richard's posts with tag: the awakening minang
(continuation of Part II http://richardkurni.multiply.com/journal/item/10/West_Sumatra_-_The_Rising_Star_Part_II ) ........ and taste in cooking ‘Ayam Pop’.  I did not want to be too late to reach Danau Kembar (Twin Lake), since I felt uncomfortable with the booking system of the cottage owned by Local Government (Pemda). Moreover, I would like to take picture of sunset in Danau Kembar. Those were why after my visit in Museum Minangkabau and finished my lunch, I rushed to Danau Kembar and just stopped by few minutes in Singkarak Lake to take a rest and to take pictures for sure. My driver did not seem understand what I wanted (or should I ask him to speed up directly?), so that he drove as usual whilst I needed faster to catch up sunset on Danau Kembar. I arrived in Danau Kembar after dusk and missed the sunset and reddish sky.
As I had thought before that I was concern with the management of Government-owned cottage, I found difficulties to check in this cottage. The officer was not there and left no message to the people in the cottage. His family did not know anything and could not take any action to their guest like me. His cell phone could not be contacted too. Arrkhh, I was getting upset. Lucky me, I had contact of his superior who was coincidentally the relative of my colleague in Jakarta. So I called him and told him what happened. My friend’s relative act was pretty quick, he talked directly to officer’s wife and asked her to provide me small cottage so that I could check in right away. I got simple small cottage with very modest furniture and less than minimum kitchen equipment. I did not care of those things, but I did care about cleanliness and hot water, since I knew this place would be so cold in the night and in the morning. The bathroom was not good and the water in the bath was not look clean, but there was new water heater, thanked Lord! But it did not work (or the boy who took care of the cottage did not know how to operate that?), so I tried to operate that myself. And thanked Lord again, I made it. After that I prepared the bed for better quality sleep in the cold weather, had dinner from snacks and left Martabak Mesir I brought from Bukittinggi. When I came out of the cottage, I saw millions of stars in the clean dark sky, very beautiful! So, I took picture of them. I also took picture of the huge cottage in front of mine. That cottage seemed to be luxurious and well maintained. I did not know how much their rate was, but I believed it would be much more expensive than mine. I did not have lots of thing to do again and would like to wake up pretty early tomorrow, so that I slept a little early and set my PDA to ring me up tomorrow, hopping that tomorrow morning would have clear sky as the night had before.  In the next morning I woke up before my PDA rang. Perhaps because I was so exiting to take picture of beautiful sunrise or because I was so cold, ha3x. When I opened the curtains, I saw that the sky was starting reddish, so that I rushed to backyard and started taking pictures. Even though I could take pictures of reddish sky, I could not take pictures of the sun itself due to the cloud in the east, too bad. I ran to the front office looking for my driver. I would like to go to ‘Danau di Bawah’ (Lower Lake) to take picture of beautiful sunrise from there. But it seemed my driver was not ready; the car was not there, so that I was disappointed, since I had asked him to come at 6 am in the morning. Perhaps, he thought that I would use the car late morning just like several days before (he should not think that way, since he never knew what I had in mind, and as our agreement. I paid him full day of service).
Then I had to change my plan by taking pictures around ‘Danau di Atas’ (Upper Lake) where the cottage was located. Anyway, I was not so disappointed because I made lots of great picture around the Lake. The direction of the sunlight was just perfect and the sky was so blue, so the scenery around ‘Danau di Atas’ was so breathtaking. I took pictures of small port, stones in the shallow lake, small kids playing in the shallow water, and many other things. I waited pretty long to take pictures of small boat passing by me, but it was worthwhile waiting. I was so amazed to see the cold but crystal clear water in that lake. I was imaging that I could dive here someday. After that I came back to the front office and I found my driver and the car were already there, ready for service. I talked to the driver that he was supposed to be there much earlier as I told him in the night before. He just said sorry for his mistake. Okay, no problem, I asked him to have breakfast in the front office, while I was packing up my luggage. I only had an apple and few crispy for my breakfast. Finished my luggage, I went to the front office to settle my bill. I was surprised that the officer asked for higher rate. How come? That was not the price I was promised by his superior. With a little argument I settled the payment. (sshhh, it was not supposed to happen, since it just ruined the cottage image). My destination right now was ‘Danau di Bawah’, the destination that I missed this early morning. To see ‘Danau di Bawah’ I had to go to the place called The Peak. As I predicted, I was asked for money to get in there with no ticket receipt (I was tired of this shameful conduct). Not like ‘Danau di Atas’, ‘Danau di Bawah’ could not be reached closely to touch the water. I only saw it from The Peak. The Peak Garden had many beautiful flowers for sale. I took pictures of the landscape and several flowers in that garden. I talked to the driver to find a road to get closer to the lake. I hoped that I could see the lake closely and touched the water. My driver said that he had talked to local people and he would find the way. But it seemed that the information he got was invalid, he never found the way. Then I directed the car by my instinct to find the way. I chose the small road in the left side before The Peak. That road was good but small, so that the driver would have to be really careful when there was other car up front. The road I chose could only get me closer to the lake, and to literally touch the water I had to walk through bush or hundreds meter through the fields owned by local people. I decided not to do that, but I took several pictures of ‘Danau di Bawah’ from different locations that I did not go there in the previous trip. I also look into the map I had brought from Jakarta, and I found that the map was not so detail to show the small road circling the lake, but I saw that the road I chose were shortcut to Solok. I asked the driver to go back again, since I never planned to use this road, and more over I would like to go to ‘Danau di Atas’ again but in the different section. I think I do not have to mention again that I was asked again for money with no ticket receipt when entering the tourism area in ‘Danau di Atas’. This place was worse than The Peak, not clean, no flower, but I could touch the water just like in front of the cottage.  