Christmas in Panti Jompo Budi Luhur (Home for the Aged) in Jambi

My initial plan for Christmas this year was actually to spend it with friends in Singapore. However, even after 4 months, we could not get a fixed answer as to when we are getting our KITAs (1 year Student Visa) from Immigration.

I have already spent a week on holiday, and I was feeling how much time I am losing rotting inside the dormitory in Kampus. So, even if that we already had a good sign that we are finally getting our Kitas in a few days, i decided to go ahead. The other thing that I thought was that I came to Indonesia to see it, hence i took this scholarship, and I better use the time in my scholarship visa to do as planned.

Nevertheless, I did not want to have an extraordinarily casual Christmas. Gladly, my couchsurfing host in Jambi know about the orphanages and homes for the aged around town.

I chose the home for the aged since we have just recently done a feeding session in an orphanage in Padang. Plus, I have been missing my grandma, and I thought that will help out a bit.

The morning after my arrival, Laser, my couchsurfing host's staff in his English Tutorial class accompanied me to the home for the aged. We were escorted to the kitchen and was asked to arrange with the kitchen head.

In fact, they have a steady menu of food to cook. I asked them though if it would be ok to serve something not the usual, and said it would be better. The seniors who were there asked for shrimps. When we asked the kitchen head, fortunately, it was manageable.

The next day, I came back early to help them a bit to prepare. Yet, the staff must have been so acquianted with their task already that I almost did not do anything.d enough not to be able to walk the distance anymore to the kitchen.

Each has his own room in a house of 5 rooms. Others, the stronger one, get the food for their peers, while some staff had to personally deliver the food to some others.

The seniors began coming around 11am, as I was told. There is no single place for them to eat lunch altogether, and also that some are age d enough not to be able to walk the distance anymore to the kitchen.

 Have I had an institution like this, I would no doubt hire these 2 lady staffs. There was obviously more than just work in these people that keeping them in their job (later to find out that they are not even regular employees but as rather casuals in the institution even after several years of service). 

Thanks to friends Julie Tinio and Major Cruz for sharing in the expenses. We had an excess and so We bought books to be donated to a library in a remote village in Jambi.

My initial plan for Christmas this year was actually to spend it with friends in Singapore. However, even after 4 months, we could not get a fixed answer as to when we are getting our KITAs (1 year Student Visa) from Immigration.

I have already spent a week on holiday, and I was feeling how much time I am losing rotting inside the dormitory in Kampus. So, even if that we already had a good sign that we are finally getting our Kitas in a few days, i decided to go ahead. The other thing that I thought was that I came to Indonesia to see it, hence i took this scholarship, and I better use the time in my scholarship visa to do as planned.

Nevertheless, I did not want to have an extraordinarily casual Christmas. Gladly, my couchsurfing host in Jambi know about the orphanages and homes for the aged around town.

I chose the home for the aged since we have just recently done a feeding session in an orphanage in Padang. Plus, I have been missing my grandma, and I thought that will help out a bit.

The morning after my arrival, Laser, my couchsurfing host's staff in his English Tutorial class accompanied me to the home for the aged. We were escorted to the kitchen and was asked to arrange with the kitchen head.

In fact, they have a steady menu of food to cook. I asked them though if it would be ok to serve something not the usual, and said it would be better. The seniors who were there asked for shrimps. When we asked the kitchen head, fortunately, it was manageable.

The next day, I came back early to help them a bit to prepare. Yet, the staff must have been so acquianted with their task already that I almost did not do anything.d enough not to be able to walk the distance anymore to the kitchen.

Each has his own room in a house of 5 rooms. Others, the stronger one, get the food for their peers, while some staff had to personally deliver the food to some others.

The seniors began coming around 11am, as I was told. There is no single place for them to eat lunch altogether, and also that some are age d enough not to be able to walk the distance anymore to the kitchen.

 Have I had an institution like this, I would no doubt hire these 2 lady staffs. There was obviously more than just work in these people that keeping them in their job (later to find out that they are not even regular employees but as rather casuals in the institution even after several years of service). 

Thanks to friends Julie Tinio and Major Cruz for sharing in the expenses. We had an excess and so We bought books to be donated to a library in a remote village in Jambi.

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Pushing to Jump start a Taxi in Pekanbaru

The most memorable thing that happened in Riau: Today, i strolled around the city. I let myself rot in a resto around Jalan Sudirman. It was a comfortable, breezy, cozy and cheap restaurant by that. 

