Chess step

Postcard from Russia with chess steps in the front.

Thanks Polina

Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg

This time i got postcard from Germany with Elbphilharmonie concert hall in the front.

In the back of the postcard described this building with 110 m height was completed in 2016. The "Elphi" is one of Hamburg most modern, most famous and best concert halls worldwide and became one of the new Hamburg's landmark.

Thanks Gudrun

Postcard from Canada with CN Tower and Rogers Centre in the front. (Postcrossing, CA-763670)

CN Tower is a Toronto icon and tourist destination in Ontario. You can go to the top by glass fronted and glass floor elevator.

Rogers Centre or SkyDome is located near the CN Tower. It has a retractable roof and the place of opening and closing ceremonies of 2015 Pan American Games.

Thank's Pam

Padang & Bukittinggi Trip Day 4

Day 4

Before back to Jakarta, we don't want to miss Soto Padang, so we go to Bopet Rajawali to try their well known Nasi Soto Daging and the local Teh Talua, which is tea with yellow egg, it's very delicious.

Left: Soto Daging; Right: Paru goreng

Teh Talua (Teh + Kuning Telur)

We still miss to visit the island near Padang with the beautiful beach. Someday i will come again.

To read the complete itinerary 
Padang Day 1, click here
Padang Day 2, click here
Padang Day 3, click here

Padang and Bukittinggi Trip Day 3

Day 3

Today our itinerary was visited Fort de Kock, Kinantan Zoo & Cultural Park or Bukittinggi Zoo, Gadang Clock Tower, Maninjau Lake with view from Turn 37 and Lawang Adventure Park.

The first stop is Fort de Kock. It was built by Capt. Bauer in 1825. You can't see anymore fortress here, but there is several cannon left. 

From Fort de Kock we can walk crossing the Limpapeh bridge which is lying over Ahmad Yani road.

From the Limpapeh bridge we can see the Mt. Marapi and view of Bukittinggi

Stepping down Limpapeh bridge we come to Kinantan Zoo & Culture and then continue 10 minutes walking to Gadang Tower Clock (Menara Jam Gadang). The clock maker is the same with the well known London's Big Ben, Vortmann Relinghausen. 

It was built at 1926 as a gift from The Dutch Queen to Rook Maker (used to be Secretary of Bukittinggi Mayor). The form of pitching roof have been changed 3 times, first in Dutch colony period (the form of circle and cock statue above it), the Japanese colony the form of (Chinese Temple) and Indonesia style now (the form of the traditional Minangkabau house) 

After Bukittinggi city tour, our next destination in Turn 37 where we can see the view of Maninjau Lake. 

We have better Maninjau Lake view from Lawang Adventure Park.

The lake is like a mirror, very beautiful view.

Next we continue our trip back to Padang to visit the new mosque with the roof use Minangkabau house styles.

For dinner we stop at local restaurant that serve sea food. You have to try this, it's my recommendation.

After dinner and our last day in Padang, we spent the night at Saudara coffee shop at Jalan Tepi Pasang where you can buy Sorbat, it's consist of ginger with milk and egg or you can try the es cendol, .  

Sorbat

Es Cindua

To read the complete itinerary,
Padang day 1, click here
Padang day 2, click here

Continue to day 4, click here

Padang and Bukittinggi Trip Day 2

Day 2

From hotel, first we visiting Bung Hatta Museum (the former first vice president house). Bung Hatta was born in this house and the house became a museum now.

Living Room

  

Kitchen

Bathroom

Dinning Room

Gig's Garage

From Bung Hatta Museum our journey continue to Kelok 9. It's named Kelok 9 because it has 9 turn. Before it was built, we have to drive slowly and one by one in this area because the older had narrow road and fit 1 car only.

Guest, what was the man doing? This man is a photographer and inside the box is printer to print the photo.

Leaving Kelok 9, we heading near Payakumbuh to view the beautiful Harau Valley.

Sometimes this place is used by rock climbing, too.

Because it's time to have lunch, we decided to take our lunch at Pongek Situjuah. The restaurant's view is rice fields so we can have the fresh air when we took our meals.

Our next stop is back to Bukittinggi to visit Sianok Canyon (Ngarai Sianok)

Inside the Sianok Canyon there are some monkeys which freely walking, playing and doing the day to day living.

This is the Sianok Canyon looks like. We can step down to find the Japanese cave, which was used to hiding.

Next stop is Limpapeh Bridge which connecting the Fort de Kock and Kinantan wildlife and cultural park. Limpapeh bridge is over the busiest Ahmad Yani road at Pasar Atas.

We close our day with dinner at Family Restaurant before back to hotel.

Try the Gado-gado (mix vegetables) because it's different styles with Javanese Gado gado.

To read the complete itinerary,

Padang Day 1, click here
Padang Day 3, click here