There was bigger port but less artistic compared to the port in front of the cottage, where big boat, that perhaps used by tourist, was tied up. There were also several aggressive sellers compared to those in The Peak, selling marquise fruit. I saw some fishermen working on his net-ponds, while others were fishing. Walking to the right side, I found garbage and human drops in the lake, ah, what a pity! Anyhow, I made good pictures in this area. Felt that I had enough pictures, I came back to my car and drove back to Padang since that day was the last day in west Sumatra. On the way back to Padang, I stopped at Panorama II ‘Sitinjau Laut’ to see scenery of Andalas cement factory and city of Padang in the far background. Just like I saw in my previous visit, the scenery was not clear, perhaps because of air pollution of the cement factory. So, I did not get great pictures from this place. I was not interested to stop at Panorama I and just took picture of the location from the car. I arrived in Padang just before noon, and I stopped to the biggest mall in Padang, that, as I guessed, was as good as small and simple mall in Jakarta. But that was okay, since I just needed to know further how the mall in Padang looked like, and also wanted to have lunch there. After that, I went to snacks shop. That time I chose ‘Rohana Kudus’ shop at ‘Rohana Kudus’ street instead of ‘Christine Hakim’ shop I had gone in the previous trip. I bought some snacks to bring home and to give my colleague in Jakarta. And the last destination in Padang would surely be the airport. I arrived there about three hours before the flight schedule. I settled the payment of car rent to the driver at the airport after I downloaded my luggage. I also gave some bonus for his excellent services and promised him that his name ‘Sikar’ and his # 0852 657 27319, would be in my note and trip report. So that, he would hopefully be more known and have more clients next time, he3x. Since I had plenty time in the airport, I did not want to check in my luggage earlier, for safety reason and for faster baggage claim in Jakarta. But after several passengers checked in, then I did that too. Still I had plenty time in the waiting room, so that I came out again and took picture in 2nd floor airport hall. So funny, that several airport officers in the 1st floor gave hand signs that it was not allowed to take picture. How come? It was clear in my mind that in my previous visit with other photographers to west Sumatra, we were free to take picture in the hall of airport. Or perhaps since I was alone, so that they were afraid and guessed that I was terrorist who planned to bomb? Gee, what a negative thought!  The flight was a little bit late behind schedule, but that was okay since I would be able to take picture of reddish sky during sunset from the flying aircraft. And lucky me, the plane was not full, so that I could move freely inside the plane to take picture. Surely I took pictures of beautiful crews as well, ha3x. What a wonderful and unforgettable trip! I was not satisfied and would like to go there again someday, especially to Danau Kembar and some islands that I did not go in this trip, such as Mentawai and Siberut islands. I also heard that there were great resorts in the small islands, such as Cubadak resort and Macaroni resort. I hoped I would have chance to go there!
Note: Only one small advice for local government of west Sumatra: They should manage landscape plan so that the building and electricity pole would not ruin the exotic scenery. (More photoes will be uploaded in the gallery soon)
 In the beginning, this trip was planned to celebrate special occasion and to fulfill the passion of going to the exotic land in Sumatra, which was decided that would be West Sumatra, a.k.a. Ranah Minang. This trip had been scheduled for such a long time, more than 3 months ago, but the itinerary was only developed for only few days before the D day. Lucky me, that I had enough information to set up this trip in a very short time. All the data, such as accommodation and car rental were in the pocket. So the accommodation plan was to stay one night in Echo Resort, Harau; two nights in Bukittinggi, Novotel Hotel; and one night in Pemda Cottage in Danau Kembar. Surely the points of interest would be in the surrounding area where I stayed. I had been so excited several days before the schedule.
Only two days before I went to Sumatra I called and booked the hotel and car rental. Too bad, Novotel - Bukittinggi told me that they were fully booked. So the second choice was Grand Malindo, the much simpler hotel close to Ngarai Sihanouk (as I had information from the mailist). I rented Innova for my daily transportation, but the next day I changed to Avanza to save fuel. The only concern was about booking Cottage in Danau Kembar, which was hard to contact the PIC, but later I had contact his superior, who was coincidentally the relative of my colleague in Jakarta.
The schedule of the flight (AirAsia) was comfortable in the daytime, but the flight itself was delayed for about 30 minutes. I sent sms to the car rent to let them know about the delay before boarding. During flying, I took the picture of beautiful cabin crews.
After the lunchtime, I arrived in Padang airport and the driver was ready to pick me up. The driver seemed to be familiar with all routes in west Sumatra. We agreed to discuss further about the itinerary to ease the route and to save time during lunch in Lamun Ombak Restaurant. During lunch we also developed additional points of destination, so that we would have more objects to see. Btw, I just knew during lunch discussion that Pinang Juice was supposed to be consumed by male to improve stamina.
We left Lamun Ombak for Anai Valley to see the beautiful panorama and Aie Mancua of Anai. This time was not so crowd as I went there before. I felt much freer to take picture; I went to the river in front of the waterfall and also to the four holes beneath the bridge to take picture. I just remembered that Harau was still far away so I had to go to reach there before dark. The driver drove the car a little slow (compared to how I drove) and also drove through village streets to show the beauty of Minang land. Since I did not know the driver well, I did not want him to speed up. He showed me the longest straight flat road on Minang, while to me that was not that special, but that was okay too. He also talked about several stories about the land during the driving that I believed slow down the speed. I reached Echo Resort at Harau Valley just after the sunset. And since the resort was located in the small but steep valley, the sunlight was easily blocked away; and the result was that resort became darker than the other place in the open valley at the same time.
I did not have much time to take picture in Echo Resort when I arrived; moreover I had to choose which hut I would stay tonight. So the best way was that I saw all the available huts and in the same time I took picture inside the hut. At that night, only we who stayed there, so we would not disturb or be disturbed by other guest, he3x. After I chose the hut, I told the driver that enough for him to drive for today and he was free. He seemed to be a little astonish that he only served till dusk, but he was also happy that he did not have to work hard. He even offered to take me to see around Payakumbuh in the night, but I would prefer to take rest instead and asked him to come back again tomorrow morning at 7 am.
The resort provided the delicious orange welcome drink, so I ordered only ‘Mie Rebus’ for the dinner. The hut was equipped with television with limited channel, unique style room, and exotic open-air bathroom. Very classy I would say, but some windows did not have curtain, so I had to close it with bedcover! I did not have lots of activity that night, so I only saw some pictures I took during the day, saved it into photo bank and charged the battery. For those who are concern about insects, they should be well prepared for it, since those hut had lot of insects, such as spiders, beetles, and sometime cockroach; as proven there were several spider nets in the hut and one cockroach entered my sweet welcome drink during midnight.
