Ranah Minang - Padang

A week after Lombok, Bali and Sumbawa trip, I got this trip that was arranged since months ago by some fellas that I knew from Belitung Trip.

Minangkabau, also known as Minang, is an ethnic native group of Minangkabau Highlands in West Sumatra with assets passing down from mother to daughter (matrilineal).

Before visiting West Sumatra, please be prepared to have spicy meals everyday. But there are some fast food restaurants in some city centres if your stomach can not stand them.

The road trip was started from Pekanbaru by a minibus that we rented for 3 days, we ended the trip in Padang with route as follows (but later we skipped some places due to timing) :

1. Kelok Sembilan
2. Lubuk Bangku
3. Lembah Harau
4. Danau Tarusan Kamang (Lake)
5. Puncak Lawang
6. Bukit Tinggi
7. Benteng For De Kok, Goa Jepang, Janjang Koto Gadang, Panorama
8. Istana Pagaruyung
9. Danau Singkarak (Lake)
10. Lembah Anai
11. Kawasan Wisata Mandeh
12. Pulau Pagang, Pulau Pasumpuhan, Pulau Sikuai
13. Alahan Panjang (tea garden)
14. Lubuk Paraku

Hello, Padang! This Kelok 9 flyover bridge connects Riau and Sumatra Barat. We started the roadtrip from Pekanbaru and ended in Padang. #Minangkabau #Sumbar #Sumatra #SumatraBarat #keloksembilan #trip #instatravel #indonesia #indonesiaindah #padang #roadtrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Aug 15, 2015 at 1:18am PDT

It wasn't easy taking picture from a window of a running car, lol. But I was so lucky! #keloksembilan #jembatan #Riau #Sumbar #PadangTrip #indonesia #instatravel #nikonaw130 # #roadtrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 21, 2015 at 11:53pm PDT

Jembatan Kelok Sembilan Riau - Payakumbuh. Taken from our running car's window. #PadangTrip #Sumbar #indonesia #instatravel #nikonaw130 #roadtrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 21, 2015 at 11:57pm PDT

1st place of our trip in Sumatra Barat was actually this Ngarai Sianok. We didn't have much time for trekking. I might come back for sure :) #ngaraisianok #Sumbar #Minangkabau #indonesiaindah #indonesia #PadangTrip #instatravel #nikonaw130 #roadtrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 21, 2015 at 11:43pm PDT

Ngarai Sianok. #Sumbar #ngaraisianok #PadangTrip #indonesia #Minangkabau #instatravel #nikonaw130 #roadtrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 21, 2015 at 11:48pm PDT

Ngarai Sianok. #ngaraisianok #Sumbar #indonesia #PadangTrip #Minangkabau #nikonaw130 #instatravel #roadtrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 21, 2015 at 11:45pm PDT

What can you tell about this lovely family? ❤ #ngaraisianok #Minangkabau #padang #Sumbar #Sumatra #SumatraBarat #animalia #monkey #happyfamily #indonesia #PadangTrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Aug 28, 2015 at 7:05am PDT

Lembah Harau. #Sumbar #Minangkabau #PadangTrip #indonesia #instatravel #roadtrip #nikonaw130

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 22, 2015 at 12:01am PDT

Another side of Lembah Harau. #Sumbar #LembahHarau #Minangkabau #valley #PadangTrip #roadtrip #instatravel #indonesia #nikonaw130

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 22, 2015 at 12:11am PDT

As if I never got enough of this kinda view. #LembahHarau #Minangkabau #padang #Sumbar #SumatraBarat #indonesia #instatravel #valley #farm #roadtrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Aug 15, 2015 at 10:20pm PDT

I was so longing for this kind of Minangkabau's traditional house that I could only see on the tv or magazines 😂. Dream came true! #LembahHarau #Minangkabau #Sumbar #indonesia #instatravel #PadangTrip #roadtrip #nikonaw130 #heritage #traditionalhouse #rumahgadang

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 22, 2015 at 12:16am PDT

Jam Gadang! Too bad there were soap bubbles everywhere that ruinned the scene that night. #jamgadang #PadangTrip #padang #Minangkabau #Sumbar #indonesia #instatravel #roadtrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 22, 2015 at 12:38am PDT

In Bukit Tinggi, we visited this Goa Jepang, a lil bit spooky but there were some lights inside the cave. #goajepang #BukitTinggi #Minangkabau #Sumbar #roadtrip #cityhopping #indonesia #nikonaw130 #cave #PadangTrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 22, 2015 at 1:48am PDT

