Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
English-speaking staff serving modestly priced Western
and Indonesian dishes. Friendly owner Harita makes
the most delicious beef rendang in town (Rp40,000). The
friendly Lite 'n' Easy crew is often found here. There's also
free wi-fi and a pair of flatscreens showing football
matches. Daily 8am-11.30pm.
Travel agents Try Travina Tours and Travel Service, Jl A
Yani 105 ( T 0752 21281 or T 0813 7424 4560); or PT Tigo
Balai, Jl A Yani 100 ( T 0752 31996).
DANAU MANINJAU
A palm-fringed crater lake surrounded by
400m-high jungle-covered walls, DANAU
MANINJAU (Lake Maninjau) lies just
15km west of Bukittinggi as the crow
flies. he actual journey spans 37km
through rice paddies and lush forests, and
gangs of monkeys look on as you slip
over the rim of the caldera and snake
downwards to the lake, notching 44
hairpin turns - each one signposted. At
an altitude of 500m high, the lake is
17km long and 8km wide, the area of
interest for tourists stretching from the
village of MANINJAU , where the road
from Bukittinggi reaches the lakeside, to
the village of Bayur , 4km north.
TRADITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT
Bull-racing and bullfighting Pacu jawi (bull racing) is
held every year on September 30 in the muddy rice fields
around Batusangkar. Another Minangkabau tradition is
adu kerbau (bullfighting), held on Wednesday in Batagak
(9km south of Bukittinggi), an event which stems from the
legend of an invading Javanese king whose campaign ended
in defeat after he wagered the outcome on a bullfight.
DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange There are plenty of banks with
ATMs along Jl A Yani, including Bank Negara Indonesia,
Mandiri and BNI.
Bookshops Anyone heading into central and southern
Sumatra, an English-language book desert, should stock
up in the new and secondhand bookshops on Jl Teuku
Umar and Jl A Yani.
Car and motorbike rental Enquire at your accommo-
dation or any of the travel agents in town (generally
Rp70,000/day).
Hospital Rumah Sakit Dr Achmad Mochtar is on Jl Dr Rivai
( T 0752 21013 or 33825).
Internet Club Net, Jl A Yani 25 (daily 10am-10pm), has
good machines and a fast connection (Rp3000/hr).
Pharmacy Apotek Yani Baru, Jl A Yani 87 (daily 8am-
8pm), offers basic medical supplies.
Post o ce The main post o ce is inconveniently far from
the town centre on Jl Sudirman.
4
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Most visitors come to Maninjau simply
to relax and swim in the lake, though
more energetic souls may like to hike into
the jungle-clad hills behind the village.
Popular activities include tracking down
a ra esia flower, hiking to the nearby
waterfall , known locally as “sarasa”
(20min), or all the way to Puncak
Lawang, the highest vantage point above
the lake (2hr). For any of these
excursions, try Bagoes Café , which runs
tours as well as trekking and Sunday
pig-hunting with dogs, a traditional local
activity. Cycling along the lakeside is also
popular, but motorbikes are just about
essential if you want to circumnavigate
the entire lake.
CLIMBING GUNUNG MERAPI
Access to 2890m Gunung Merapi (Fire
Mountain) is from the tower in Koto Baru,
12km south of Bukittinggi. Typically, the
climb, which is strenuous rather than
gruelling if you're reasonably fit, takes five
hours up and four down; most people
start at around 11pm in order to arrive for
sunrise at the smoking crater on the
summit plateau. You may spot bats,
gibbons and squirrels in the forest, but the
main draw is the view across to Gunung
Singgalang. Bring sturdy footwear and
warm clothes for the top. Roni's ( T 0812
675 0688) in Bukittinggi provides
experienced guides for the hike for
Rp300,000/person.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus Buses from Bukittinggi make a stop in the small
square at the foot of the mountain road before continuing
along the lakeside road to Bayur - ask the conductor to
drop you at your hotel. For the return trip, daily buses
depart from the square in Maninjau (approximately hourly
6am-5pm). There is no direct bus to Padang: either head
back to Bukittinggi or board an opelet to Lubukbasung
(half-hourly; 45min), from where you can hail a bus to
Padang (infrequent; 2hr).
Destinations Bukittinggi (hourly; 1hr 30min); Pekanbaru
(daily; 8hr).
 
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