 I woke up a little late, since I assumed that the sunrise would not be so interesting in the middle of small-steep valley. And even so, I still had difficulties to take picture, since there were uneven mist in the scenery of that valley (anyway, I was not an expert in taking picture, ha3x). So, what could I do? I just shot anything I could do the best, including the Echo Point, the point where the sound would be echoed the best. I also had a chit-chat with several local people to have more information of surrounding area. After that, I came back to the hut, took shower and then had breakfast. Not so long, my rented driver and car had arrived. But I was again taking pictures after I saw the light was more ‘friendly’. After packed up and finished the resort bill (I did not forget to give him several advises to improve resort performance, especially about insects problem), I continued the trip to the ‘deeper’ Harau. I heard from the local people that there were several waterfalls not so far from the resort. Surely the different waterfall that I had seen in the previous trip a month ago.
As the local people said, I found two waterfalls out of several more informed. One of them were in distance so I could not take picture, while the other one was so close till I could play in the waterfall basin. But as usual, the easier people to reach the waterfall, the worse the condition. After that, I continued to the waterfalls that I had seen in the previous trip. There were three waterfalls located close to each other. In the previous trip I went to only two waterfalls, this time I went to all three of them. I met students who were having research on the waterfall basins and its streams. I did not know what kind of chemical they brought but it seemed complicated. I saw that they were cheerful and had plenty spare time, since they were taking picture during their research. Satisfied of taking picture, I ran to Bukittinggi and started to explore the next interesting destinations on the way to Bukittinggi and its surrounding.
 Before I reached Bukittinggi, I was passing Payakumbuh and stopping over on Ngalau Indah. Ngalau Indah was an old huge cave. There were several openings in this cave; one of them was so big. There were several stalagmites and stalactites, and unique-shape stones, which were named by local people (I can’t remember all the names). There were also high and completely dark ceiling where hundreds (or millions) of bat hanging there. I could only hear the voice of those bats. To see them, I took picture with full power strobe (I had only built-in strobe, hiks) and high ISO camera. About guano? Surely I could smell the guano. Inside the cave I could only see mostly brownish color of stone, but when I took picture, it showed its original partly green color, since there were many algae (or fungus or else?) on those stones. I could also see town of Payakumbuh from the opening behind the cave. Sun was already high and I was hungry, so I looked for lunch.
My appetite was satisfied in Restaurant ‘Pergaulan’ in Payakumbuh. My driver said that was popular restaurant in Payakumbuh. To me the taste was just so-so and their ‘Dendeng’ was so hard to chew, too bad.
My Car continued heading to Puncak Pato, the place that I never heard before. This one based on the information from my driver. He said that this was one of the famous places to see the beautiful scenery from the hilltop. It did not take so much time to reach there, but truly speaking I was not satisfied with the scenery; the area was surrounded by high bushes and small pines, so that I could not enjoyed the scenery from the hilltop. Only the cool wind satisfied my heart and body, so relaxing. However, I took picture vertically among the pines and picture of small building that was said had history, but what history? I did not know. O yap, I must note that there was guard who asked me money to pass the gate, while there was no ticket as receipt. To be honest, that was not noble conduct for Indonesian tourism image; more over the place was not good and not well maintained.
During driving, I realized that the domes of many mosques in West Sumatra had different shape compared to most of them in Java. They were unique, so that I took picture of them usually when my driver committed his praying rituals.
No so far from Puncak Pato, my next destination was Tabek Patah. This was also said by the driver that I might enjoy the scenery from the garden on the hilltop. And again, I was asked for money to get in there without ticket receipt; such a shameful conduct I must say. But yes, at least the scenery was better than Puncak Pato. The maintenance of the garden? Do not even ask that, since you will get unsatisfying answer, how ever I took several macro pictures of flower here.
My driver also advised me to stop over on Batu Angkek-angkek. I could not remember why I refused to go there, but if I am not mistaken that was because I was behind schedule. Beside that, I could not remember what the special of Kelok Sembilan (another destination that I missed) was. And that was why I did not have picture and story of it (or is it just a name of district in Kabupaten Tanah Datar which has many tourist objects?). But I can remember that I refused to see a place (can’t remember the name) where there was pond containing sacred fish. It was said that during Idul Fitri, the ‘mother’ of that sacred fish (which was said so big) would show for only one night. I had heard so many resemble story in Java and I had seen big fresh-water fish from Kalimantan, Papua, Thailand, and Amazon, so I felt that I was not curious to see those sacred fish.
 The time when I arrived in Bukittinggi was just right! Yes, because I wanted to see the sunset in Ngarai Sihanouk. Seemed that the officers in the gate were already gone and there were only several young men with warrior look ‘preman’ sitting around the gate. I paid ‘the ticket’ (and again with no ticket receipt) to those young men. I entered the garden through well-built stairs and saw many things. The garden seemed well maintained; I saw few monkeys in the bush, took picture of many things, the valley, the monkeys, the monument, and the Japanese Cave, which was closed due to the earthquake happened before. I walked to west of the Garden passing by souvenir shops to see the sunset. Unfortunately, the sky was not so clear so that I could not record the beauty of sunset on Sihanouk Valley. Whilst hundreds of the giant bat came out from the east part of the valley started to fly to the North West looking for their food. Local people said that there were giant trees east down there in the valley where the giant bats stay during daylong. I was surprised to see a local young man riding motorcycle running around in the garden; how come? How could that motorcycle enter the garden through the stairs and gate? But, I found the answer myself; I believed that there must be other way to get in the garden beside the official gate. Time was ticking and after the sunset I came back to the parking lot and drove the car to Malindo Hotel.
Malindo Hotel was so close to other smaller but official gate of the garden I entered before (So the information about Malindo location I had from the mailister was accurate). I planned to take picture again tomorrow morning in Sihanouk Valley. A little surprise that this hotel did not have elevator, so that I had to use stairs to go to my room in 3rd floor. I took shower and then I went to Novotel Hotel. I was curious about this hotel since it was said this was the most beautiful hotel in Bukittinggi. After the driver dropped me in Novotel, I asked the driver to come tomorrow morning at 8 am, since I knew that I would go out late after taking picture tomorrow morning.