Istana Pagaruyung. There's traditional costume rental inside the palace, on basement floor. Of course I did it! Me in Minangkabau's traditional costume can be found on earlier posts about 5 weeks ago. Well, i'm adding another picture of me, so many poses lol. #istanapagaruyung #pagaruyungpalace #pagaruyung #Minangkabau #Sumbar #padang #PadangTrip #roadtrip #indonesia #herritage #instatravel #nikonaw130 #cityhopping

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 22, 2015 at 1:19am PDT

Wearing a suntiang -- Minangkabau's wedding crown -- once in a life time, no more please. It's soooo heavy and I kinda having a headache after taking it off 😂😂😂 #native #Minangkabau #padang #Sumbar #SumatraBarat #traditional #indonesia #pagaruyung #pagaruyungpalace #instatravel #trip #Sumatra

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Aug 16, 2015 at 12:49am PDT

Being too serious, I think I was too absorbed on the role of Siti Nurbaya. #native #traditional #padang #Minangkabau #Sumbar #SumatraBarat #Sumatra #instatravel #indonesia #herritage #nativeclothes

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Aug 16, 2015 at 4:24am PDT

Here I am in Minangkabau's traditional costume. Do I look like a Minang bride? 👸 Don't ask whether the crown is heavy or not, it is! #Minangkabau #traditional #traditionalcostume #herritage #Sumbar #padang #PadangTrip #roadtrip #indonesia #pagaruyung

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 22, 2015 at 1:25am PDT

Together with @re_flownell and 2 other fellas at Istana Pagaruyung. #pagaruyung #pagaruyungpalace #istanapagaruyung #traditionalcostume #traditional #Minangkabau #bajuadat #suntiang #PadangTrip #padang #roadtrip #indonesia #herritage #instatravel

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 22, 2015 at 1:29am PDT

Ok..enough with traditional costume, back to real me. Look at that belly, after several days in Sumatra Barat I gained some weight. Yeah, no diet in Minang, they forced me to eat eat and eat 😪 😂 #pagaruyung #istanapagaruyung #Minangkabau #padang #PadangTrip #roadtrip #herritage #Sumbar #indonesia #nikonaw130 #instatravel #cityhopping

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 22, 2015 at 1:34am PDT

Ummm wait, I still have another pose in Minang's traditional costume, actually there are some others 😂😂😂

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 22, 2015 at 1:43am PDT

The view from the backside of the restaurant that we stopped by to have lunch. The old railway in Lembah Anai that was too bad it wasn't used anymore. #padang #Minangkabau #lembahanai #Sumbar #SumatraBarat #Sumatra #indonesia #railway #herritage #trip #instatravel #roadtrip #nikonaw130 #nikon

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Aug 20, 2015 at 8:26pm PDT

Before Pamutusan Island, we went to Pagang Island for snorkeling and beaching. There were so many people on that day, so not convenient for sunbathing in bikinis. #pagang #pagangisland #pulaupagang #Sumbar #Minangkabau #islandhopping #beach #indonesia #instatravel #PadangTrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 21, 2015 at 11:23pm PDT

Pantai Pagang #pagangisland #pagang #pulaupagang #Sumbar #Minangkabau #indonesia #beach #PadangTrip #sandybeach #instatravel #nikonaw130 #nikon #nofilter #islandhopping

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 21, 2015 at 11:32pm PDT

A nice beach, right.. #pagangisland #pagang #pulaupagang #Sumbar #Minangkabau #indonesia #PadangTrip #islandhopping #instatravel #nikonaw130 #nikon #nofilter

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 21, 2015 at 11:28pm PDT

Hey lil fellas! I'm over here! #underwater #nikonaw130 #nikon #pulaupagang #pagangisland #padang #Sumatra #SumatraBarat #Sumbar #indonesia #instatravel #VitaminSea #fish #sea

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Aug 20, 2015 at 7:20pm PDT

This Pamutusan Island of Sumatra Barat, was part of our one-day island hopping tour that day. The view from the top of the hill is enjoyable. #pamutusan #pulaupamutusan #Sumbar #Minangkabau #indonesia #PadangTrip #islandhopping #nikonaw130

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 21, 2015 at 9:11pm PDT

This is what I meant earlier about enjoyable view from uphill of Pamutusan Island. #Sumbar #pamutusan #pulaupamutusan #Minangkabau #islandhopping #indonesia #instatravel #nofilter #nikonaw130 #nikon #beachview #uphill #PadangTrip