By the time I was about to go home (9pm) buses are off, and so as angkots. There are ojeks (motor taxis) who ask for the same rate as almost the taxi. Plus, with the offered discount on the GrabTaxi Indonesia app, it will be probably less.

Then i thought, if i'll have to take the cab anyway, i might as well take some walk around the city until late and tired, and take the taxi from that point where it will be closer and cheaper. 

After some 7kms walking continously in Jalan Sudirman, a taxi driver called my attention. His car need a push, and he has been attempting to push it lone, but wont work. Bapa calls me for help.

Adu! While he was comfortably but humbly embarrased sittin and steering in the driver's seat, I was pushing a car in the middle of the night, at a big highway. Ya'allaahhh! 

I loved it really! Strange, awkward bus certainly memorable travel moment. 

The most memorable thing that happened in Riau: Today, i strolled around the city. I let myself rot in a resto around Jalan Sudirman. It was a comfortable, breezy, cozy and cheap restaurant by that. 

By the time I was about to go home (9pm) buses are off, and so as angkots. There are ojeks (motor taxis) who ask for the same rate as almost the taxi. Plus, with the offered discount on the GrabTaxi Indonesia app, it will be probably less.

Then i thought, if i'll have to take the cab anyway, i might as well take some walk around the city until late and tired, and take the taxi from that point where it will be closer and cheaper. 

After some 7kms walking continously in Jalan Sudirman, a taxi driver called my attention. His car need a push, and he has been attempting to push it lone, but wont work. Bapa calls me for help.

Adu! While he was comfortably but humbly embarrased sittin and steering in the driver's seat, I was pushing a car in the middle of the night, at a big highway. Ya'allaahhh! 

I loved it really! Strange, awkward bus certainly memorable travel moment. 

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Malamang celebration in West Sumatra, Indonesia

I am not sure exactly what this celebration is, nor have i ever heard it before.

A friend who joined us in the recent Orphanage visit invited us to as she said as village festival in her hometown.

At first, i thought it was just about some dining, so was not really that keen in attending. Yet, their hometown in Pariaman is close to a jail which I have for long wanted to visit. Hence, I said yes under the assumption that I'll get to visit the jail too if I go.

We took the train from Padang. It left exactly on time at 7:15. After about an hour, we arrived in her hometown.

Kereta Api station in Paoeh Kambar, Pariaman

The women in her family have been midway cooking their malamang. As they said, they have started preparing it at 5:30am, and almost every household is doing the same. These lamang, they said, are not for personal consumption, and normally, this is not even an event where they invite people. They are preparing this for their relatives from other villages.

In the afternoon, we were brought to the mosque. Inside the mosque are plenty of stands, all topped with (several) cakes, fruits, chips, crackers, candies, and all other things. Our friend said, newly weds of the village have to setup and fill a stand with food, which, at about past 5 in the afternoon, everyone in the village will come together to consume. Unfortunately, we could not make it to the time of the ritual/festival as the train back to padang leaves before 5. :-(

I am not sure exactly what this celebration is, nor have i ever heard it before.

A friend who joined us in the recent Orphanage visit invited us to as she said as village festival in her hometown.

At first, i thought it was just about some dining, so was not really that keen in attending. Yet, their hometown in Pariaman is close to a jail which I have for long wanted to visit. Hence, I said yes under the assumption that I'll get to visit the jail too if I go.

We took the train from Padang. It left exactly on time at 7:15. After about an hour, we arrived in her hometown.

Kereta Api station in Paoeh Kambar, Pariaman

The women in her family have been midway cooking their malamang. As they said, they have started preparing it at 5:30am, and almost every household is doing the same. These lamang, they said, are not for personal consumption, and normally, this is not even an event where they invite people. They are preparing this for their relatives from other villages.

In the afternoon, we were brought to the mosque. Inside the mosque are plenty of stands, all topped with (several) cakes, fruits, chips, crackers, candies, and all other things. Our friend said, newly weds of the village have to setup and fill a stand with food, which, at about past 5 in the afternoon, everyone in the village will come together to consume. Unfortunately, we could not make it to the time of the ritual/festival as the train back to padang leaves before 5. :-(

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Harau Valley, Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, Indonesia: I wish i came earlier

It's been 3 weeks since I have seen a post on harau valley, and since then, I have made several attempts to visit the valley. Yet, my biological clock and the weather has not permitted me.