I was very surprised when I was checking the room availability in Novotel; several days before I went to Padang, the hotel was fully book, but when I was there, there were several rooms available. Too bad, I had checked in the Malindo Hotel, which could not be canceled. I should have checked in Novotel before I went to Malindo, phew. The Novotel officer said, that they did not receive any booking order from distance and the polite way to say that was by saying the hotel was fully book. Okay, I accepted their reason and then I booked a room for tomorrow, since my plan was to stay in Bukittinggi for 2 nights. I also requested to have a room with view to Mountain Merapi and Singgalang, which was accepted and confirmed by the female officer.
 Dealing with the officer done, I went to the Novotel backyard, and took several pictures over there. I was so occupied in taking picture around the pool, till the security guard came to me and said hello:
“What can I do, Sir?” (Oh gee, perhaps the way I took picture made him curious, ha3x) “No thanks, I just wanna take picture of this beautiful yard, don’t bother, I ‘ll be okay” And he replied “Oh, taking pictures? Ah ohh, I see, I thought you ‘re in trouble till crawling beside the pool” “Ohh, I ‘m just fine, no worry, and thanks for asking” I replied back. And then he went away. Finished taking pictures in the backyard, I also took picture in the lobby hall, even though I knew that I would be here again tomorrow night; but perhaps tomorrow might not be the same.
After I felt enough taking picture in Novotel, I walked to Gadang Clock Garden area, which was close to Novotel and looked for dinner. Hmm, seemed every food was in Minang style, so I decided to have KFC for the late dinner. After that, I walked around the Gadang Clock Garden, watching the ‘Pasar Atas’ (Pasar Ateh) that was closed already; only ‘Kaki Lima’ traders were still open in front of the ‘Pasar Atas’. I continued walking downward to Jend. Sudirman street, passing the hotel I had stayed during my previous trip, but then I turned back to Malindo Hotel since it was very late around 11 pm. I chose short cut from Novotel to Malindo, which was a little bit spooky in the night due to minimum light and almost no other pedestrian.
I woke up a little late in the morning, so that the reddish sky was gone, but I was still optimist to go to Sihanouk Valley Viewing Garden as I had planned in the day before. That morning I was guided by my own instinct to find the motor way into the garden. And yeah, I found it, even though I was lost for a little while.
In the morning, situation of the garden was quite different compared to it at dusk. The ray of light breached out among trees creating a natural painting of lights. Whilst lots of monkey came out from the bush and looked for their breakfast in the garbage containers or asked to the early coming visitors; few of those monkeys were having ritual to preserve their existence. I also took pictures of the valley with the background of mountain Singgalang, which was relatively clear from cloud in the morning. I also walked down through the steep stairs in the west-side of the garden, curious what was down there, as local guide had said a day before that those stairs were the path for trekking to the valley heading to the home of giant bats. After walking down for a while, I changed my mind and decided to go back for three reasons. Firstly, I believed the trekking path was pretty long; secondly, the stairs was so steep so that climbing back would be very exhausting; thirdly, I did not want to be late to go back to the hotel.
Back to the hotel, I took morning shower and continued to have breakfast. A little late breakfast so that I had to ask the hotel to add more food in the buffet table. I was ready to check out after 9 am, more than one hour behind schedule. My driver was a little bit surprised to see me checking out from the hotel since I planned to stay two nights in Bukittinggi. Then I explained that I wanted to move to Novotel. By the way, Novotel officer had called me to make sure that I would not cancel my booking. My car headed right away to Novotel and I saw my name was on the guest list box in the lobby, what a surprise.
But such a high profile international hotel like Novotel, could not fulfill what they had promised me before. They had confirmed in the day before that I would have a room with a view of mountain Merapi and Singgalang, but the day I checked in I got room with view of Bukittinggi town. I surely asked to change room as they had promised before. And they confirmed to move my luggage to the new room, while I was going out. Okay, I considered case closed. The next destination was ......... (to be continued at Part II http://richardkurni.multiply.com/journal/item/10/West_Sumatra_-_The_Rising_Star_Part_II)
|  | These are just several beautiful photoes,... wanna see more? please drop me an email.
Enjoy the beauty of West Sumatra |
 Catper ini mestinya dibikin lebih cepat, namun karena kebanyakan jalan jadi tertunda hampir dua bulan sejak perjalanan terjadi sebelum perjalanan gue ke Papua; jadi mungkin sebagian juga sudah lupa dan menjadi kurang akurat. Perjalanan ini bagi gue mungkin lebih tepat sebagai penjajakan untuk berbagai alasan. Pertama, karena jalan sama para photographer pro yang notabenenya tidak satupun yang gue kenal secara langsung selain via imel itupun satu dua orang saja. Kedua, gue blom pernah ke Ranah Minang seblomnya. Ketiga, gue tidak tahu persis sejarah diskusi itinerary trip para photographer ini, jadi gue pasrah ‘bongkokan’ ajah dengan taste para photographer pro ini. Keempat, sebenernya pendaftaran juga sudah close, namun mungkin ada alasan tertentu sehingga panitia mau mengajak gue untuk ikut; Wah senangnya…. Hehhehe.
Berhubung sangat excited dan mesti nyiapin ini itu, maka bisa dikatakan gue sangat kurang tidur saat berangkat ke airport dipagi buta tgl 4 April 2007. Matahari blom terbit saat gue tiba di airport Cengkareng dan mulai berkenalan satu persatu dengan anggota rombongan dan panitia. Subuh, saat mentari terbit, pesawat take-off menuju Padang. Perjalanan hampir 2 jam berlangsung dengan mulus. Di pesawat kebetulan bersebelahan dengan seorang ibu photographer yang manis dimana gue bisa berguru. Sementara sebelah satunya adalah photographer gaek yang tidak diragukan lagi reputasinya. Ngobrolnya, waduh, secara gue masiy coba-coba moto, jadi rasanya gue jadi pendengar yang setia, bahkan kalo mo nanyak ajah gue gak tau mesti nanyak dari mana? Kampungan yak, kayak bumi dan langit. Namun demikian mereka adalah orang yang sangat ramah dan penuh canda, gue juga bisa belajar dari mereka, walau seringkali gue tidak tau mau bertanya apa.
