As planned, Halmi and I set out from Hotel Aliga at 9 am. The day held the promise of exploring Padang together. There’s plenty of things to do in Padang. Our first task was picking up my laundry, swiftly returning it to the hotel. I requested Halmi to wait by the pool while I stowed my clothes in my room. In no time, I treated him to the most expensive Coca-Cola on the menu (35000 IDR) and headed upstairs. Once my clothes were safely stored in my hotel room, I rejoined Halmi by the swimming pool. After capturing some final pictures at the pool, we departed.
Meeting Halmi’s Mother
Today’s agenda included a trip to a nearby beach, but first, we had a detour to visit Halmi’s mom. Halmi was eager to introduce his new bule friend to his mother—a prospect I found amusing and was completely fine with. We spent about fifteen minutes driving around Padang, eventually reaching Halmi’s parents’ house situated on the outskirts. Halmi’s dad, working nearby, crafted wooden chairs, cabinets, and furniture. On this day, only his mom, a housewife, was at home. Communication posed a challenge; Halmi’s mom, like Halmi, didn’t speak English. Our attempts at interaction were filled with smiles, despite the language barrier. Eventually, Halmi had to grab breakfast, so we headed to a nearby store.
Matahari Mall
Subsequently, we returned to the central part of Padang. Along the way, Halmi suggested checking out the Matahari Mall, and I agreed. I was keen to explore and see if there was a post office within. I took some photos of the river, and we shared jokes as we strolled through the shopping mall.
As we navigated through the shopping mall, I noticed many shoppers observing me. Spontaneously, I initiated an inside joke, engaging in loud conversation with Halmi and gesturing towards various things in the mall. I created the impression that I was quite familiar with the place, playfully showing Halmi around. The gazes of the shoppers grew longer and more intense. Repeatedly, I caught snippets of the word ‘bule.’ Perhaps, owing to my animated talk and gestures, people might have thought I was some peculiar celebrity in that setting.
Ultimately, our journey led us to the amusement arcade, where we indulged in some karaoke. The vibrant orange karaoke booths brought to mind the music video for “Tribute” by Tenacious D. We sang a few tunes before moving on.
Pantai Air Manis
After half an hour, we reached Pantai Air Manis. The journey to the beach was quite adventurous, requiring us to traverse a sizable hill that offered a panoramic view of Pantai Air Manis and the two neighboring islands, Pulau Sambuang and Pulau Pisang Gadang. We even made a stop at one point to capture the breathtaking scenery through photographs.
Arriving at Air Manis Beach five minutes later, Halmi and I opted to stroll toward the distant little peninsula, Pulau Sambuang. The sandy path was on the verge of vanishing due to the changing tides. Swiftly, we ventured onto the beach using Halmi’s motorcycle. While the views were breathtaking, I couldn’t help but find the beach a bit untidy. The expanse of the beach was immense! Perhaps this explained why cars and motorcycles were permitted to drive on it—either that or the absence of strict regulations in Indonesia. Either way, it was quite amusing, haha.
I thoroughly enjoyed our stroll to the island as the tide had already altered the pathway, compelling us to wade through a brief pond of water.
Pulau Sambuang
Our time at Pulau Sambuang was limited to just 15 minutes, prompted by Halmi’s apprehension about the rising tidal water. The water had engulfed our sandy path, but I felt at ease and playfully teased Halmi by suggesting we stay longer. “Let’s have a drink here, Halmi! Just relax,” I joked, playing on his fear. After capturing some photos with Pantai Air Manis in the background, we made our way back to the main beach of Air Manis.
Certainly, the water level had risen. After a few steps wading through the water, I sensed a pain in my foot, likely a cut. Walking barefoot, a not-so-wise decision, as the obscured seabed was strewn with sharp rocks and stones. With no time to tend to my foot, I shrugged off the pain and continued wading. I cherished every experience of the day and wasn’t about to let this minor mishap dampen my spirits. A short while later, Halmi and I settled on the main beach at a warung. There, I ordered a delightful mie goreng dish—flavorful and mildly spicy. Soon, a group of curious children approached us, eager to learn everything about me.
