you are flying internationally out of Minangkabau Airport, you are subject to departure tax (75,000 Rupiah as at Feb '08) which you would need to pay for in Rupiah so save some bills for the trip out. The domestic tax is Rp. 30,000.

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Itineraries

[edit][add listing] Do

In West Sumatra its not easy to get off the tourist trail without language, the hotel performances are pretty contrived sometimes.

If you can, get down to Padang Panjang 10km downhill from Bukittinggi en route to Padang, the capital (Padang is a bit boring but has a huge market complex for last minute purchases before flying out).

[edit][add listing] Eat

West Sumatra is a great place for a lovely food, its cuisine is one of Indonesia's best. They have so much food with very hot and chili is the majority in their food. Such as rendang, Babat, dendeng balado, gulai kakap, gulai ayam, gulai jariang, kalio and so much. Gulai means curry.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Teh Talua is West Sumatra's provincial drink. If you've chosen a more set up cafe stall ask for a teh talua. Don't grimace - bitter black tea poured over whipped egg and sugar creates a custardy flavoured "cappuccino froth" on your tea. The best has a squeeze of lime. My recommendation for teh talua is Desy's cafe in Jl Pasar Baru I, in Central Padang behind the main market, but more specifically for navigating there, behind the Balai Kota (Town Hall) and Police Station ("Belakang Benteng" is a really clear instruction to a driver) The tiny cafe is where police staff eat and Desyeni the proprietor has a solid lineage of culinary expertise behind her. All food guaranteed clean and superb and absolutely local.

[edit] Stay safe

Safer than most other areas because of a muslim ethic and intact social fabric. keep safe by making friends. The Minang take great community responsibility. Talk to people and they will look out for you as one of their own. I have had video cameras left on a bus returned to my temporary address because the conversation had established links and sense of social obligation. At the same time crime exists and normal precaustions should be taken. Importantly respect their values and try not to travel alone if female after dark. in company with other women is ok. The ethos - the community cant look after you if you dont look after yourself. or if you go places where the honest eyes cant see. So being alone or the only female in male company at night is considered asking for it.

[edit] Get out

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