Setiba di airport Padang, ternyata rombongan disambut oleh pejabat setempat, wah gue tidak menduga kalo ada protokoler pake kata sambutan dan ada wartawan alias bakal masuk mass-media, hahahha. Memang hebat panitianya, te o pe be ge te deh.
Ada satu hal bikin gue makin njiper pergi bersama photographer pro, adalah saat melihat photo gear mereka keluar dari railway bagasi. Haduh, ampun deh, bener2 silau mata gue hehhehe.
 Ternyata di Bandara Padang sudah siap juga 3 orang cewek model yang akan ikut bersama. Setelah briefing singkat dari panitia dan pembagian mobil bagi rombongan beserta drivernya serta photo keluarga di halaman parkir airport, kami langsung berangkat untuk lunch di restoran Lamun Ombak yang tidak terlalu jauh dari airport dalam perjalanan menuju Lembah Anai. Pagi hari yang belum sempat sarapan jelas membuat brunch rombongan jadi kalap. Bagi gue pribadi resto Lamun Ombak bukanlah sangat istimewa, namun mungkin karena tastenya yang bisa diterima pendatang dan lokasi strategis sehingga menjadikan resto ini terkenal dimata pendatang.
Perjalanan langsung berlanjut ke lembah Anai tepatnya menuju bangunan yang berfungsi sebagai gardu pandang untuk menikmati panorama lembah Anai, namanya Bukit Tambun Tulang. Bangunan ini ada keretakan karena terjadinya gempa beberapa bulan yang lampau. Namun dari informasi orang setempat masih cukup aman untuk dipergunakan sehingga kami tetap mendatanginya dan juga berfoto ria di sana. Sebagian peserta ada yang langsung berjalan kaki ke air terjun lembah Anai yang tidak terlalu jauh (penduduk setempat menyebutnya Aie Mancua/ Air Mancur). Namun sebagian menumpang mobil juga. Di air terjun ini kami kembali motret sana sini. Termasuk juga motret kondisi perkemahan pengungsi disekitar rel kereta (rel kereta yang katanya akan diresmikan penggunaannya kembali, namun tertunda karena gempa), motret gorong-gorong air didepan air terjun, juga sungai berbatu di seberang rel. Banyak lah obyek yang bisa dijadikan obyek foto, justru modelnya sendiri jadi kurang ‘laku’ hahaha. Di sini terjadi pula musibah pertama, dimana rekan photographer N ada yang terjatuh disungai sehingga sikunya terluka, namun kamera selamat, hanya photobanknya yang ‘klelep’. Sementara satu rekan cewek D juga terjatuh di bahu rel kereta dengan tas kamera tertindih dipunggung (belakangan diketahui bahwa tidak satupun photogear yang cedera) sementara kondisi badan aman-aman saja, kecuali lecet di betis. Sementara itu mulai terdengar pembicaraan mengenai banyaknya kabel dan tiang listrik yang merusak panorama; Mungkin ini bisa menjadi masukan bagi pemerintah agar menjadikan obyek wisata yang bersih dari hal-hal yang merusak pemandangan.
 Perjalanan berlanjut menuju Pusat Dokumentasi dan Informasi Kebudayaan Minangkabau (PDIKM) di Padangpanjang. Lagi-lagi kabel listrik menjadi pengacau pemandangan di seputar obyek foto. Sebenarnya acaranya adalah menuju Istana Pagaruyung, namun karena istana ini dalam perbaikan karena terbakar tersambar petir, maka destinasi rumah Gadang yang khas minang berubah menjadi PDIKM yang ternyata lumayan oke. Gue betul betul banyak belajar dari photographer pro dari ‘nguping’ dan ‘ngintip’ huehehe.. Gile bow, blajar gratiss.. hahahha.
Makan siang (ato mungkin lebih tepat disebut makan sore?) dilanjutkan di Bukittinggi didepan pintu gerbang benteng Fort de Kock dan Kebun Binatang. Namanya rumah makan Family, yang katanya nama Ayam Pop berasal dari resto ini. Rupanya kalo di ranah minang apapun jenis restonya, menunya masakan Padang semua huehehe.
Hari sudah menjelang sore saat rombongan menuju Mahat, sebuah desa kecil yang nyaris terlupakan, kira-kira 1,5 jam perjalanan dari Payakumbuh. Gue tidak tau apa obyek yang dikejar disini esok harinya, namun gue percaya pasti obyek yang menarik, jadi pasrah ajah. Perjalanan menuju Mahat bukan perjalanan ringan, kondisi jalan yang menanjak, berlumpur dan berkerikil bekas longsor dari gempa, dan beberapa kerusakan badan jalan membuat driver harus ekstra hati-hati. Ditambah lagi hari mulai gelap. Namun namanya juga photographer, hari mulai gelap malah pada berhenti untuk mengabadikan sunset dari bukit (yang kebetulan agak berkabut) sekalian bersama modelnya yang kasian dicuekin, kekekeke. Makan malam kami justru di warung kecil sederhana dengan cahaya lampu petromaks dengan menu yang juga terbatas. Nama pemiliknya Datuk Siri, jadi deh Warung pak Datuk Siri.
 Di Mahat, rombongan tidur dirumah penduduk. Rombongan yang jumlahnya lebih dari 30 orang, masih ditambah driver membuat repot juga. Sementara para model pulang malam ini juga karena mereka ada acara untuk keesokan hari di lain tempat. Sebelum tidur kami sempatkan juga untuk mandi dirumah penduduk. Cuaca yang dingin dan remang-remang tidak menghalangi sebagian besar dari kami untuk mandi malam sebelum tidur seperti ‘pindang’. Ternyata tidur ala pindang bisa sedikit mengurangi suejukknya Mahat, kekeke. O ya, sebelumnya ada acara saling memperkenalkan diri dalam rombongan itu; Dan ternyata ada dua cowok Korea yang ikut dalam rombongan ini.
