SIANOK CANYON (NGARAI SIANOK) - WEST SUMATRA

Sianok Canyon is a steep valley (ravine) which is located in the border town of Bukittinggi, the District IV Koto, Agam regency, West Sumatra.

The valley is long and winding as the boundary line from the southern city of Kota GAdang until the Sianok canyon "Six Tribes", and ended on Palupuh. Sianok canyon has beautiful scenery and became one of the main tourism destination of West Sumatra province.

This chasm which its depth approximately 100 m extends along 15 km with a width of approximately 200 m and is part of the fault that separates the island of Sumatra in half lengthwise (Semangko Fault).

This fault forms a steep wall, even perpendicular and form a green valley - results from the skin down movement of the earth (sinklinal) - which flows through Sianok Stem (Batang Sianok) (stem means the river, in the Minangkabau language) in which the water is clear.

In the Dutch colonial era, the gap is referred to as "sanget" buffalo, because of the large wild ox which lived freely in the bottom of the gorge.

Sianok Stem (Batang Sianok) now can be forded with canoe and kayak which is facilitated by a water sports organization "Qurays". The route taken is from the Lembah Village to Sitingkai Batang Palupuh Village for about 3.5 hours. On the edges, we still can find a lot of common plants and rare plants such as Rafflesia and herbs. Fauna that found at here are such as long-tailed monkeys, gibbons, hoop, deer, wild pigs, leopards, and tapir.

Translated from Indonesian Wikipedia

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LAKE SINGKARAK - WEST SUMATRA

Lake Singkarak (Danau Singkarak) was in two regencies in West Sumatra, Kabupaten Solok and Tanah Datar. With an area of 107.8 km ², Lake Singkarak is the largest lake on the island of Sumatra. This lake is upstream of Ombilin River. This part of the lake's water flowed through the tunnel through the Bukit Barisan to Batang Anai to move generator of Singkarak hydropower at the Lubuk Alung, Padang Pariaman.

"Bilih" fish (Mystacoleucus padangensis) is a species of fish which expected to live only in this lake, and became one of typical foods. Experts research expressed there are 19 species of fish live in freshwater habitats of Lake Singkarak, Solok and Tanah Datar, West Sumatra, with the limited availability of food materials.

Among the 19 species of fish, three species have a high density of population, namely Bilih fish / Biko (Mystacoleusus padangensis Blkr), Asang / Nilem (Osteochilus brachmoides) and Rinuak. Other species of fishes that live in Lake Festival are Turiak / turiq (Cyclocheilichthys de Zwani), Lelan / Nillem (Osteochilis vittatus), Sasau / Barau (HAMPALA mocrolepidota) and Gariang / Tor (Tor tambroides).

Then, Kapiek fish species (Puntius shwanefeldi) and Balinka / Belingkah (Puntius Belinka), Hemibagrus (Macrones planiceps), Kalang (Clarias batrachus), Jabuih / bloated (Tetradon mappa), Kalai / carp (carp Osphronemus lac) and Puyu / Betok (Anabas testudeneus).

Furthermore, species of Sapek fish / Snakeskin (Trichogaster trichopterus), Tilan (mastacembelus unicolor), Jumpo / Cork (Chana striatus), Kiuang / Cork (Chana pleurothalmus) and Mujaie / Oreochromis mossambicus (Tilapia pleurothalmus).

With only 19 species of fish that live in Lake Singkarak, they point that the diversity of fish in that place is not too high. The mesogotrophic conditions of Lake Singkarak that cause this habitat carrying capacity for the development and growth of organisms such as plankton and water biota, very limited.

Several studies have shown plankton and biota populations in Lake Singakrak are very low. Whereas plankton communities (phytoplankton and zooplankton) is the basis for the formation of a food chain and plays very important role in the ecosystem of the lake.

These conditions, causing major nutritional source of natural fish generally are various types of plankton and benthos.

Lake Singakrak is locatated at the geographical position coordinates of 0, 36 degrees South Latitude and 100.3 East Longitude with a height of 363.5 meters above sea level.

The lake water surface area reaches 11,200 hectares with a maximum length of 20 kilometers and 6.5 kilometers wide and 268 meters depth.

The lake has an area of water flow along the 1076 kilometers with rainfall 82 to 252 melimeter per month.

Translated from Indonesian Wikipedia

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LAKE MANINJAU - WEST SUMATRA

Lake Maninjau(Danau Maninjau) is a lake in the district of Tanjung Raya, Agam regency, West Sumatra province, Indonesia. The lake is located about 140 kilometers north of Padang, West Sumatra's capital, 36 kilometers from Bukittinggi, 27 kilometers from Lubuk Basung, Agam regency capital.