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Sep 21, 2015 at 11:05pm PDT

And now there's my favourite blue roof. Still on our last day in Padang, we went up to tea garden of Alahan Panjang. Not much different than what we have in Bogor, though. #alahanpanjang #padang #Sumbar #SumatraBarat #Sumatra #roadtrip #trip #teagarden #kebunteh #instatravel #bluesky #nikonaw130 #nikon #nofilter #indonesia

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Aug 20, 2015 at 6:41pm PDT

Greenery! On our last day in Padang, we went to this Lubuk Paraku. If you're lucky, you can see pretty ladies washing clothes or even their bodies here 😉 #padang #LubukParaku #roadtrip #trip #Sumbar #Sumatra #SumatraBarat #instatravel #nikonaw130 #nikon #nofilter

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Aug 20, 2015 at 5:42pm PDT

Pulau Biawak

Well I planned to make a shared trip to Pulau Biawak last year, but it was forgotten because I was always cheap everytime a friend offered me to join any trip I was just swept away by it 😉

How to get there?
- Go to Indramayu by bus or train
- From there, rent a car to Karangsong Peer
- Rent a boat to Pulau Biawak, normally it needs around 3 hours to reach the island.

The island needs to be taken care really seriously because I could see the buildings weren't well-maintained while nowadays so many people would visit the island.

And one more thing, please bring along the raw foods because they only provide the stove and other kitchen tools. We need to cook by ourselves.

Hello, #PulauBiawak !

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 6, 2015 at 7:16pm PDT

This morning's happiest girl. Went up to the top of the mercusuar to get beautiful view and fresh air. Even I failed to see the sunrise, still I was happiest girl on the island. #weekendgetaway #NikonAW130 #nofilter #PulauBiawak

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 2:18am PDT

From the top of this mercusuar I could see almost the whole #PulauBiawak #NikonAW130 #nofilter

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 4, 2015 at 2:34pm PDT

An afternoon with heartwarming background. #weekendgetaway #PulauBiawak

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 8:45am PDT

#underwater around #PulauBiawak #NikonAW130 #nofilter #weekendgetaway

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 2:30pm PDT

No name. Unknown. An ancient grave as an evidence if #PulauBiawak was discovered long time ago.

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 3, 2015 at 3:51pm PDT

We did trekking for about an hour to find the huge tree that's used as the eagles' nest. Couldn't see them up close tho. #PulauBiawak #weekendgetaway

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 4, 2015 at 4:47pm PDT

#mangrove around #PulauBiawak

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 6, 2015 at 7:19pm PDT

Menggelap Di Belitung

Trip kali ini berhasil banget bikin saya geheng. Lebih parah dari trip Derawan dan Komodo. Tapi saya happy, jadi kulit menghitam ikhlas aja 😁

Wuki traveller berhasil bikin saya patah hati sesaat karena sebulan sebelum keberangkatan mereka info pembatalan trip karena gak kebagian seat pesawat. Tapi entah gimana saat seminggu sebelum keberangkatan mereka info masih ada sisa seat 1 lagi. Bingung kan? Saya yang sedang hampa kala itu karena long weekend belum ada plan ke mana-mana sehubungan pembatalan tersebut, langsung aja transfer dananya. Total 2,700,000 per paket sudah includes air tickets 😆

Berkali-kali saya batal ke Belitung karena kepentok jadwal dan lainnya. Syukurlah kali ini berhasil.

Hari pertama kami habiskan untuk city tour ke Kopi, Danau dan tempat-tempat bersejarah.

Di hari kedua kami explore area laut dan pantai. Pantainya lumayan masih bagus, tapi kalau underwaternya kurang ya, karena agak keruh juga, mungkin karena banyak kapal lalu-lalang.

Well, trip diakhiri dengan sumringah dan kenal teman baru yang lumayan banyak.

This serene lake had taken some victims. Don't judge thing from its look. #Belitung #weekendgetaway #IndonesiaIndah

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Apr 10, 2015 at 5:07pm PDT

Danau Kaolin #Belitung

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 8:46pm PDT

Vihara Dewi Kwan Im #Belitung #latepost #d40x #heritage #IndonesiaKaya

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 9:40pm PDT

The view from the top of mercusuar #Belitung #weekendgetaway #NikonAW130 #nofilter @letstravelindonesia #IndonesiaIndah

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Apr 4, 2015 at 3:46am PDT

Green..blue..white! #d40x #Belitung #beach #weekendgetaway #IndonesiaIndah #nofilter

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Apr 10, 2015 at 5:18pm PDT

Finally here! Been wanting to be here since years ago but my annual leave wouldn't allow me to. That's right, my life is controlled by it. #PulauLengkuas #Belitung #weekendgetaway #NikonAW130 @letstravelindonesia #Roxy

