Bukit Tinggi 6 Aug - 9 Aug 2005

Day 1 : Singapore - Bukit Tinggi - Gunung Marapi

We took Tiger Airways. The fair was cheep. It cost us about $120 inclusive of airport taxes. It was raining but we were sheltered all the way.

Nice picture of Sumatra and Lake Singalang.

We touched down on the new Padang Airport. Very new. It is called the MinangKabau International Airport. It's the new Padang airport at Taibing. The local knows it as the MinangKabau International. We were confused of the airport with the old one. The Lonely Planet guide was based on the old one. Take a taxi (140-170000rp) or motorbike to main rd and catch a public bus (do not cross the rd) to Bukit Tinggi.

We found our guide at our Orchid Hotel. Panchu, he was an ex special police force personnel and he had real combat experience in Aceh. We took about 5.5hrs to reach the summit. This is the lower summit photo. The cost is about US$20-40 depending on the group size.

Eudemonic and me at the summit with the Indonesia flag.

The next 3 photos show the explosion of the volcano Gunung Marapi. It was far enough and we did not smell the poisonous fume.

The highest peak on Gunung Marapi. The fume might blow in that direction and we did not go up this peak.

Just bring your umbrella and you would be sheltered from the ashes thrown.

Day 2 : Gunung Marapi - Bukit Tinggi

Circular view from Gunung Marapi

Inside the biggest crater.

Recent sulphur rock from the crater.

Me! and the highest peak and Gunung ... look closely

Look closer... Guess.

Yes, it Gunung Kerinchi. Exploding now.

Sunrise pic. Awesome!

Scenic view of Bukit Tinggi

Panchu made breakfast for us using his homemade curry sauce. Yummy.

It's national day!

Gunung Marapi was spilling up more and more ashes.

Some local trekkers

Some french trekkers

On our way down. Steep with loose rock.

French trekkers with walking sticks, definitely much faster

Make shift bed with ferns

Historical lava flow river

Gunung Marapi spilling out more ashes. Let get down fast!

Yellow flowers used to treat ulcers.

Back in town. The local clock tower.

Mona Lisa. Nice local ONLY chinese restaurant. Nice food.

Gunung Marapi from town. The volcano was declared close the next day as it spilled out ashes up to 1300m. It would be close till mid Sep 2005.

Day 3 : Bukit Tinggi - Lake Maninjau

View of Lake Maninjau from Lawang Hill Top

View of Lake Maninjau from Embun Pagi

At Lake Maninjau, famous local restaurant, Bagus Restaurant. Nice food but takes a while to cook.

View of Lake Maninjau street.

Close up view of Lake Maninjau

Fishing and Kelong is a major industry there.

Rice farming too.

We managed to find the elusive waterfall. It's 2 km north of Maninjau village and opp the mosque. Takes about 30mins to reach from village and 15mins into the waterfall.

Nice sunset view from Tan Dirih.

Tan Dirih. Nice atmosphere. Nice landlord. Morning tea. Nice beds. Cheep (100000) for sea side view with lazy chair.

Siting on the lazy chair admiring the lake. This is life.

Relaxing cat that catches fish. Really!

Kelong where that cat catches the fish.

Cafe 44. Strongly recommended. Nice atmosphere and staff. Family run. We went there to eat 3 times.

Mee with vegetables. Yummy. No taste of Maggi.

Pan cake with banana.

Day 4 : Lake Maninjau - Bukit Tinggi

Traditional Javanese message, near the only bookshop. Look out for the massage sign.

Cafe 44 best meal! 2 bbq fishes that are just caught from the Kelong, rice, vege, sauce. Only S$5.

Where our fishes stay.

Back to Bukit Tinggi Town.

Fort De Kock. Yeah... that's the name. Nothing much to see except the bird park and the zoo. Which is in bad condition.

View of Bukit Tinggi main tourist street, Jalan Ahmad Yani.

Cute elephant.

Local Minang Kabau Tribe house. Notice the familiar bull horn roof structure.

Ah meng relatives, quite badly taken care off.

Lower market view from upper market in Bukit Tinggi

Upper market and the clock tower.

KFC comes in rice packet. Remind me of army white rice ration. But taste nice.

Day 5 : Bukit Tinggi - Padang

Japanese tunnel in the Panorama Park.

Entrance to the Panorama Park.

Gunung Marapi really exploding now!

Inside the Japanese tunnel.

We travel to Padang to explore the town. Gunung Padang at Padang beach.

Nice beach facing the India Ocean, but alot of litter.

Including one tsunamied rat/mouse.

A cat came along and that's it dinner! Yum yum!

Day 6 : Padang - Singapore

Gunung Marapi on tv

Back at Minang Kabau Airport. Going back. Sob sob.

Tiger Airways. Remember to save 75000 for airport tax. It is not included in the Tiger ticket.