Keesokan paginya rombongan harus bangun pukul empat (padahal baru tidur juga lewat tengah malam?) dan berangkat ke warung pak Datuk Siri jam 5 pagi untuk memburu sunrise, karena letak warung ini strategis menghadap lembah Mahat. Namun cuaca berkabut membuat cita-cita motret sunrise tinggal cita-cita. Jadinya ya motret apa ajah, terutama human interest, huehehe. Sayang sekali kamera pak B kecelakaan karena lepas dari sepatu tripod manfrottonya dan jatuh ke jurang, namun masiy bisa diselamatkan karena kamera tidak terjatuh terlalu jauh ke dalam jurang. Duh ada-ada ajah.
Ternyata tujuan utama tidur di Mahat adalah menuju Koto Tinggi ke peninggalan situs megalitikum (bener nggak nulisnya?) berupa batu ‘menhir’ (seperti di cerita Asterix). Batu-batu vertical dengan ujung yang umumnya melengkung, semua diarahkan menuju bukit/ gunung Merapi. Beberapa terlihat berukir di badan batunya. Blom jelas siapa pembuat dan sejak kapan (ato gue yang kurang ngedengerin guidenya crita?), namun jelas keliatan tua dan kurang terawat, bahkan sempet denger kalo sebagian batu sudah diambil orang dan bahkan sudah ada yang dibawa keluar negeri, nah loh? O ya, dalam perjalanan ke sana sempat juga melihat Bukit Bolong. Kalo gue punya lensa tele yang kuat wah pasti dapet deh foto yahud. Menurut kabar, lubang di bukit ini cukup besar sehingga pernah ada pesawat capung yang diterbangkan bule memasuki lubang ini. Balik dari Menhir rombongan motret human interest di seputar Koto Tinggi dan Mahat yang menarik, terutama dengan keramahan penduduknya yang santun dan murah senyum. Desa di Mahat ini rupanya sangat terasing dengan terbukti tidak adanya signal telpon (baik hp atopun fix telpon).
 Perjalanan berikutnya langsung menuju lembah Harau, sepanjang perjalanan memang banyak obyek menarik, sehingga mobil sering berhenti. Di lembah Harau sendiri rombongan menuju air terjun; Hanya dua air terjun yang dikunjungi, walau katanya banyak sekali di seputar Harau. Air terjun yang pertama keliatan kecil sekali debit airnya walo letaknya tinggi sekali. Sayang sekali, jika debit airnya besar tentu sangat indah. Air terjun kedua (Sarasah Barayun = Air terjun Berayun) yang tidak jauh dari yang pertama mempunyai debit yang lebih besar, namun demikian tetap saja akan lebih indah jika debitnya lebih besar dengan ketinggian seperti itu. Keberadaan model dari Payakumbuh (Dini dan Rida) ikut menyemarakkan suasana, apalagi mereka tampil lebih cantik dengan kosmetik dan pakaian daerah yang menawan. Namun musibah juga terjadi disini, manakala ada camera yang tercebur air dibawah air terjun karena sepatu tripodnya lepas; Battery grip melayang deh, namun camera D200 selamat. Perlu dicatat, yang namanya sarapan, makan siang jadi serba nggak jelas deh, kesian jika seandainya ada rekan yang punya masalah dengan maag. Gue sendiri beruntung karena saat itu juga tidak banyak terganggu (dengan pola makan yang tidak jelas) selain kurang tidur. Di air terjun Harau ini, gue sempetin untuk mengisi perut dengan semangkok mie instant yang dibikin di warung setempat. Thanks juga buat rekan yang ngebayarin.
Sore hari dalam perjalanan ke Bukittinggi untuk mengejar sunset di Ngarai Sihanouk mobil kami jauh meninggalkan rombongan yang lain. Terpaksa mobil menunggu dekat persimpangan monumen bung Hatta. Tunggu punya tunggu koq tidak muncul-muncul juga mobil yang lain? Ternyata mobil yang lain mendapatkan obyek menarik diperjalanan dan sempat motret;  Kemudian langsung ke Ngarai Sihanouk melewati mobil kita tanpa memberikan kabar; wah sayang sekali, mestinya mobil kita bisa ngejar sunset di Ngarai, tapi jadi terlewatkan. Belakangan dapat kabar kalo mobil yang lain juga telat beberapa menit di Ngarai Sihanouk, sehingga gak dapet juga moment sunsetnya.
Malem ini rombongan check-in di hotel Nikita Bukittinggi, ahh bakal nyaman sekali bobok malem ini setelah kemaren kurang tidur. Setelah makan malam yang ‘kalap’ di resto Simpang Raya dekat hotel, acara berikutnya adalah melihat pertunjukan kesenian Minang di Gedung Medan Nan Bapaneh. Pada awalnya gue rada ragu, masak semalam ini baru mulai pertunjukkan keseniannya? Ternyata panitia emang top deh, dengan koneksinya pertunjukan diundur demi rombongan kita, huebattt. Dan ternyata keseniannya cantik tenan, ada tari-tarian (tari piring, payung, etc), ada pencak silat ala Minang (Patah Tigo), pakaian ada perkawinan Minang, pertunjukan kebal pecahan piring, pertunjukan alat musik talempong, dll. Sayang, gue yang baru blajar moto tidak banyak yang bisa gue abadikan. Lain halnya dengan rekan photographer lain; Photonya cantik cantik sekali.
 Kelar pertunjukan kesenian yang menawan, gue dan rombongan masih berhunting ria di seputar jam Gadang sampe sekitar pukul sebelas malam. Jam segini sekitar jam Gandang juga masih lumayan ramai, ada juga pasangan laki/laki disini… wah. Acara masih berlanjut dengan pemberian sumbangan rombongan ke posko bencana gempa di Bukittinggi. Lewat tengah malam baru balik ke hotel dan bobok. Padahal besok jam 4 pagi harus bangun untuk ngejar sunrise di Puncak Lawang, haduh, kurang tidur lagi neh.