Taman Sitti Nurbaya or Taman Gunung Padang
Later in the afternoon, we departed from the beach, making our way to a unique hill known as Taman Sitti Nurbaya or Gunung Padang. At the hill’s summit, a lookout awaited, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of Padang. Positioned beside Jalan Batang Arau, on the opposite side of the river, the location held the promise of stunning vistas. Upon our arrival, Halmi spotted a friend and engaged in a brief chat with him.
Eager to witness the panoramic view from above, I found the stairway hike demanding more strength than expected. The discomfort in my legs served as a swift reminder that I needed some rest. The arduous hike to Kerinci’s summit had been an intense workout, and even now, my legs were still in recovery. As we progressed, we came across Japanese bunkers, remnants from the Second World War, surprisingly still intact. One of them even retained its installed cannon.
Midway to the summit of the hill, Halmi suddenly became frightened, and his words were incomprehensible to me. Eventually, through the use of sign language, Halmi conveyed that the summit was believed to be haunted by spirits and the deceased. Puzzled, I attempted to convince him to proceed with our stroll, but despite my efforts, he adamantly refused to join me, his fear palpable. Thankfully, we encountered some Indonesian individuals descending the stairs, and they engaged Halmi in conversation, reassuring him that all was well. Finally, we were able to resume our walk, leaving me still intrigued by Halmi’s fear. At that moment, I wished I could fluently speak Indonesian, eager to understand how Indonesian perspectives on such matters differ from my own.
As we continued our journey, we took photos with numerous locals, the quantity of pictures taken reaching extraordinary levels. Nowadays, I’ve grown accustomed to it and I’m contemplating creating a T-shirt with a printed Indonesian text: ‘Photo with the bule, 5000 rupiah!’
The Summit of Gunung Padang
After a tiring 20-minute climb, we reached the summit of Gunung Padang, thoroughly exhausted. Throughout our ascent, the humidity and temperature had risen, causing us to perspire profusely. We spent thirty minutes at the summit. From the southern vantage point, we enjoyed a splendid view of Padang, while on the opposite side, Pantai Air Manis unfolded before us. In the photos, the exquisite Minangkabau architecture of some city buildings is showcased beautifully. Ever since my first step in this country, it seems like every local wants to take a picture with me, haha.
Halmi’s Dorm
As dusk fell, we headed back to my hotel, only to discover that the pool had already closed. I had been looking forward to a refreshing dip after the hike, but it seemed luck was not on my side. Instead, we relaxed in my super deluxe hotel room. Halmi, curious to experience my luxurious shower, gave it a try, unaware of the pressure issue. Suddenly, a loud scream echoed through the room as Halmi ended up getting soaking wet with his clothes on due to the powerful faucet pressure.
At approximately 7 pm, Halmi departed as he had a football game to attend, being a player and coach for the Padang national team. In the evening, I dedicated some time to writing articles and then took a shower. Halmi came back around 10 pm, and I suggested going for drinks in the city. However, we needed to swing by Halmi’s house first, as he wanted to freshen up with a shower and change into clean clothes.
Apologies were repeatedly offered by Halmi as we made our way to his place—or rather, his room in a student house. I used to think student houses in Holland were unpleasant, but that’s nothing compared to those in Indonesia, haha. Black cobwebs adorned every corner, and the kitchen area doubled as a parking spot for several mopeds. Halmi’s room, small and in disarray, lacked proper lighting. Well, at least his rent isn’t too high.
Drinks in Chinatown
After Halmi was prepared, we ventured to Chinatown, only to find it strangely empty. I inquired with Halmi about a club or any lively spot, and he pointed out Tee box, a club situated almost next to the electronics store where Halmi is employed. We spent some quality time there, engaging in lively conversations. The evening was enjoyable, but eventually, I had to bid farewell as tomorrow was slated to be one of those travel days.
