Ngarai Sianok, Bukit Tinggi


Through Sianok CanyonThe next day, Jas offers his services as a guide for a walk through the nearby Sianok canyon (Ngarai Sianok). From Bukittinggi we walk down and via some rice fields we end up in a forest. Further downhill we arrive at the river that flows through the canyon. We follow the river and pass it several times since it flows from one side of the canyon to the other. We see enormous bugs, and flying foxes, a bat species with sizes up to 1 meter. We pass several small waterfalls and see a few monkeys in the distance. The climb up is hard, but once on top we have a magnificent view over the canyon. Via the silver village, where people are making silver jewellery, we walk back to Bukittinggi

the traditional of minang kabau house


West Sumatra is the domain of the Minangkabau. In the beautiful landscape around Bukittinggi, the typical Minangkabau houses are owned by the women in a matrilinear system. They manage to combine that system with the strict Muslim faith, in which the men are dominant.

bull, icon minang kabau ( smart simbol)

Bull fightIn between some showers we move on to a large crater lake, Donau Singkarak. We can take a swim here, with thunder in the mountain as a backdrop. The stop at the wood workers is also short, it is time to move on to today’s main attraction: the bull fight.
On Sumatra, people don’t fight the bulls as they do in Spain. Instead, the bulls fight each other. They bash their heads together and try to push each other away. The one that runs looses the game. According to the story, this is how the Minangkabau got their name. When the people from Java came to conquer Sumatra, they convinced them to let the bulls fight for the victory. The people from Java came with a huge bull, but the Sumatrans only had a small, hungry calf, with its horns drenched in poison. The calf thought the bull was its mother, and went searching for her udders, wounding the bull. The bull ran, and the people shouted “Minang kabau, minang kabau”, which means “Victory for our Bull”.
We have a good view over the arena, from a hill around the field. Most of the audience is on the field, as close as possible to the bulls. The first fight takes long, neither one of the bulls wants to give up. The supporters of both bulls are shouting and pushing the bulls to force a decision. Then, after 20 minutes, one of the bulls runs away. The second fight is much shorter, after the first bash, the sensible one of the bulls takes a hike. The third one is also short, but has a spectacular ending. The fleeing bull can not find a clear passage through the crowds, and bashes into the people. Two people are injured, and the rest runs for their lives. Next, the bull runs up the road, followed by the other bull. All ends well, but we are told that sometimes people are killed by fleeing bulls.

Minang kabau , west sumatra culture

West Sumatra is one of the most beautiful areas of Indonesia. It is mountainous and divided by three valleys. There are lovely lakes and spectacular volcanoes. But the land of the Minangkabau is very special and has the most friendly population group of Indonesia. They love to talk with visitors and will tell you about their unique society. If a visitor tries to understand the culture and traditions of the Minang he will soon feel himself a member of the clan. He will be invited as a guest to their homes - a unique way to become acquainted with real Indonesian life. Most of your hosts and hostesses are English teachers so language will not be much of a problem. They will show you the community and explain their customs. Further information about the possibilities, expenses and such you will find elsewhere on this website. If you want to know more, please ask Mrs. Muslidar who lives in Bukittingi, the cultural centre of the Minangkabau.

Minang Kabau in west Sumatra

minang kabau is traditional cultur in west sumatra, the people have been a good cultur, they call it Adat basandi sarak, sarak basandi kitabullah
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