Jalan-jalan di sebagian Sumatera Barat

Setelah hampir tiga bulan setengah dari pernikahan kami, saya dan suami baru bisa merencanakan berkunjung ke kampung halamannya di Padang. Sebenarnya perjalanan ini di luar rencana, tapi karena setelah melihat kalender banyak tanggal merah yang beruntun, akhirnya saya dan suami memutuskan untuk pergi ke Padang.

Sebelum pergi saya, harus menyelesaikan pekerjaan yang akan saya tinggalkan, karena saya berencana sekalian mengambil cuti untuk bulan madu. Begitu pun juga halnya dengan suami.

Kami memutuskan pergi ke Padang dengan menggunakan bis, mengingat perjalanan kali ini tidak harus terburu-buru. Dari Bandung, kami berangkat jam sepuluh pagi, kemudian bis berhenti dahulu di Poll Jakarta, baru kemudian perjalanan dilanjutkan. Bis yang membawa kami harus mengantri di Pelabuhan Merak, karena akan melakukan penyeberangan dengan menggunakan kapal feri. Cukup lama kami menunggu antrian, setelah mendapat giliran menyebrang, hari sudah mulai malam. Akhirnya saya dan suami memutuskan untuk naik ke lantai atas kapal feri dari pada menunggu di dalam bis yang berada di geladak dasar/deck kapal. Berdua kami menikmati lautan di malam hari, seperti orang sedang berpacaran (tapi jangan dikonotasikan negatif, karena disekitarnya banyak orang), sambil sesekali mencari jajanan untuk makan malam. Subhannallah begitu indahnya memandang laut, serasa diri ini kerdil di antara ciptaan- Mu. Sayangnya perjalanannya di malam hari,jika siang hari mungkin kami bisa melihat ikan-ikan yang suka muncul di permukaan laut, sambil sesekali terbang. Waktupun berjalan sepertinya cepat sekali saat kami menyebrangi Selat Sunda, hingga kapalpun harus merapat di Pelabuhan Bakahueni, Lampung. Sampai juga kami di Ujung Timur Sumatra, untuk kemudian meneruskan perjalanan kembali.

Dari Pelabuhan Bakahueni, perjalanan dilanjutkan melalui daerah Lampung, Sumatra Selatan, Jambi kemudian sampailah di kota Padang malam keesokan harinya.

Penat rasanya melakukan perjalanan dengan memakan waktu 2 hari satu malam, tapi kami tetap bersyukur karena akhirnya sampai juga di rumah orang tua suamiku. Hari kedua saya dan suami pergi berkunjung ke saudara-saudara,dengan sesekali diselingi berjalan kaki dan membeli jajanan khas Padang. Kemudian kami singgah dulu ke Museum Adityawarman, tempat menyimpan dan melestarikan benda-benda bersejarah yang berhubungan dengan cagar budaya Minangkabau, Mentawai dan Indonesia.
Hari ketiga pergi ke pantai Muaro, sambil menikmati keindahan alam, tak lupa kami memesan minuman es kelapa, yang langsung diminum dari batok kelapanya. Segar rasanya menikmati pemandangan di siang hari sambil minum es kelapa. Kemudian dengan santai berjalan-jalan di pasir, sambil menunggu sun set tiba. Kalau sudah begini, rasanya hidup ini indah terus.

Hari keempat pagi-pagi sekali sudah wisata kuliner, mencari lontong sayur khas padang, siang sedikit makan sate Laweh, eh terus makan di rumah makan Pagi Sore. Setelah sholat dzuhur kami (saya, suami, ibu mertua, paman dan bibi suami, serta sepupu suami) berencana pergi ke Payakumbuh. Di jalan kami sempat berhenti membeli kue apem mariana, lumayan buat ganjal perut. Sebelum sampai di Payakumbumbuh, kami melewati Air Terjun Lembah Anai, di dalam kawasan Cagar Alam lembah Anai. Air Terjun Lembah Anai ini salah satunya terletak di pinggir jalan, sehingga dengan mudah bisa dilihat. Konon kabarnya Cagar Alam Lembah Anai banyak terdapat tanaman langka seperti bunga bangkai, cempedak air, madang siapi-api dan lain-lain. Sedangkan untuk hewan langkanya terdapat harimau Sumatra, Siamang, kera ekor panjang, beruk, trenggiling, burung punai, burung elang, burung balam dan burung puyuh. Karena perut mulai terasa lapar, di kota Padang Panjang kami berhenti untuk menikmati Sate Mak Syukur.
erjalanan pun langsung dilanjutkan ke Payakumbuh tanpa singgah di Bukittinggi. Di Payakumbuh kami menginap di rumah saudara, yang kebetulan tempatnya dekat dengan daerah wisata. Makan malam dilakukan tepat di perbatasan Sumbar-Riau. Pagi-pagi sekali setelah sarapan kami pergi menuju daerah wisata di Payakumbuh yaitu air terjun di Lembah Harau. Karena masih pagi,kami sangat menikmat segarnya udara pagi, belum lagi melihat keindahan alamnya. selain pergi ke air terjun Lembah Harau, kami pun melintasi Lembah Harau yang masih asri, jauh dari kebisingan kota. Jarang-jarang kami bisa menikmati suasana pedesaan, maka puji dan syukur tiada hentinya terucap. Setelah puas berkeliling di daerah Lembah Harau, perjalanan pun dilanjutkan kembali menuju Bukittinggi.