Maninjau, a volcanic lake, is located at an altitude of 461.50 meters above sea level. Maninjau's area size approximately 99.5 km² and has a maximum depth of 495 meters. Its sunken area is formed by volcanic eruption called SITINJAU (according to local legend), this can be seen from the shape of the hill around the lake that resembles a wall. According to the legend in Ranah Minang, the existence of Lake Maninjau closely related to the story of Bujang Sembilan.

Lake Maninjau is a source of water for the river named Batang Antokan. In one part of the lake which is upstream of the stem is Antokan Maninjau hydropower. The highest peak around Lake Maninjau hills known as Puncak Lawang.

To reach Lake Maninjau, if you are from Bukittinggi, is going through the winding road known as Kelok 44 approximately 10 kilometres long, starting from the Ambun Pagi to Maninjau.

The lake was listed as the eleventh largest lake in Indonesia. Meanwhile, in West Sumatra, Maninjau is the second largest lake after Lake Singkarak (Danau Singkarak) which has an area of 129.69 km², located in two districts of Tanah Datar and Solok. Around the Lake Maninjau, there are tourist facilities, such as hotels (Maninjau Indah Hotel, Pasir Panjang Permai) as well as lodging and restaurants.

Source : Translated from Indonesian Wikipedia

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BUKITTINGGI - WEST SUMATRA

Bukittinggi (Indonesian for "high hill") is one of the larger cities in West Sumatra, Indonesia, with a population of over 91,000 people and an area of 25.24 km². It is situated in the Minangkabau highlands, 90 km by road from the West Sumatran capital city of Padang. It is located at 0°18′20″S 100°22′9″E / 0.30556°S 100.36917°E / -0.30556; 100.36917, near the volcanoes Mount Singgalang (inactive) and Mount Marapi (still active). At 930 m above sea level, the city has a cool climate with temperatures between 16.1°-24.9°C.

History
The city has its origins in five villages which served as the basis for a marketplace. The city was known as Fort de Kock during colonial times in reference to the Dutch outpost established here in 1825 during the Padri War.

The fort was founded by Captain Bauer at the top of Jirek hill and later named after the then Lieutenant Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Hendrik Merkus de Kock.

The first road connecting the region with the west coast was built between 1833 and 1841 via the Anai Gorge, easing troop movements, cutting the costs of transportation and providing an economic stimulus for the agricultural economy.

In 1856 a teacher-training college (Kweekschool) was founded in the city, the first in Sumatra, as part of a policy to provide educational opportunities to the indigenous population. A rail line connecting the city with Payakumbuh and Padang was constructed between 1891 and 1894.

During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia in World War II, the city was the headquarters for the Japanese 25th Army, the force which occupied Sumatra. The headquarters was moved to the city in April 1943 from Singapore, and remained until the Japanese surrender in August 1945.

During the Indonesian National Revolution, the city was the headquarters for the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI) from December 19, 1948 to July 13, 1949. During the second 'Police Action' Dutch forces invaded and occupied the city on December 22, 1948, having earlier bombed it in preparation. The city was surrendered to Republican officials in December 1949 after the Dutch government recognized Indonesian sovereignty.

The city was officially renamed Bukittinggi in 1949, replacing its colonial name. From 1950 until 1957, Bukittinggi was the capital city of a province called Central Sumatra, which encompassed West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi. In February 1958, during a revolt in Sumatra against the Indonesian government, rebels proclaimed the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI) in Bukittinggi. The Indonesian government had recaptured the town by May the same year.

A group of Muslim men had planned to bomb a cafe in the city frequented by foreign tourists in October 2007, but the plot was aborted due to the risk of killing Muslim individuals in the vicinity.[8] Since 2008 the city administration has banned Valentine's Day and New Year's celebrations as they consider them not in line with Minangkabau traditions or Islam, and can lead to "immoral acts" such as young couples hugging and kissing.

Transportation
Bukittinggi is connected to Padang by road, though a dysfunctional railway line also exists. For inner-city transport, Bukittinggi employs a public transportation system known as Mersi (Merapi Singgalang) and IKABE that connect locations within the city. The city also still preserves the traditional horse-cart widely known in the area as Bendi, although the use is limited and more popular to be used as vehicle for tourist, both domestic and foreign.

