Sikuai Island, Excotic Island in West Sumatera

When you visit West Sumatra and wanted to experience natural beauty, visit this island. The island is named Sikuai which can be reached from Padang City on 20-40 minutes.When it came, you'd be surprised to see the beauty of this island. When you arrive, you'd be surprised to see the beauty of this island. The island of roughly 40 ha are comfortable and clean.



Many activities that you can do here, ranging from swimming, diving, snorkeling, banana boat, jetski or seawalker with down the beach to collect unique shells.

Here you can also enjoy the beauty of the island by cycling.



Pict Source :
https://picasaweb.google.com/102589312174864357082/SikuaiBeach

Dodol Garut, Tasty Snack From Bandung

Dodol is a toffee-like, sweet food delicacy popular in Indonesia, and other part of southeast-asia. In this country Dodol Garut is the most popular of the others dodol. Dodol is already started to develop sice 1962 and until recently known by the people of Indonesia as Bandung typical food. 

Why you should choose dodol garut ?

there are severals reasons you chose this dodol. First, this dodol has a different taste from the other dodols of the other regions.

flavored dodol (Durian, Pandan and others)

  Second, the price is cheap and affordable by all people and be the preferred food.

Picnic, famous brand of Dodol Garut in Garut

  Third, it's easy to make and the ingredients are easy to find. Fourth, not using a preservative

Dodol Garut Maker

and Fifth, lasting for up three monts. 

Along the streets of Garut City, you can find the Dodol Garut seller's, but if you have not been to Garut, you can get dodol garut in Bandung Souvenirs central shop.

Dodol Garut in Shopping center

One of the uniqueness of this dodol garut is cooked for 6 hours! woww.. fantastic !!! :D

Pict Source :

http://annasorayaputri.blogspot.com/2011/04/dodol.html
http://ceritakepompong.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html
http://www.jakarta.go.id/web/foto/fotopick/2911/16444/0/2
http://www.efooddepot.com/products/images/Picnic/3960/Dodol_Garut_(Rice_Cake_Candy).html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dodol_Garut_Cihampelas_Bandung.JPG

Reference :
http://su.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodol_Garut
and others

Traditional Food Wrapping : Banana Leaves ?

Indonesia Traditional Food

When you buy wrapped food everywhere, most sellers wrap it with wrapping paper, plastic or steroform box. However, if you buy a Indonesian traditional food, maybe you will rarely find it. The traders here use banana leaves as a subtitute for plastic or wrapping the food.

Why do they use leaves ? 

I think these traders used the leaves to make it practical. 

Banana Leaves

Then Why do they use banana leaves ? 

In Indonesia, banana leaves are also an easy thing to find because this area is in the tropics. If they dont have banana plantation, these traders will buy it at a very cheap price. Moreover, this method can also reduce the risk of global warming with the replacement of the plastic as a food wrappers that difficult to disentangle. Chemically, banana leaves contain polyphenols in significant amounts. Polyphenols are chemical compounds that are found in tea leaves. With the presence of these compounds, the tea leaves give off a distinctive aroma, as well as what happens in banana leaves (I think).

Lemper

Nasi Bakar

Nagasari

It's use is quite easy, banana leaves are still good is taken from the tree, slightly warmed over a fire to limber up the leaves, once it leaves cut into pieces and is ready to use as a food wrapper. 

Pict Source :

http://wolovefreesia.multiply.com/journal/item/6/MENU-PONDOKAN-Love-Freesia

http://galerikuliner.blogspot.com/2010/07/lemper-ayam.html

http://thebaker-forcakes.netai.net/Rnagasari.php

http://www.ncc-indonesia.com/imgncc/nasi%20bakar5.jpg
http://toko-indonesia.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=216

Pisang Goreng, Tasty Snacks In The Morning

Cofee and a newspaper, maybe that's what you guys are enjoying in the morning. However, try complete with delicious snacks namely, Pisang Goreng. 

What is Pisang Goreng ? 

Pisang Goreng are foods made from fried banana with a thick batter of flour, eggs, and little water. This food very tasty if it is eaten in hot condition. Hm... Yummy.,.. :)

Picture of Pisang Goreng 
Check this out --> 

Pisang Goreng Kipas

Pisang Goreng

This food can be found anywhere in Indonesia, even in Malaysia and Singapore. In Indonesia, you can find this food at a roadside vendor, Warung tegal ( similiar restaurant with typical Javanese food) or in traditional market. The price is not too expensive to make anyone can enjoy it.
  So, let's try it ! 






Pict Source :
http://waetuo.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/aku-pencuri-pisang-goreng-2/
http://diajar-masak.blogspot.com/2010/07/pisang-goreng-kremes.html
http://cupubanget.deviantart.com/art/Pisang-Goreng-Kipas-303396415
http://www.goodfon.com/wallpaper/329951.html

Do You Like Traveling ? Not Enough If You Haven't Been to Bukittinggi

Lets start by talking a tourist spots in Sumatera, Indonesia. One of the suitable for you who like to travel, shopping and dinning are Bukittinggi. Why ? This city has a wonderful charm belonging than other cities in West Sumatera. When you come here, the clean and cool air will greet you. Then when you walk into Center of the City, you will be presented with a lovely charm of nature and buildings that exist here.

Historically, the city was once the capital of Indonesia during the Emergency Goverment of the Republic of Indonesia. In addition, the city has also been nicknamed as Fort de Kock. This is because at the time of Dutch colonialism in 1825, the town was used as a fortress by the name Fort de Kock. Just info : this ciy once was dubbed Parijs Van Sumatera and this city also sisters (sister city) with Negeri Sembilan Malaysia.