Akhirnya sampai juga deh di Bukittinggi. Untuk mengganjal perut yang sudah keroncongan, kami pergi ke pasar Lereng, di samping pasar Atas, untuk menikmati Nasi Kapau. Di sanalah pertama kalinya saya melihat gulai Tambusu (usus sapi) yang diisi dengan telur. Pokoknya makanannya enak-enak deh. Selesai makan kami pergi ke pasar Atas untuk membeli oleh-oleh seperti : jangek (kerupuk kulit), serta sandal khasnya. Tak lupa kami pun berfoto-foto di bawah Jam Gadang. Karena Paman suami beserta keluarga hendak menginap di hotel Novotel, maka kami pun check in dulu untuk memesan kamar. Setelah barang-barang masuk, kami melanjutkan pergi ke Gedung pertemuan Bung Hatta (Istana Bung Hatta) yang berada satu kompleks dengan hotel Novotel, karena hotel itu dibangun di atas tanah milik ibu Rachmi Hatta, istri dari bung Hatta(wakil presiden RI pertama).

Dari sana kami pun berangkat menuju Panorama,yang mana dari tempat itu dapat melihat pemandangan Ngarai Sianok, Subhanalloh suatu perpaduan yang cantik, antara lembah, bukit dan sungai. Tak henti-hentinya saya merasa takjub melihatnya. Makanya tidaklah mengherankan jika Ngarai Sianok mendapat julukan "Grand Canyon Indonesia".
Masih satu kompleks dengan panorama, kami menjumpai Gua Jepang. Untuk memasuki gua ini, harus menuruni tangga dimana anak tangganya berjumlah 128, dengan kedalaman sekitar 40 meter. Untuk masuk dan keluar dari terowongan terdapat 3 pintu utama dan 6 pintu darurat. Namun hanya satu pintu utama yang digunakan untuk umum yaitu pintu yang berada di taman panorama. Setelah puas berkeliling di taman panorama, akhirnya saya dan suami memutuskan untuk pulang ke Padang, sementara paman beserta keluarganya akan menginap di Bukittinggi.
Saya dan suami pulang berdua saja, sambil menikmati kebersamaan, walaupun harus bergelantungan di dalam bis.
Sore hari kami sudah sampai di Padang. Siap-siap bantuin masak buat acara besok. Hari kelima, ada acara makan-makan dan mendo'a (pengajian), sebagai tanda syukur bisa kumpul dan bertemu saudara-saudara.

Hari keenam, kami jalan-jalan di seputar Padang untuk wisata kuliner. Kami membeli keripik sanjai (singkong balado), karak kaliang, dakak-dakak, dan kue bawang. Sambil jalan-jalan berdua, kami menikmati es durian yang sangat terkenal di daerah pondok. Sore harinya kami pergi untuk membeli Martabak Kubang dan Roti Cane. Kalau begini terus-terusan bisa gemuk nih. Malam harinya kami kemas-kemas untuk kepulangan esok.

Hari ketujuh, saya, suami, ibu mertua beserta paman dan keluarganya pulang ke Bandung. Kali ini kami tidak naik bis lagi, tapi naik pesawat. Maklumlah esok hari sudah harus masuk kerja lagi. Sungguh perjalanan yang melelahkan sekaligus menyenangkan untuk bulan madu kami.



The roads in most of West Sumatra


fter nearly three months half of our marriage, my husband and I just could plan a visit to his hometown in Padang. Actually this trip outside of the plan, but because after seeing red on the calendar many successive, my husband and I finally decided to go into the field.
Before leaving me, must finish the job I'll leave, because I plan to all take a leave for the honeymoon. So too it is with husbands.

