Paragliding in Puncak Lawang

Sport kite flying start in Puncak Lawang, Matur, Agam Regency, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Paragliding sport is held in Puncak Lawang is located at an altitude of 1210 m above sea level (asl). This place is one of the flying tourist attraction visited by many tourists, both domestic (local) and foreign.

Because the place that is above the height of the natural scenery of Lake Maninjau in the valley is breathtaking, the area of Puncak Lawang used as the location where the start (take off) Paragliding sport. Thus the pilot, as he hovered in the air, can see the beauty of Lake Maninjau.

Each year, local governments always held a competition sport kite flying in the area. For lovers of sport kite flying, these activities would need to be scheduled to follow. In the contests that have been held before, participants who followed the race came not only from various regions in Indonesia, but also abroad.

Locations in the start of the level of 1210 m above sea level or just above the hills that surround Lake Maninjau makes this place challenging sports enthusiasts kite flying. With that height, the pilot can linger in the air while enjoying the beautiful panorama of Lake Maninjau. Beautiful scenery presented as a blend of natural green vast stretches of mountains that surround the lake with a green sheen of water, the vast stretches of paddy field, and township residents who regularly made the main attraction is pity to miss.

In addition, the effect of heating the water of Lake Maninjau, giving effect to the position of the glider pilot, which is able to bring the pilots to fly higher than take-off location.

This location can be reached by landline. There are two alternative pathways to get to Puncak Lawang, namely from the west and the east. From the west, the journey begins from the town of Padang Pariaman passing lane toward Lubuk Basung (the capital city of Agam District), passing Lake Maninjau and Curved 44 with travel time approximately 2.5 hours. To transport can use a private car, public transport, travel or car hire.

While traveling from the east following the route of Padang-Bukittinggi, Bukittinggi and from the location to use public transportation, personal car or rental car with a travel time of about 3 hours. For public transportation, no one serving Route-Location Padang (Puncak Lawang) directly. Therefore, travelers are advised to use a rental car or private car.

On location there is an open mushalla building complete with bathrooms, ablution and toilet. While on the edge of the cliff near the security fence, there are some binoculars that are permanently attached and can be used by the visitors to see the panoramic view of Lake Maninjau no charge.(by: julius yelita)

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Taman Marga Satwa dan Budaya Kinantan

Taman Marga Satwa dan Budaya Kinantan or better known as Kinantan Zoo is located in Taman Bundo Kanduang. This area was built in 1900 by a Dutch named Controleur Strom Van Govent. This wildlife park built on a hill called Bukit Malambuang.

At the start of construction, the park was not yet have a collection of animals. New in 1929 made the zoo to include several collections of animals into the park. In 1929 the zoo made by Dr J Hock and is the oldest zoo in Indonesia and the only one in West Sumatra.

Thanks to a very serious management by the Dutch colonial government, Bukittinggi Zoo continues to grow and achieve heyday in 1933. This year, farm animals Bukittinggi able to provide about 150 animals typical of the island of Sumatra at Surabaya Zoo. Conversely, Bukittinggi Zoo Surabaya Zoo received from a number of animals typical of Eastern Indonesia.

In 1935, in Bukittinggi Zoo built traditional house. Rumah gadang bergonjong' has 9 rooms and platforms on the right and left. On the walls of traditional houses have carvings that reflect the height of the realm of Minang culture.

To reach this location, tourists can use a landline. From the city of Padang to Bukittinggi, the trip can be taken for about 2 hours drive.

The zoo was originally named Kebun Bungo after it changes the name of a Taman Puti Bungsu. In 1995 through local regulation No. 2 of 1995 again changed the name of a Taman Puti Bungsu at Taman Marga Satwa dan Budaya Kinantan, along with his official fortress Fort de Kock joined through Bridge Limpapeh.

Bukittinggi Zoo also features the Museum of Zoology and ornamental fish aquarium. In the area of the zoo was built is also a place used to perform various types of traditional art performances Minangkabau.
There are also Rumah Adat Tradisional functioned as a museum displaying the objects of culture and history, like the Minang traditional clothes and jewelry.

No less interesting is the presence in the region Limpapeh Bridge Zoo Bukittinggi. This bridge connects Bukittinggi Zoo with Fort Fort De Kock located in Bukit Jirek.

Now, Bukittinggi Zoo is known as the Taman Marga Satwa dan Budaya Kinantan. A wildlife park which has undergone various changes, reaching a peak of glory, then recede in appalling condition.

The long journey of this wildlife park could not help make it as a precious heritage for all the children of this nation. Therefore, to maintain its existence in order to remain sustainable is the glorious duty of every child slung over the shoulders of this country.

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Gunung Singgalang

Climb Mount Singgalang. Singgalang mountain is a volcano that is no longer active. The mountain is located in the province of West Sumatera. Mount Merapi adjacent to the mountain is located at an altitude above the surface laut.Ia 2.877meter famous for its forests are very humid conditions, because it has a lot of water content.

Singgalang is a beautiful and scenic volcano, and unlike its neighbor, Merapi, it is old and extinct. Within the crater of the volcano is a beautiful lake known as Telago Dewi.

The volcano is one of the two peaks rising south of the city of Bukkinggi. The other volcano is Marapi Volcano.

Singgalang is climbed much less often than its sister peak, Marapi Volcano, so the trails are rougher and harder to follow. A local guide may be useful in locating the trail.

