Bukittinggi

Last weekend we spontaneously decided to rent a car and spend the weekend in Bukittinggi (indonesian for "high hill").
To rent a car in Indonesia doesn't work the way it works in other countrys. You don't just go to car rental, because there are no. Somehow you know someone who knows someone who has a friend who can lend you his car.
Thats how we did it :)

Bukittinggi is one of the biggest cities in West Sumatra and only 90km away from Padang. What still takes you more than 2 hours by car due to the crazy traffic.
The best thing about Buki is, that it's located in the highlands and therfore the climate is way cooler than in humid Padang.
We hit the road heading to Buki, stop at a nice waterfall on our way and before we arrive in Buki we make a little detour to lake Maninjau. The street winds down to the lake in no less than 46 serpentines. Unfortunately the weather is too cloudy to have a good view from the hill down to the lake, but it's still a nice palce to rest and enjoy being outside without breaking out in sweat as you always do in Padang.

another way to dry your clothes

waterfall

 

Marianna&Jaja

"Big Ben"

After having dinner Buki we stroll to the central market to see famous "Big Ben", the clock tower and major landmark of the city. Big Ben is not even 30meters high...
But what is really impressive is the night market around it and especially the people. Dancing, singing, couples holding hands in public!. It seems like people are having fun here, something you do not see in Padang.
So we spend the evening at the night market, also having fun, before going back to our hotel (5€ per night) and resume the fun part.

The next day is quiet busy:
Sightseeing Plan:

1. Drrive to the Equator
2. drive all the way back, stop at the reflesia sanctuary to see the biggest flower on earth - after half an hour fighting our way through thick jungle we are looking down at the flower...which is already withered...GREAT :( and we are too exhausted to continue the track deeper in the jungle to maybe find another one.
3. get invited to taste one of the most expensive coffee on earth: luwak coffe - made of the poop of wild civet cat :D Of course I buy a little package of it for ~20€ (in Germany 1 cup of luwak coffe cost between 55€-75€)

civet cat coffee beans

4. last stop: Sianok Canyon near Bukittinggi

Caynon

Café in the middle of the caynon

man planting rise

 Driving home by night is even more challenging than by daylight in this crazy traffic. So we are all pretty exhausted when we arrive at home. And since we haven't had something to eat besides a little plate of nasi goreng at 12pm. The dinner I had at home tastes like a 5*dish. yummi :)