We decided to go into the field by using the bus, considering this trip should not rush. From Bandung, we departed at ten in the morning, then a bus stop earlier in Poll Jakarta, then travel resumed. Bus that took us have to queue up at the port of Merak, because it will make the crossing by using the ferry. We waited long enough queue, after a turn crossing, it was already night. Finally my husband and I decided to go upstairs on the ferry waiting on a bus that was in the basic deck / deck boats. Together we enjoyed the ocean at night, like people were dating (but not negative connotations for many people around), while occasionally looking for snacks for dinner. Subhannallah so wonderful sea view, this seemed self-dwarf among Thy creation. Unfortunately the journey at night, if during the day maybe we could see fish like sea surface, while occasionally fly. Waktupun running so fast it seems as we crossed the Strait of Sunda, to be docked in Port kapalpun Bakahueni, Lampung. Until we are also in the eastern tip of Sumatra, to then continue the journey back.
From Port Bakahueni, we travel through the area of Lampung, South Sumatra, Jambi and Padang night arrived in town the next day.
Feel tired take a trip with 2 days one night, but we remain grateful for finally arrived at my husband's parents' house. The second day my husband and I went to visit relatives, interspersed with the occasional walk and buy snacks typical Padang. Then we stopped once to the Museum Adityawarman, where storing and preserving historical objects related to cultural preservation Minangkabau and Mentawai
The third day Muaro go to the beach, while enjoying the beauty of nature, do not forget we ordered drinks coconut ice, which directly taken from coconut shells. Fresh taste enjoy the scenery during the day, drinking iced coconut. Then a leisurely stroll on the sand, waiting for the sun sets arrive. If you already like this, it feels wonderful life continues.
Fourth day early this morning has been a culinary tour, looking for typical vegetable rice cake plain, a little eating satay Laweh afternoon, eh keep eating at the restaurant early afternoon. After praying Dhuhr we (me, husband, mother-in-law, uncle and aunt's husband, and cousin's husband) are planning to go to Payakumbuh. In a way we could stop buying cakes apem Mariana, bad for the stomach padding. Prior to the Payakumbumbuh, we passed the Anai Valley Waterfall, in the area of the Anai Nature Reserve. Anai Valley Waterfall is one of them is located at the curb, so that could easily be seen. The legend says Anai Valley Nature Reserve there are many rare plants such as carrion flower, water Cempedak, Madang Siapi-fire and others. While for the animals there are rare Sumatran Tiger, gibbon, long-tailed macaque, monkey, pangolin, doves, eagles, birds and quail Balam. Because the stomach began to feel hungry, in the town of Padang Panjang we stopped to enjoy Sate Mak syukur .

Continued to travel immediately without a stopover in Bukittinggi Payakumbuh. In Payakumbuh we stay at home brother, who happened to his place near the tourist area. Dinner is done right on the border of West Sumatra, Riau. Early morning after breakfast we headed to the tourist area in Payakumbuh Harau waterfall in the valley. Because it was still morning, we were very menikmat the fresh morning air, yet to see its natural beauty. besides going to the waterfall Harau Valley, we went across the valley Harau still beautiful, far from the city noise. It's not often we can enjoy the rural atmosphere, then the praise and gratitude incessantly spoken. After being around in the area Harau Valley, the trip was followed back to Bukittinggi.

Finally arrived in Bukittinggi deh. To block the stomach is already growling, we went to the market Slope, next to the market, to enjoy the Nasi Kapau. That's where I first saw Tambusu goulash (beef intestines), filled with eggs. Anyway food was delicious deh. Finished eating, we went to the market to buy souvenirs such as: jangek (crisp skin), as well as his trademark sandals. Not to forget we even took a picture-photo under the Clock Tower. Because Uncle husbands and families want to stay at the Novotel hotel, so we check in once for a reservation. Once goods come in, we continued to go to the House meeting Bung Hatta (Bung Hatta Palace) situated one complex with the Novotel hotel, because the hotel was built on land owned by the mother Rachmi Hatta, wife of the man Hatta (Indonesia's first vice president).

From there we departed for the Panorama, which is from where it can see the canyon scenery Sianok, Subhanalloh a fusion of beauty, between the valleys, hills and rivers. Unceasingly I was amazed to see it. Hence it is not surprising if the canyon Sianok got the nickname "Grand Canyon of Indonesia."

Still a complex with panoramic views, we come across the Cave of Japan. In order to enter this cave, had to descend a staircase where the steps amounted to 128, with a depth of about 40 meters. To enter and exit the tunnel there are 3 main doors and emergency exit 6. However, only one main door which is used for the doors that are common in the park panorama. After being around in the park panorama, my husband and I finally decided to go into the field, while the uncle and his family will stay in Bukittinggi.

My husband and I go home alone, while enjoying time together, despite having to hang on a bus.

In the evening we had reached the Padang. Ready-cooked ready bantuin create event tomorrow. Fifth day, there was a bite to eat and pray (recitation), as a sign of gratitude could gather and meet relatives.

Sixth day, we walk around the Padang for culinary tourism. We bought chips sanjai (cassava Balado), character kaliang, dakak-dakak, and onion cake. Taking a walk together, we enjoy a very famous durian ice in the cabin area. In the afternoon we went to buy bread Murtabak Kubang and Cane. If this can keep fat nih. Boxed evening we pack up to return tomorrow.

Seventh day, my husband, mother-in-law beserta uncle and his family returned to Bandung. This time we did not ride the bus again, but on a plane. Tomorrow it's known has had to work again. It's been a long journey at the same time enjoyable for our honeymoon.