Pagi pagi pukul empat pintu sudah digedor; Langsung mandi koboi trus sarapan. Terus berangkat menuju Puncak Lawang - Matur, yang konon merupakan salah satu lokasi start paralayang terbaik di dunia. Sayang kondisi Puncak Lawang penuh kabut dan angin bertiup kencang, sunrise terlewatkan, juga pemandangan Danau Maninjau juga tidak tampak. Jadinya pada moto pohon Pinus dan obyek lain. Ada juga yang poto narsis. Sampai sampai terjadi lagi musibah kamera pak H ambruk bersama tripodnya ditiup angin, kesian. Makin ditunggu ternyata kabut makin menjadi, angin juga makin kencang dan dingin, membuat perut keroncongan. Mie Instant panas bikinan warung setempat jadi ganjal; Nikmat sekali saat dingin dan gerimis halus. Rombongan terpaksa harus jalan lagi sebelum waktu habis.
Diperjalanan ini atas usulan salah satu peserta maka mampirlah di rumah makan Sate Mak Syukur yang top. Bagi gue pribadi terasa biasa-biasa saja dilidah. Yang istimewa adalah sajian bumbu yang berwarna kuning dan bahan bakunya yang konon dari singkong; bener gak siy?
 Dalam perjalanan menuju Solok, gue dan rombongan mampir sejenak di tepi Danau Singkarak untuk poto-poto. Danau Singkarak ternyata sangatlah luas, kalo tidak diberitahu kalo ini danau, pasti gue pikir teluk, hahahha. Lewat tengah hari rombongan sampai di Muara Kalaban – Solok. Di sini beberapa dari kami naik Lori (kereta) Wisata menuju Sawahlunto. Mungkin karena beban peserta yang banyak dan juga kondisi rel yang licin karena rumput yang terlindas membuat roda Lori sering selip dan mesti didorong peserta, dua kali malah, hehehe. Namun menarik juga karena Lori ini melalui terowongan gelap hampir 1 km jauhnya. Sungguh mengherankan manakala melihat bantalan rel yang umurnya jauh lebih tua dari gue (taon 1890), wuihh. Sesampai di Museum Kereta Api Sawahlunto, perjalanan dilanjutkan dengan hunting jalan kaki di kota Sawahlunto, hingga museum Goedang Ransoem, melewati beberapa jalan dan bangunan tua, the Heritage, dan Wisma Ombilin (yang mungkin hotel terbaik di Sawahlunto?). Sempat juga mampir di gereja Katholik Santa Barbara - Sawahlunto ‘setor muka’ sejenak di hari Jumat Suci. Di museum Goedang Ransoem, gue melihat bagaimana peralatan ransum jaman dulu dengan ukuran raksasa. Rombongan juga berbersih ria, mandi dan sebagainya, sebelum menghadiri jamuan makan malam dari walikota Sawahlunto. Pak walikota dan pejabat setempat juga membagikan CD dan buku tentang Sawahlunto bagi setiap anggota, wah menarik sekali! Terima kasih.
 Begitu kelar jamuan makan malam, perjalanan berlanjut menuju cottage di Danau Kembar, persisnya di Danau Di Atas. Perjalanan malem baru tiba dilokasi sekitar pukul 12 malam. Gelo abiss, check-in jam segini, hehehhe. Tapi rasa cape dan ngantuk dengan mudah membawa tidur, walo cuaca sangat dingin. Selimut cottage sangatlah membantu.
Hari ke empat ini bisa dikatakan hari yang paling cerah dibanding hari-hari sebelumnya. Sayang gue dan bang A rekan sekamar terbangun kesiangan sehingga merahnya langit saat sunrise terlewatkan.. hiks. Buka pintu ternyata sudah banyak rekan lain yang sibuk motreat sana-sini. Gile rajin abizz dah. Gue jadi lebih bersemangat deh, dengan sigap cuci muka dan bersih-bersih badan sejenak jadi ikutan motret, walo telat. Tidak lama rekan-rekan pada berangkat ke ‘The Peak’ dimana dari lokasi tersebut bisa melihat Danau Kembar secara (hampir) bersamaan. Kurang beruntung karena driver mobil gue terlambat, jadi deh gue ikut kloter kedua menuju The Peak. Namun demikian, toh bisa ikutan moto juga. Di The Peak ini ternyata banyak juga yang menjual bunga, sehingga kegiatan moto landscape bercampur moto makro juga. Setelah puas, rombongan kembali ke cottage untuk sarapan. Sarapan nasi goreng yang dimasak keluarga panitia di Alahan Panjang sungguh nikmat dipagi hari yang sejuk. Jelas-jelas bahwa lokasi pariwisata ini sangat cantik luar biasa, namun pengelolaan cottage Pemda dan layanannya sungguh perlu perbaikan yang massive. Kamar mandi yang tidak terawat, ketidaktersediaan air panas, kondisi kamar yang acak adul (padahal beberapa diantaranya baru lho), tidak adanya sarapan dan lain-lainnya membuat cottage ini menjadi kurang menarik walo secara rate bisa dibilang oke; Hanyalah view yang luar biasa cantiknya dan udara yang digin sejuk yang membuat gue betah berlama-lama di sini. Mustahil orang akan kembali jika viewnya sekadar diatas rata-rata dengan layanan dan kondisi cottage seperti ini. Belakangan tahu dari petugas setempat kalo lokasi ini sekitar 1700 mdpl, wah bener juga udaranya bisa sejuk dingin begini. O ya, kabar dari Panitia, ada posisi pandang yang lebih oke dari The Peak, kira-kira 3 km ke arah Gunung Talang, ini lokasinya lebih tinggi dikit dari The Peak. Juga disini ada danau ketiga, Danau Talang. Namun rombongan nggak punya banyak waktu buat ke sini.
 Menjelang siang, rombongan menuju Alahan Panjang, sebuat kota kecil tidak jauh dari cottage, di mana sanak keluarga dari panitia tinggal. Rombongan disuguhi berbagai macam kue khas daerah tersebut. Wuihhh, macemnya deh.. buanyak bow. Sayang kapasitas perut terbatas, hiks. Rombongan langsung hunting ‘human interest’ di pasar setempat, disaat hari Sabtu yang merupakan ‘hari pasar’ di Alahan Panjang. Setelah hunting kami lunch di rumah sanak keluarga panitia, nyam nyam… uenakkk bow. Bahkan beberapa ada yang kekenyangan sekaligus kecapean hingga tertidur di sofa, aje gile dah, hahhaha.
