I think I visited this city at every vacation time when I was still in school. This is my parents’ home town after all. Located in West Sumatra, Indonesia at 930 meters above sea level, Bukittinggi literally means high hill. This altitude is also responsible for its cool climate. Certainly a nice change from the hot and humid Jakarta. Having visited the city so often, I thought that I knew all of its secrets. But it turns out, every time I come here, there is always a new experience that I enjoy.
Here are the 3 reasons why I always come back to this city:
1. Delicacy
I once read in a restaurant, "When all else fails, Padang food prevails". The restaurant may have made that up but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. They’re delicious! Like most of the Indonesian food, Padang foods use a lot of spices. And lots of chili. So beware if you don’t like spicy food. Don’t try anything extraordinary.
There are two foods that I cannot miss, Satay Mak Sukur and Itiak lado mudo. And if I am lucky to visit during durian season, I can savor the incomparable pleasure of it.
It’s true that you can get satay everywhere in Indonesia, but there’s just something special in eating it where it originally comes from. Meanwhile, itiak lado mudo, or in translation, green chili duck, is a side dish that you can eat with rice. You can find this side dish in a restaurant located in Sianok Canyon. No need to fear you’re going to be lost because this restaurant is quite renowned as a culinary destination for tourists.
2. Clean air
I’ve mentioned the cool air of Bukittinggi. That is why is very pleasant to walk around here. You can walk among rice fields and enjoy the nice scenery where green is the thing. Enjoy the two active volcanoes ‘guarding’ the city, Mount Singgalang and Mount Merapi.
3. Handmade everything
Bukittinggi is the wholesale center in Sumatra. Entering the main market here, Pasar Atas, you will be greeted by a row of shops that sell fabric. You can find songket –hand woven silk or cotton with intricate patterned, embroidery, and all types of craftsmanship. The price varies, depending on the type of yarn and the difficulty of manufacture. The embroidered motifs and colors are staggering which certainly will be a pretty view.
So those are my reasons, come and visit my parents’ home town and let me know what you think.
Here are the 3 reasons why I always come back to this city:
1. Delicacy
I once read in a restaurant, "When all else fails, Padang food prevails". The restaurant may have made that up but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. They’re delicious! Like most of the Indonesian food, Padang foods use a lot of spices. And lots of chili. So beware if you don’t like spicy food. Don’t try anything extraordinary.
There are two foods that I cannot miss, Satay Mak Sukur and Itiak lado mudo. And if I am lucky to visit during durian season, I can savor the incomparable pleasure of it.
It’s true that you can get satay everywhere in Indonesia, but there’s just something special in eating it where it originally comes from. Meanwhile, itiak lado mudo, or in translation, green chili duck, is a side dish that you can eat with rice. You can find this side dish in a restaurant located in Sianok Canyon. No need to fear you’re going to be lost because this restaurant is quite renowned as a culinary destination for tourists.
2. Clean air
I’ve mentioned the cool air of Bukittinggi. That is why is very pleasant to walk around here. You can walk among rice fields and enjoy the nice scenery where green is the thing. Enjoy the two active volcanoes ‘guarding’ the city, Mount Singgalang and Mount Merapi.
3. Handmade everything
Bukittinggi is the wholesale center in Sumatra. Entering the main market here, Pasar Atas, you will be greeted by a row of shops that sell fabric. You can find songket –hand woven silk or cotton with intricate patterned, embroidery, and all types of craftsmanship. The price varies, depending on the type of yarn and the difficulty of manufacture. The embroidered motifs and colors are staggering which certainly will be a pretty view.
So those are my reasons, come and visit my parents’ home town and let me know what you think.