Sumatra

If you had extra time around Bukittinggi the Harau Valley is really beautful. It's about an hours drive from Bukittinggi and there is a lovely guesthouse there.

Marionna,
Thank you for your great report and for the appreciation of my contribution to your decision making.
So now you know why I am always writiing about Sumatra as a destination- I love it and always amek the effort to return everytime I visit Indonesia.

Skidrowe,
Yes, I would choose either North Sumatra or West Sumatra for the two weeks- too much to do all in two weeks says I who spent 3.5 months in Sumatra in 2006.

Roskeld,
To get from Singapore to Sumatra I suggest you fly with TigerAirways from Singapore to Padang- very cheap fares and you buy them online with credit card.
I flew with them in August 2006 from Padang to Singapore to get my new 60 day visa and then back again.
You can do the ferry trip, but it can be long and arduous and I would never suggest it for someone visiting Sumatra for the first time.
And the ferry can only get you so far and then you have an 8+hr bus trip to Bukittinggi in the heat, when you can fly over from Singapore to Padang in about an hour.
I know which one I would be doing.

And
Here are a couple of searches for West Sumatra and one for North Sumatra featuring posts I have written over the past couple of years about both places.
Also check out my photos below from my 5.5 month trip in 2006.

If any of you are interested in having maps of North Sumatra, Medan, accomodation at Tuk Tuk Lake Toba, Padang, West Sumatra sent to you please email me at pamela_fuge@yahoo.com.au and I will forward them on.
Pamela.

Edited by: pPamela

Edited by: pPamela

I just want to say another thank you to Marionna for this post, I'm only days away from going there now and the excitement is really building.

Thanks to everyone that's answered my questions, it really does sound like flying to Padang is the way to go.

I've got as much time as I need to spend in Sumatra (Obviously the 60 day visa will mean me having to pop back to Singapore, but that's cool), I really want to soak up what everyone is mentioning here.

Marionna and others have said how Sumatra is lacking in tourism, I'm travelling alone and it would be nice to do the jungle treks and hiking in a group. So when you say no tourists, can I really expect to be staying in hostels alone, or am I still likely to be bumping into small groups of folk? I'm certainly not expecting nor hoping for Khao San Road amounts of people (Ever again :P) It would be just nice to know that there'll be a chance that I'll be able to share some of this journey with like minded folk.

My experience from spending three months in West Sumatra is that I bumped into small groups of tourists. If I wanted to be around I travellers I could - but I certainly didn't feel surrounded by tourists. For me, it was a really good balance between spending time with Indonesian people, and with other travellers.

Hi Roskeld,
About the 60 day visa, do you have one now? If so, you should be able to extend it for another 30 days and 250,000 rupiah with the help of an Indonesian sponsor.
Hendri in Bukittinggi who is mentioned in Emma's blog ( he was instrumental in Emma getting a social visa) would be able to do that for you if you were still in West Sumatra and wanted to stay longer.
Hendri is contactable at hen_westsumatra@yahoo.com or if you were in Medan you could contact another friend of mine Bob at bobsumatran@yahoo.com.au and see if he would be able to help you.

If you are going to spend 60 days or longer in Sumatra, I suggest you take a mobile phone and get an Indonesian sim card like Simpati and then text all your friends and family with your number.
It is such a hassle free way of keeping in contact with everyone and saves time trying to find an internet cafe and send emails with the threat of electricity blackouts hanging over your head.
Private Message me if you would like the mobile numbers for Hendri and Bob.
Pamela.

Marionna,

Thank you so much for the details in your post! I am headining out to Indonesia in a few weeks, starting off in Sumatra. Like yourself, I have also given myself a month in Sumatra, and having read your post, CANNOT WAIT to get there!

Am then spening a month in Java, a month and half in Bali/Lombok/Gilli/Flores and a couple of weeks in Timor...so a lot mor to look forward to!....if I can sort out visas!

Roskelld - will be in Sumatra around the same time and would be great to hook up for some of the journey.

xx

Excellent post!
What do you think of two weeks in Sumatra. Fly in to Medan, visit Toba and the areas around there, then travel by bus to Banda Aceh and fly back out to KL? One long bus trip is about all I want. Would it be a mistake to skip the South? What about cheap flights to Aceh instead of the bus?

Hi Luk99,
Sriwijaya Air fly from Medan to Banda Aceh for about 270,00 rupiah or around that mark.
You will probably pay about that for a 10 hr air conditioned bus trip from Medan to Banda Aceh.
Pamela

I'm just about to leave my place in Singapore to go and hopefully pick up my visa ready to fly to Padang on Thursday.

Has anyone got any recommendations for places to stay in Padang. My plan is to stay around there for a few days and work out a few local/semi local trips before meeting a friend there on about the 20th... and maybe surfinbali too if she gets her flight there.

The only place that really comes up in google is the Homestay place which is $10 a night, and isn't really home stay, but a hostel by the sounds of it. Where did people on here stay?

Padang is not a good place to stay -- very expensive hotels and not much to see. Better for you go to Bukittinggi and base your self there till your friend arrives. I stay at Hotel Asia when I am there. It is a nice town and there are lots of trips to take in the surrounding countryside including Danau Maninjau which is worth a few days stay in itself.

There should be transport to Bukittingi from the Padang airport. Arrange for your friend to meet you there or go to Padang just for your friend.

Paul