One fine holiday in West Sumatera – Part 1 Tour de Lake (Solok)

This journal begin when Wanda, one of my close friend in Jakarta asked me to take them to my hometown to see how’s my home town looks like. Actually I, Wanda and three others friend planned this journal from long time ago when we were still in the college. Four of us are an auditor and one of us is an accountant. Of course it will be difficult to find the right time to travel. Then, suddenly Wanda asked that we are going to Padang at May 15, 2014. May 14 is national holiday and we will take the day off at May 15, so we will make it for 4 days, Thursday to Sunday. Unfortunately, only me and Wanda available at that time. At May 7 we booked the ticket. We booked for three because Wanda’s cousin comes with us. The ticked costed us Rp. 1.575.000,- Jakarta – Padang and return. It’s quite expensive because it was long weekend.

We got the night flight at Thursday because the morning and afternoon flight was sold out. We left Jakarta at 6pm and arrived in Padang at 7.30pm. From airport to my home in Solok takes 2 hours. So the first day we just fully rest in my home.

Day 1

As the schedule that I already arranged, the first day is tour the lake. Solok is one of the city in West Sumatera is famous as the city of a thousand lake. There are so many lakes in Solok that has a beautiful view.

We started the journal in the morning at 9 am we left my home. The first day my family came with us. It was good because I haven’t done that for a long time.

Kebun Teh Kayu Jao

Our first destination at that day was Danau Kembar or in English is Twin Lake. It named Danau Kembar because there are two lakes at that place close to each other. That lake named as Danau Diatas and Danau Dibawah. It only took less than one hour from my home to that place. Before arrived at Danau Kembar we through the Tea field. Imagine the green view and the cold weather up there.

How lucky we are at that time because the weather was very good. The clear blue sky came with us. At the Tea Field we take the picture first. We could see green along the way, Mount Talang, white cloud like a cotton candy and the blue sky as a background. It was the breathtaking scenery.

Clear sky all along the way

Holideeeeiiiiiii

 Thanks for my Mama and Papa

Green Tea, Blue Sky, Cotton Candy and Mt. Talang as the Background

all greeeeen

Selfie

After we take picture as much as we can we left to the Danau Kembar. It was that good at that day. Family, friends, and holiday were the perfect combination to cave the smile all along the way.

Danau Kembar

If we want to see both of that lake, we can go at the top of hills. We can reach the hills by the car. That place named as Panorama Danau Kembar. To enter that place it only cost Rp. 5.000,- each car. I was so excited. In that Panorama we can clearly see both of that lake. The wind blow, the smell of the mountain, the cold weather and the only thing came in my mind was PERFECT. I really love the place like this. I can stand for a long time to feel the atmosphere. Oh my God, it was perfectly perfect.

At that place there are also a local people that entertain us with the music of Suling who played Minang song.

Here are several pictures that I took up there. This is only the picture, the real one absolutely better than this picture.

Danau dibawah from the hill view

Danau diatas from above 

(it was not good spot to take the picture)

Local people entertaint us with Suling

Another view of Danau Dibawah

Cold

Another Selfie

After we took the picture in Panorama we came down to the Danau Diatas. There are place called Dermaga in Danau Diatas that we can came down there. For Danau Dibawah we couldn’t come to see the lake because it’s too dangerous. The lake was too steep from the edge.  

with ma Momma

Dermaga

Clear sky

Stunning

After taking picture in Danau Diatas, then we continue the journal. Our next destination in lake view Danau Singkarak from the hills named Panorama Tanjung Alai. Actually it is not really far from Danau Kembar but we decided to take the long journey. it was like we trip around mount Talang so we can see mount Talang from every corner. We through Bukit Sileh – Kubang duo – Panyakalan – Aripan – then arrived at Panorama Tanjung Alai.

In Bukit sileh we took the picture that shows Bukit Barisan.

See in this picture we can see the so many hills. If we count it, look like almost seven slices of the hills. It was another breathtaking place that I have ever seen.

In Kubang Duo we decided to take a lunch first. There is one of Padang Restaurant that serves Minang food up there. It was delicious. And also this place provides the breathtaking view. It was stunned. For me this place is highly recommended.

Good viw, good food, good people

Really had a good time :)

We continued the journey and arrived at Panorama Tanjuang Alai about 4 pm. It was perfect timing to see the lake showering by sunlight. See this picture above. In my elementary school I used to draw a view like two mounts, the bright sun, the blue sky and the cotton candy cloud with the lake and the rice field, at that time I was standing there as the witness that those picture is really real. How lucky I am. Not only that, while taking picture and enjoying the view we saw people on parasailing. Unfortunately we couldn’t play it because the place to start already through.

Look likes familiar?

Sweet escaping

Lake Singkarak from above

Parasailing

We ended the first day journey in Tanjuang Alai. Then we back to my home to take a rest and prepared for another outstanding journey at the second day.

Thanks to Wanda and Ka dini

Special thanks to Family 

Love you all

This trip was on May 15, 2014

Solok, West Sumatera