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Apr 3, 2015 at 11:08pm PDT

See my back and I see the sea.. #Belitung

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Apr 12, 2015 at 2:24pm PDT

I still can't move on from the island hopping moments around #Belitung #latepost #d40x

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 9:45pm PDT

Whoah! Surrounded by giant stones. #Belitung #PantaiTanjungTinggi

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 10:08pm PDT

#underwater around Pulau Lengkuas #Belitung #NikonAW130

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 10:18pm PDT

Musium Kata Andrea Hirata. #Belitung #latepost #weekendgetaway #heritage #IndonesiaKaya

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 9:34pm PDT

Rumah Adat of #Belitung. #heritage #latepost #IndonesiaKaya

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 9:27pm PDT

The newly located Waroeng Kopi Kong Jie. #Belitung #latepost

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Apr 30, 2015 at 3:01am PDT

The backside of the Waroeng Kopi Kong Jie, Tanjung Pandan. They have been selling legendary coffee since 1945. #Belitung #latepost #heritage

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on Apr 30, 2015 at 2:57am PDT

The legendary Mie Atep. But I was not into it. Too sweet for my liking :) #Belitung #weekendgetaway #culinary #latepost

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 8:41pm PDT

If you see this then you are in the city centre of #Belitung #latepost #d40x #weekendgetaway

A photo posted by Lilita (@lilitanurdiana) on May 2, 2015 at 9:57pm PDT

Ujung Kulon: Weekend Getaway

Setelah tertunda sekian minggu, akhirnya sukses juga postingan trip ke Ujung Kulon (UK) ini. Maklum, selain saya sok sibuk, dibutuhkan juga mood bagus untuk ngedit foto dan merangkai kata.

Sekian bulan sebelum trip ini, saya sudah bayar lunas biaya trip ke UK dengan Wuki Traveler. Tapi beberapa hari menjelang hari H, ngedadak saya demam dan gak berani jalan ikutan trip. Untungnya sih ada yang gantiin kursi saya jadi gak hangus duwitnya. Nah, kali ini saya benaran pergi nih...

Di suatu jumat malam di bulan November, rombongan dengan total sekitar 45 orang, jalan dari Plasa Semanggi dengan 1 bus 47 seat dan 1 elf menuju Anyer. Meeting point dengan ABK di dermaga Taman Jaya Sabtu pagi. Perjalanan darat memakan waktu sekitar 8 jam.

Sekitar jam 06:00 pagi, kami berlayar menuju Pulau Peucang dengan 2 kapal, kurang-lebih butuh 3 jam ya perjalanan lautnya.

Setelah kelar check-in di penginapan Pulau peucang, kami balik naik ke kapal menuju snorkeling spot (2 spot) dan makan siang di atas kapal sebelum snorkeling.

Drama dari reuni Trip Aceh di Pelabuhan Taman Jaya sampai action Lucy Liu VS Zhang Zi Yi di Pantai Pulau Peucang

Underwater di kisaran Pulau Peucang dan Pulau Badul

Sorenya kita menukmati sunset di Tanjung Layar, tapi sayangnya gak dapet sunsetnya. Untungnya viewnya bagus banget.

Tanjung Layar

Aktivitas di atas kapal

Kami balik ke Pulau Peucang untuk makan malam cumi dan ikan bakar, lalu tepar tidur sampai pagi.

Hari ke 2, sekitar jam 06:00 pagi, kapal berlayar dan kami merapat di Cidaon untuk trekking demi menikmati view para badak yang sedang berjemur. Harus jalan mengendap-ngendap supaya mereka gak kabur.

Dari Cidaon kami balik ke Pulau Peucang untuk sarapan dan persiapan snorkeling di spot ke 3, yakni di Pulau Badul. Tapi sebelum snorkeling, kami canoeing dulu di Cigenter.

Suasana di Pulau Badul

Pulangnya, ngaret banget karena ada rombongan yang egois gak mau peduli peserta lain, harusnya sekitar jam 14:00 kita sudah jalan menuju Jakarta eh ini sih Magrib baru jalan. Itupun setelah saya dan peserta lain negor panitianya supaya tegas ke rombongan tersebut. Resiko pergi dengan rombongan besar ya begitu ya.

Untuk pencegahan malaria, saya minum 2 tablet pil kina yakni Resochin seminggu sebelum ke UK, 2 tablet lagi saat tiba di UK. Dan rencananya 4 minggu ke depan akan terus minum 2 pil/minggunya.