Things to do in Bukittinggi
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Bedudal Café
For bread, beer and English menus, try Bedudal Café or Canyon Café. They also prepare the local speciality, dadiah campur, which is a tasty mixture of oats, coconut, fruit, molasses and buffalo-milk yogurt.
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Canyon Café
The Canyon Café has good english food and they also prepare the local speciality, dadiah campur, which is a tasty mixture of oats, coconut, fruit, molasses and buffalo-milk yogurt.
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Taman Panorama
Taman Panorama, on the southern edge of town, overlooks the deep Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon). This is especially scenic at sunset, when fruit bats swoop through the canyon. Guides will approach visitors under the auspices of friendship; don't get confused, this is how business works in Indonesia and payment is expected, even if an explicit price is never discussed.
They'll lead you through Gua Jepang (Japanese caves), which was one of many feats of engineering that the Japanese accomplished with slave labour during WWII.
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Museum
A footbridge leads from the fort over Jl Ahmad Yani to Taman Bundo Kandung, site of the museum. The museum, constructed in 1934, is an example of Minangkabau architecture, with its small amphitheatre and colourful statues. It is the oldest museum in the province and has a dusty collection of Minangkabau historical and cultural exhibits. The nearby zoo is just depressing.
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Benteng de Kock
Benteng de Kock was built by the Dutch during the Padri Wars. Apart from the defensive moat and a few rusting cannons, very little remains of the original fortifications. It does, however, provide fine views over the town from its hilltop position. Clouds migrate over rusted tin roofs brought to life by the evening call to prayer.
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Jam Gadang
Jam Gadang is Bukittinggi's Big Ben and is the centre of the city's provincial activities: schoolchildren crowding under shade trees and day-trippers smiling for photo opportunities. The tower was built in the 1920s to house the Dutch queen's clock gift. After independence, the European homage was refitted with a Minangkabau roof.
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Aladdin
Souvenir shops line Jl Ahmad Yani. Poke your head into Tanjung Raya Art Shop and Aladdin. Box collectors can look out for a couple of Minangkabau versions. Salapah panjang (long boxes) are brass boxes used for storing lime and tobacco; salapah padusi are silver boxes for storing betel nut and lime.
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Tanjung Raya Art Shop
Souvenir shops line Jl Ahmad Yani. Poke your head into Tanjung Raya Art Shop and Aladdin. Box collectors can look out for a couple of Minangkabau versions. Salapah panjang (long boxes) are brass boxes used for storing lime and tobacco; salapah padusi are silver boxes for storing betel nut and lime.
reviewed
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Pasar Atas
Pasar Atas is a large, colourful market crammed with stalls selling fruit and vegetables, second-hand clothing and crafts. It's open daily, but the serious action is on Wednesday and Saturday, when the stalls overflow down the hill and villagers from the surrounding area come to haggle and ogle.
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Simpang Raya
Naturally enough, Padang food is plentiful. Locals disagree about which outpost does the best nasi Padang - you'll just have to try them all for yourself: Roda Group, south of the clock tower; Simpang Raya, with another branch on Jl Minangkabau; and Selamat.
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Selamat
Naturally enough, Padang food is plentiful. Locals disagree about which outpost does the best nasi Padang - you'll just have to try them all for yourself: Roda Group, south of the clock tower; Simpang Raya, with another branch on Jl Minangkabau; and Selamat.
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Roda Group
Naturally enough, Padang food is plentiful. Locals disagree about which outpost does the best nasi Padang - you'll just have to try them all for yourself: Roda Group, south of the clock tower; Simpang Raya, with another branch on Jl Minangkabau; and Selamat.
reviewed
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Medan Nan Balinduang
If enough tourists show up, this culture centre presents Minangkabau dance performances.
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Museum
A footbridge leads from the fort over Jl Ahmad Yani to Taman Bundo Kandung, site of the museum. The museum, constructed in 1934, is an example of Minangkabau architecture, with its small amphitheatre and colourful statues. It is the oldest museum in the province and has a dusty collection of Minangkabau historical and cultural exhibits. The nearby zoo is just depressing.
reviewed
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Aladdin
Souvenir shops line Jl Ahmad Yani. Poke your head into Tanjung Raya Art Shop and Aladdin. Box collectors can look out for a couple of Minangkabau versions. Salapah panjang (long boxes) are brass boxes used for storing lime and tobacco; salapah padusi are silver boxes for storing betel nut and lime.
reviewed
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Bullfighting
West Sumatrans love a good bullfight, known locally as adu kerbau. The centres for bullfighting are the villages of Kota Baru and Batagak, between Padang and Bukittinggi. Bullfights are held irregularly, and most tours originate out of Bukittinggi; ask the local guides about upcoming events.
It bears no resemblance to Spanish bullfighting - there is no bloodshed (except by accident) and the water buffalo bulls are unharmed, save for their reputations. The showdown matches up two animals of roughly the same size and weight who are made to lock horns in a trial of strength. The winner is whichever one forces the other into a retreat. It often ends up with both beasts chargi…
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