Tourism
It is a city popular with tourists due to the climate and central location. Attractions within the city include:
* Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon)
* Lobang Jepang (Japanese Caves) - a network of underground bunkers & tunnels built by the Japanese during World War II
* Jam Gadang - a large clock tower built by the Dutch in 1926.
* Pasar Atas and Pasar Bawah - traditional markets in downtown.
* Taman Bundo Kanduang park. The park includes a replica Rumah Gadang (literally: big house, with the distinctive Minangkabau roof architecture) used as a museum of Minangkabau culture, and a zoo. The Dutch hilltop outpost Fort de Kock is connected to the zoo by the Limpapeh pedestrian overpass.

Notable nearby destinations include Lake Maninjau and the Harau Valley.

Source : Wikipedia

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PADANG - WEST SUMATRA

Padang (means field) is the capital and largest city of West Sumatra,Indonesia. It is located on the western coast of Sumatra at 0°57′0″S 100°21′11″E / 0.95°S 100.35306°E / -0.95; 100.35306. It has an area of 694.96 square kilometres (268.3 sq mi) and a population of over 750,000 people.

HistorySince the 16th century Padang has been a trade centre. During the 16th and 17th centuries pepper was cultivated and traded with India, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In 1663 the city came under the authority of the Dutch. The Dutch built a trading post here in 1680. The city came under British authority twice, the first time from 1781 to 1784 during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, and again from 1795 to 1819 during the Napoleonic Wars. Afterwards the city was transferred back to the Netherlands. Up to approximately 1780 the most important trade product was gold, originating from the gold mines in the region. When the mines where exhausted, the emphasis turned to other products such as coffee, salts and textiles.

In 1797 Padang was inundated by a tsunami with an estimated flow depth of 5–10 meters, following an earthquake, estimated to be 8.5–8.7 Mw, which occurred off the coast. The shaking caused considerable damage and the deaths of two people, while the tsunami resulted in several houses being washed away and several deaths at the village of Air Manis.

The boats moored in the Arau river ended up on dry land, including a 200 ton sailing ship which was deposited about 1 kilometer upstream. In 1833 another tsunami inundated Padang with an estimated flow depth of 3–4 meters as a result of an earthquake, estimated to be 8.6–8.9 Mw, which occurred off Bengkulu. The shaking caused considerable damage in Padang, and due to the tsunami the boats moored in the Arau river broke their anchors and were scattered.

At the time of independence in the 1940s the city had around 50,000 inhabitants. Coffee was still important, but copra was also a major item produced by farmers in its hinterland. The population growth since then has been partly a result of growth in the area of the city, but largely is a result of the migration to major cities seen in so many developing nations. In 1950 there had also been a development of the Ombilin coal field with Padang as its outlet. This is an indication of the colonization of Indonesia having been economic as well as political.

On September 30, 2009, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit about 50 kilometers off the coast of Padang, killing more than 1,100 people.

TransportThe city is served by the newly-opened Minangkabau International Airport in Ketaping, Padang Pariaman. Padang's Teluk Bayur harbor is the largest and busiest harbor on the west coast of Sumatra.

Cuisine
The cuisine of the Minangkabau people is commonly called Padang cuisine, due to it being the capital and largest city of the region. Padang restaurants are common throughout the country and are famous for their spicy food and their unique way of serving it. Padang food is usually cooked once per day, and all customers choose from those dishes, which are left out on display until no food is left. It is served in small portions of various dishes, but constituting, with rice, a complete meal. In a Padang-style restaurant, the table will quickly be set with dozens of small dishes filled with highly-flavored foods such as curried fish, fried tempeh, stewed greens, chili eggplant, curried beef liver, fried chicken, and of course, sambals, the spicy sauces ubiquitous at Indonesian tables. Customers take - and pay for - only what they want from this array of dishes. Food safety is generally a concern, as many customers take food out of communal dishes with their hands, dishes which will be served to subsequent customers. The best known Padang dish is rendang, a spicy meat stew. Soto Padang (crispy beef in spicy soup) is local residents' breakfast favorite, meanwhile Sate (beef satay in curry sauce served with ketupat) is a treat in the evening.

Tourism
Padang is a common transit point for surfers traveling to Batu Islands and Mentawai Islands, and for tourists visiting the West Sumatran highlands. Padang beach (known as Taplau or Tapi Lauik) which located from Samudra Street until Puruih, is well-known for its beautiful sunset and hundreds of food stalls. Bungus bay, to the south of Padang, is suitable for swimming and boating.

Adityawarman Museum specializes in the history and culture of the local Minangkabau ethnic group, and the main exhibits are housed within a Rumah Gadang style building.

Source : Wikipedia

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