The cannon of Fort de Kock

So, what do you get when you visiting this city ?
Oke we are going to discuss in general the city's sight.

1. Place of tourism and historic buildings.

So, many tourist attractions that you can find here. When you visit the center of the city, you will find "Jam Gadang". Jam Gadang is the name of the tower which is located in the center of the city.Tower means suggests that the clock is very large. High tower is about 26 meters in accordance with the founding of the year 1926 as a gift from the Queen of the Netherlands to Rook Maker who became secretary of Bukittinggi in those days. In this development, the roof has been done three times of Jam Gadang renovations, In the Dutch East Indies Colonial roof round with rooster statue facing towards the east, then the Jappanese colonial period turned into a pagoda shape and after Indonesia's independence, it was replace with a roof which form Gonjong that Rumah Gadang (West Sumateran Traditional House).

Jam Gadang

Besides Jam Gadang, you can find a Japanesse Hole which is the protection tunnel built during Japanesse Colonial in 1942. The legth of this hole reaches 1400 meters with a width of 2 meters. Once you get out of the Japanesse Hole, you can enjoy the Sianok canyon (Ngarai Sianok in Bahasa Indonesia). A steep valley which lies on the border town of Bukittinggi. This gap depth reaches 100m with a legth of 15 km and a width of 200 m. Fantastic ! 

Japanesse Hole

Japanesse Hole.2

Sianok Canyon 1

Sianok Canyon 2

Sianok Canyon 3

Actually there are many other tourist attractions, but we will discused next time :)








Pict Source :
http://www.antarasumbar.com/berita/bukittinggi/d/3/9957/tidak-ada-perayaan-tahun-baru-di-jam-gadang.html
http://susumilohangat.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/belajar-foto/
http://derosaryebed.blogspot.com/2012/12/benteng-fort-de-kock.html
http://iniunic.blogspot.com/2011/12/bukittinggi-kota-terkorup-di-sumatera.html
http://ba2212z.blogspot.com/2010/04/lobang-jepang.html
http://malaladot-com.blogspot.com/2011/04/lubang-jepang-lobang-jepang-di-bukit.html

Lamang Tapai, You Must Try It !

Lamang Tapai Seller

Lamang Tapai, If you an Indonesian, you may be confused by the word. But, if you not an Indonesian, i sure you dont know what that Lamang Tapai. Lamang Tapai is kind of snack of the Sumatran region, more precisely Western Sumatera. Lamang Tapai can usually be found in traditional markets of this area ranging from Padang, Bukittinggi, Payakumbuh and others.



This meal consists of two unified food when eaten, the lamang and tapai. Lamang (Lemang in Bahasa Indonesia) is the food of  glutinous rice which cooked using bamboo which formerly rolled by banana leaves.  Bamboo rolls are also filled by coconut milk, then baked until cooked. Tapai (often spelled Tape in Bahasa Indonesia) is a kind of fermented food. Tapai divided into 2 types of  tapai hitam which is made from black glutinous rice and soups as well and Tapai but white is made of yam which is leavened and allowed to stand several days

Lemang Maker

Slices of Lemang

Lemang are Cooked in Bamboo

Tapai Hitam

Lemang with Tapai Hitam

Lemang Tapai in traditional market

Lamang Tapai

So, which one Lamang Tapai ? very simple, food is eaten with slices lemang with tapai hitam and the sauce. 
It tastes very sweet emerged from a Tapai Hitam mixed with the savory flavor of the Lemang. Hm.. it was delicious :) So, you must try it ! 








Pict Source : http://www.okefood.com/read/2012/08/16/302/678859/asam-manis-lamang-tapai-khas-minang
http://mizan.com/news_det/bukan-cuma-ketupat-makanan-wajib-idul-fitri-di-beberapa-daerah-indonesia.html
http://dimas-sambo.blogspot.com/2012/08/secuil-cerita-leumang-aceh.html
http://www.gedoor.com/2012/07/lamang-tapai/
http://wisatatanahdatar.blogspot.com/2011/04/makanan-tradisional.html

Kupat Tahu, Fine Dinning For Breakfast

When you stay for a few days in Bandung or other parts of West Java or just street briefly. Don't forget eating Kupat Tahu during the morning. Do you know, Kupat Tahu be a prima donna for the people here at the time of the breakfast. These food into foods that are cheap, tasty and easy to find on the streets of Bandung. In Indonesian language Kupat Tahu means Ketupat Tahu which mean the mix of Ketupat combined with pieces of fried tofu into small with a typical bean seasoning. However, in Bandung and surrounding areas, we're going to see a lot of traders give sprouts that have been boiled in this Kupat Tahu.

Ketupat

Ketupat. Do you know ketupat ? 

Ketupat is a dish typical of the shoutheast asia based rice wrapped in woven coconut leaves are still young. In Indonesia, Ketupat is found during a celebration of the Islamic Idul Fitri holiday. 

Kupat Tahu

How about the taste ? Don't ask me if the issue of the taste. When you try the original bandung Kupat Tahu, you will surely give it a try again, again and again. In general this Kupat Tahu sweet taste of peanut sauce flavor coupled with a bit of soy sauce, but if you like sipcy, the sellers of Kupat Tahu provide sambal to add taste.

Pict Source : http://gastronomy-aficionado.com/2012/12/12/kupat-tahu-gempol/ 
http://nanopertapan.blogspot.com/2012/07/gambar-foto-ketupat-lebaran-idul-fitri.html