Perjalanan menuju pantai Bungus melalui Lubuk Selasih, Sitinjau Laut dimana gue dan rombongan mampir sejenak untuk melihat pabrik semen Indarung serta keindahan Kota Padang dan lautnya dari Panorama II Sitinjau Laut diatas bukit dan tentu saja motret lah. Namun rupanya kondisi berawan (dan polusi pabrik Semen?) membuat view kurang clear. Tidak lama rombongan di sini dan langsung melanjutkan perjalanan.
Di pantai Bungus kami menunggu sejenak hingga perahu siap. Namun karena kapasitas perahu yang sedikit, terpaksa rombongan dibagi dua. Sebagian peserta menuju Sungai Pisang, sekitar 30 menit dengan mobil dari Bungus. Dari Sungai Pisang ini mereka akan menggunakan perahu yang lain, namun dengan jarak tempuh yang lebih pendek ke pulau Sikuai (15 menit??). Gue sendiri berangkat dari Bungus, dengan waktu tempuh sekitar 1 jam. Begitu sampai di Sikuai, ternyata rombongan tidak bisa langsung check-in karena ketua panitia masih belum sampai. Gak masalah, barang dititipin, sementara peserta sibuk hunting sana-sini. Malah ada yang naik bukit segala, untuk hunting sunset. Gue sendiri begitu kelar acara sunset langsung leyeh-leyeh dan ketiduran sampe malem, hampir tidak kebagian dinner. Mungkin gue dinner yang paling telat deh diantara semua rombongan. Kelar dinner, gue masiy ngobrol dikit, terus bobok lagi deh.
 Keesokan harinya, gue dan dua teman sekamar kembali bangun telat, dasarr, bukan photographer pro, hahhaha. Saat ke pantai, ternyata sudah banyak yang asyik motret model cowok brondong satu-satunya di pantai. Acara yang bisa dibilang bebas ini membuat rombongan mulai terpecah kesana kemari. Sebagian malah sudah bangun jam 4.30 naik ke puncak bukit buat ngejar Sunrise, gak taunya cuaca berawan, kecian deh (btw, kabar dari mereka, ada kolam renang di puncak lho!). Gue sendiri bersama ketua panitia memutuskan untuk snorkeling, menyewa perahu dan mencari area yang bagus untuk ini. Siapa tau next time kembali untuk diving. Sebenarnya kami juga berencana untuk diving, namun karena kurang siapnya pihak Sikuai sehingga tak ada satupun tabung yang available. Namun melihat kondisi coral di pulau-pulau sekitar Sikuai yang sangat menyedihkan, kalopun ada tabung, jelas gue juga males buat diving, walaupun kondisi air lautnya lumayan bening dan pantai pasir putihnya luar biasa cantik. Begitu melihat spot yang keliatannya oke, langsung melakukan apnea melakukan pengecekan; Hasilnya terlihat coral yang hancur lebur! Ahh mengerrikan. Namun gue masih teringat betapa cantik dan indahnya pulau Pagang dengan wisma yang jauh lebih sederhana dibanding di Sikuai (lebih murah lagi, hehehe). Akhirnya perahu merapat ke pantai pasir putih yang sepi dan landai. Gue dan kawan-kawan jadi bermain dan model dadakan, kaco dah.
Menjelang makan siang, perahu balik ke Sikuai, masiy ada yang sibuk moto sana-sini, gue menyempatkan berenang sejenak dikolam terus mandi dan lunch. Beberapa peserta rombongan sudah harus balik ke Padang karena harus terbang balik untuk tugas yang lain. Sementara gue dan sisa rombongan balik ke Padang menjelang sore. Kembali rombongan dipisah, sebagian di drop di Sungai Pisang (yang belakangan denger kabar kalo mereka yang di Sungai Pisang dapet obyek-obyek foto yang menarik) dan sebagian terus ke Bungus. Perjalanan perahu balik ke Bungus kali ini disiram hujan yang deras dan lumayan berangin, perahu bocor pula. Udah deh, terpaksa gue, kemudian sang model dan beberapa peserta harus memegangi atap mencegah air bocor. Sebagian peserta, keliatan pucat dan berdoa dengan khusuk. Immanuel, Tuhan beserta kita; Semua selamat tiba di Bungus dengan cuaca yang masih hujan deras dan bergelombang. Mobil penjemput dimajukan hingga dermaga dan kami mulai berantai men’download’ muatan. Memang sebagian besar dari kami basah kuyup, ya sudahlah. Yang penting, semua peserta dan gear selamat.
 Sampai di hotel Nuansa Padang, kami segera mandi air hangat. Sore hari yang kurang bersahabat membuat niatan moto di Bukit Lampu dan pantai dekat Teluk Bayur terpaksa dilewatkan dan akhirnya kami keluar saat dinner.
Pilihan dinner kali ini di Martabak Kubang, tentu saja yang dijagokan di sini adalah Martabaknya, walopun gue juga makan Nasi Gorengnya yang mantab, sementara yang lain ada yang memilih Sate Padang dan Mie Rebus. Usai dinner, rombongan nyerbu toko ‘Christine Hakim’ untuk beli oleh-oleh. Ternyata sodara-sodara Christine Hakim ini saling mirip sekali wajahnya. Setelah blenja blenji oleh-oleh, rombongan menutup malam dengan acara makan duren di Aling Lawas; Gue dan beberapa kawan yang lain mencari dendeng balado pak Gole (CMIIW) yang emang uenakk dan ueempukkk disekitar pecinan kota Padang. Tak lupa gue memesan lebih untuk dibawa Jakarta. Balik ke hotel Nuansa, semua sudah bersiap-siap buat bobok.
Esok pagi, rombongan packing up dan menuju bandara. Foto bersama di bandara saat hendak balik jelas berbeda dengan saat baru datang; Yang dulunya OE sekarang jadi UE, huahahhahha (foto?? See more in my multiply photo album)
(Top dah buat Uda N dan tim panitia, millions thanks!!. Thanks juga buat rekan semobil yang oke banget, mba D, bang AR, bang SH. Juga rekan sekamar bang A. Tentu saja buat semua peserta yang oke banget, thanks!! Gue bisa belajar moto banyak disini.)
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