Padang. The gateway to West Sumatra. A big city that feels surprisingly small and boasts.. well, actually not too much in the way of modern convenience.
Understandably, most people use Padang as a stepping stone to somewhere else, via the international airport, the many bus links and of course the ferries to Mentawai. Most others plan to spend a few days in the city, but end up confused about what to do, and ultimately a bit bored.
We live here, and as much as we would like to wander off to beautiful far flung places at any given chance, we spend most of our time here in the city. So… where do we go? What do locals do for fun here? Read on to find out our top picks of things to do in our home city and hopefully you’ll see that there is a lot more to Padang than people realize.
Tourism
Of course, I have to recommend all of the usual tourist stuff; the stunning architecture of Masjid Raya – the big mosque, a trip to Jembatan Sitinurbaya at dusk, the huge central market.. but once you have done all of the touristy stuff, what next?
The Beach!
No, I’m not talking about Pantai Padang; the beach that stretches all along the coastal edge of the city, and is frequently littered with hawkers, coachloads of tourists and well, litter. Instead, make like a local and find a secluded beach away from the crowds. There are a few spots, particularly heading towards the airport, where you can enjoy a much less crowded, much more peaceful day. If you want even more peace and seclusion, it is also possible to head out to one of the many islands off of the coast with a local fisherman. In this case, make sure that you take plenty to eat/drink and also ensure that you have agreed on a pickup time if your lift isn’t staying. Always use plenty of sun protection when hanging out in the sun.
Rivers
In the opposite direction, heading inland, there are the beautiful rivers and swimming holes in and around Batu Busuak. You will find stunning scenery, and plenty of local families enjoying the cool clear waters. Just follow the main road towards Universitas Andalas, and turn off just before the campus towards Batu Busuak. Follow the road until you find a place that you like the look of – there are plenty to choose from, park up and enjoy. It is worth noting that there aren’t many places to get changed, and the ones that there are aren’t exactly the most private. Prepare to need to dry out a bit on rocks before heading back into town, or take a large towel or throw that you can change under. It is also worth noting that the area is on the outskirts of the city in an area skirted by jungle (very beautiful). There have been tigers spotted in the area and, although it is highly unlikely that you would run into one, I wouldn’t recommend hanging around after sunset.
Eat!
West Sumatrans love food, and for very good reason. Masakan Padang (Padang cuisine) is famous across Indonesia and beyond for being delicious. You won’t find much in the way of Western fare here (there is, of course KFC and McD’s, and even a Pizza Hut, don’t expect it to be the same as back home…), and so it is important, and incredibly enjoyable to discover what foods here will suit your tastes. Food is inexpensive, and I would suggest that you throw yourself into it. You can find out more about what is on offer here.
If All Else Fails
I get it. Sometimes when far from home, all you want is something familiar. Something easy. You can find a few small shopping malls dotted about the city, where you will find Air Conditioning and occasionally a familiar shop – The Body Shop, anyone? There are three cinemas in Padang, which regularly show English language films with Indonesian subtitles, and recently, a number of indoor Kids Playgrounds have sprung up across the city. For coffee lovers, the last few years has seen literally hundreds of coffee shops spring up across the city. We would recommend Rimbun if you are a bit of a coffee snob, however overall the general quality of coffee available across the city has improved beyond recognition in the last few years You now stand a good chance of finding a satisfying cuppa in most parts of the city.
Jen is an English girl who found herself in Sumatra one day and never went back. A wife, mother, traveler and book worm, she has lived in Padang long enough to speak the language and unearth plenty of useful hints and tips for the weary traveler…