To reach Singgalang, first take a bus to Bikittinggi, which is easy to get to from any of Sumatra's major cities. From Bikittinggi, make your way to the bus terminal in the southeast part of the city. From there, locate a minibus headed for Kotabaru. Ask the driver to drop you off at "Kachil ik Singgalang" or "the trail to Singgalang" or "Kachi ik Pandai" or "the trail to a place called Pandai Sikek".

Mount Singgalang can be reached from several paths. However, the famous route is through rural Koto Baru and Pandai Sikek. From Koto Baru village we will take the route to the Village Pandai Sikek. From this village is the starting point towards Tower (RCTI and TVRI transmitter located at the waist of the mountain Singgalang). Tower Towards this transmitter we will pass the paved roads that climb, the closer to the tower of his way more and not good and full of pebbles and on his left and right side there are fields of agriculture population. Pandai Sikek Village is also famous for its sugar cane fields and place of manufacture saka (brown sugar).

After reaching the Tower transmitters we can make this area as a resting place (shelter) before continuing the journey to the summit. From the tower, we will pass pimpiang woods about 1 hour. This forest consists of a high pimpiang plants and ducked, so that requires climbers to walk crouched, and even sitting and crawling. But now, through the woods is getting easier, because the top of the plant is cut off, so we no longer need to stoop to pass through.

After passing pimpiang we will find a place called "Mata Air I", in this place down to the bottom we will find the river water taken for supplies.

From the first spring we will travel routes that climb up the rock, with an average slope of about 45 degrees. More to the summit we will find many beautiful fern trees and past the tracks a slightly damp and dense forest. On the left or right track we found the electric poles and wires that can be used as a guide to get to the top. But for some people, this is very disturbing. Beautiful views of forests damaged by electric poles on both sides, not to mention the fad will calculate approximately how much longer before the mast to the top.

Travel route before the normal time-consuming rock about 5 hours depending on fast or the slow movement of our journey. From rock to the summit takes about 1 hour. Rock consists of a yellow solid rocks, overgrown beard and Rhododendron trees mountains, and occasionally we will find edelweiss flower, although very rarely encountered and require a keen eye to find it. On the way later on we will also find an obelisk monument called Galapagos.

From this rock we could see off in the direction of the mountain scenery Marapi located right in front. If lucky, we could see the town of Padang Panjang, Bukittinggi, and Danau Singkarak from the rock. However, during the day, the mountain is often shrouded in fog Singgalang. If you want to get a better view of the exotic set up a tent in the rock and watch the sunrise and other exotic sights in the morning.

After passing the rock, we will re-entering the forest area is more humid and the trees are covered with thick moss. Not long after that we got to the Telago Dewi. Telago Dewi is often shrouded in fog. If you are fond of photography, when the lake was clear, the sooner the better to get his picture, because the fog is very friendly to play there.

Surrounding the lake this Goddess does not take a long time, but the charm of truly natural and exotic will make us comfortable to linger in the humid and wet forests. In the vicinity of this lake we met a very dense forest moss and some plants semar bag.

Area camp located in the vicinity of the lake and pond water that can be used for needs makes it convenient to several days in Singgalang. The atmosphere is cool and quiet is a sensation for those who want off fatigue in the wild.

Many who arrived at Singgalang only reached the Telago Dewi alone. But there's more Singgalang peak reached about half to 1 hour that leads the summit. At its peak, we will find a transmitter tower, which is the estuary of the electrical poles are encountered along the road.

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Pantai Bungus

Bungus Beach is located in a quiet bay Bungus. Beautiful natural scenery. The hills that surround the beach looks like tower of view toward the sea.

Sloping beaches with white sand that is suitable for a variety of recreation such as swimming, diving, sunbathing or boating towards small islands not far from the beach Bungus.

Located 20 km south of Padang, or 1.5 hours of travel, the beach is easily reached by land transportation. On the beach available tourist facilities such as beach umbrellas and chairs for lazy sunbathing.

Shape resembles a crescent beach. Warm seawater and is safe for swimming. From here, you can menjelejahi oceans to shore-Nearest beach off the coast of Padang as Sirandah Island, Sikowi, Bintangur, Pasumpahan and other islands.

The islands are very good as a tourist attraction marina, have white sandy beaches and colorful marine park colorful surrounding. To get there, you can hire a speedboat or sailboat owned by residents in the Gulf Bungus. From the Coast Bungus to the islands it takes ± 75 minutes.

If you do not want wasteful of energy, simply relax on the beach while enjoying the sunset at this amazing bay. Sitting under a shady palm tree in the vicinity of the beach is also exciting. Or eat seafood (seafood) and other dishes at the restaurants that dot the beach.

There is one activity that is also often acted on the Beach Bungus travelers, namely fishing. Really delicious.

On holidays it is always crowded tourist invaded visitors. The height from sea level of about 1 meter. Beach temperatures between 24-30 degrees Celsius and humidity 85% on average. From silhuet sun in the eastern horizon, looming Banana Island and the Gulf Bayur in the south.

All that beauty can be enjoyed through a number of facilities. Among them, hut Minang architecture tours, children's pool, several seating (shelter) for the relaxed look at the high seas, jogging track, parking area and safe, children's play area and camping ground capacity of 300 people.

The breeze was cool when entering the gates of the Garden of Nirvana. Palm trees around the park was seen waving. Shore wind made the atmosphere around grow cool. Meanwhile, jogging along the path can be done while enjoying a variety of flora and fauna that live in the surrounding forests, such as Weasel (Paradoxorus Hermaproditus), Tupai (Callosiorus Notatus) and monkey (Presbytis Cristata).

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