Nevertheless, I made it there. It was a butt aching 5 hour bus ride from Padang, to Padang Panjang, to Bukittinggi, to Payakumbuh, and finaly to Silamakan - the stop for harau valley.

From silamakan, it was a becak ride away to harau valley.

Before even getting to the valley itself, you could just fall in love with the place with numerous waterfalls visible altogether from afar.

I have made a booking with Abde Guesthouse and told our becak driver to get us there without me knowing exactly where it is.

From the main road, we could see a big waterfall, and indeed, as said on the blogs I've read, the homestay was just next to the waterfall.

Abde's Guesthouse in Harau Valley, Limah Pulu Kota, Payakumbuh, West Sumatra

Abde's Guesthouse in Harau Valley, Limah Pulu Kota, Payakumbuh, West Sumatra

Abde's Guesthouse in Harau Valley, Limah Pulu Kota, Payakumbuh, West Sumatra

Upon arrival, I have regret I can only stay 3 days max. Behind is a big waterfall with the sound of the waterdrop infinitely through day and night, and in front of our cottage is a wide ricefield. All you can hear are chicken, cows, goats, bird and the water.

There are trekking and other activities offered in the valley, but we were not as eager as much as the nature has called us to just relax. The moment where you don't regret being lazy and numb.

As I was told, there are about 10 waterfalls around the valley. The following day, somehow, we managed to visit yet another waterfall. It was about 20 minutes away from Abde's Guesthouse, but after that, we just went back again to bed. As for the rest, I'll just get back for them.

Fare from Padang to Sarilamak was 30,000 Rupiahs while on the way back I was charged only 25,000 rupiahs. Becak from Simpang (Intersection in Sarilamak) to Abde's Guesthouse was 10,000.00. There was no toilet stop in the whole 5 hours, so careful about drinkng too much fluids before taking the bus. Bring food as you will starve to death in the bus ride.

There are warungs within a 5 minute walk from Abde's guesthouse at standard prices around 12,000 rupiah a meal. Yes there is electricity, and Telkomsel Signal was ok though not as strong as the cities.


Contact Abdi’s homestay: +62085263781842.

It's been 3 weeks since I have seen a post on harau valley, and since then, I have made several attempts to visit the valley. Yet, my biological clock and the weather has not permitted me.

Nevertheless, I made it there. It was a butt aching 5 hour bus ride from Padang, to Padang Panjang, to Bukittinggi, to Payakumbuh, and finaly to Silamakan - the stop for harau valley.

From silamakan, it was a becak ride away to harau valley.

Before even getting to the valley itself, you could just fall in love with the place with numerous waterfalls visible altogether from afar.

I have made a booking with Abde Guesthouse and told our becak driver to get us there without me knowing exactly where it is.

From the main road, we could see a big waterfall, and indeed, as said on the blogs I've read, the homestay was just next to the waterfall.

Abde's Guesthouse in Harau Valley, Limah Pulu Kota, Payakumbuh, West Sumatra

Abde's Guesthouse in Harau Valley, Limah Pulu Kota, Payakumbuh, West Sumatra

Abde's Guesthouse in Harau Valley, Limah Pulu Kota, Payakumbuh, West Sumatra

Upon arrival, I have regret I can only stay 3 days max. Behind is a big waterfall with the sound of the waterdrop infinitely through day and night, and in front of our cottage is a wide ricefield. All you can hear are chicken, cows, goats, bird and the water.

There are trekking and other activities offered in the valley, but we were not as eager as much as the nature has called us to just relax. The moment where you don't regret being lazy and numb.

As I was told, there are about 10 waterfalls around the valley. The following day, somehow, we managed to visit yet another waterfall. It was about 20 minutes away from Abde's Guesthouse, but after that, we just went back again to bed. As for the rest, I'll just get back for them.

Fare from Padang to Sarilamak was 30,000 Rupiahs while on the way back I was charged only 25,000 rupiahs. Becak from Simpang (Intersection in Sarilamak) to Abde's Guesthouse was 10,000.00. There was no toilet stop in the whole 5 hours, so careful about drinkng too much fluids before taking the bus. Bring food as you will starve to death in the bus ride.

There are warungs within a 5 minute walk from Abde's guesthouse at standard prices around 12,000 rupiah a meal. Yes there is electricity, and Telkomsel Signal was ok though not as strong as the cities.


Contact Abdi’s homestay: +62085263781842.

Read More »