Adventure Vacation Trip

Route

The nearest airport to Bukittinggi is the Minangkabau International Airport at Padang. So the fastest way to get to Bukittinggi is to fly to Padang and transfer to a bus. For my maiden trip to Indonesia, I wanted to try out a variety of local transports. From Singapore to Bukittinggi, my original plan was to take a ferry from Singapore to Batam, a ferry from Batam to Pekanbaru, then a bus to Bukittinggi. But I missed the connection between Batam and Pekanbaru.

As a result, I took a roundabout route by taking a ferry from Batam to Kuala Tungkal (near Jambi), then multiple transfer of buses/mini-vans to Bukittingi. For the return trip, I opted for a straightforward flight from Padang to Singapore.

In Bukittingi town, I rented a motorcycle for an eastern loop to explore the Minangkabau region and a western loop to Maninjau. The total distance traveled on motorcycle was around 300km. All roads covered on the motorcycle were in excellent asphalt condition. Road signs and petrol stations are available. The road to Maninjau is famous for its 40 sharp bends around hilly terrain. It’s a key reason why I rented a motorcycle.

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Mention Indonesia as a tourist destination and most people would think of Bali. In fact, there are other attractions that are as worthy a mention as Bali. A little known gem is Bukittinggi, a small town on the island of Sumatra.

Located two hours from Padang by road, Bukittinggi is situated in the Minangkabau highlands. Because of its elevated position, it offers a cool respite for tourists during the summer months. With the frequent Tsunami scares, it is also a safe haven for some residents from Padang.

Avid climbers would be interested in nearby Mount Singgalang and Mount Merapi. Additional sights worth visiting are the Sianok Canyon and Japanese caves. Bukittinggi is also one of the few places on Earth where you can view the world’s biggest flower – Rafflesia.

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After 6 months on public transport, I have finally bought a motorcycle, or a scooter to be exact. It’s a second hand Vespa LX150 with 1200km on the odometer during its 1 year 5 months of service. It comes in its stock midnight blue paint job. The nondescript colour is probably a decent choice for a guy riding a Vespa. Surely, you wouldn’t expect me to ride a pink Vespa?

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For this North Thailand trip, I brought along Thailand Rough Guide and Thailand Lonely Planet for information on country background, accommodation, maps, restaurants and places of interest.

If you need up-to-date information on the roads, you can try asking in GT-Rider forum (requires registration).

GT-Rider Mae Hong Son map provides an accurate travel map of Mae Hong Son region. The laminated map can be found in at some book stores and bike shops in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.  The publisher also provides overseas shipping. You can find more details at GT-Rider website. Note that GT-Rider also provides Mae Sa Valley map.

GT-Rider Mae Hong Son Map

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Day 2 (Khun Yuam – Mae Hong Son – Chiang Mai)

With a long day ahead of us, we set off early at 630am.

I have learnt to appreciate riding in the morning. The world is silent except for the comforting rumbling of your engine.  The roads are empty except for the occasional excited rooster dashing across. You may let your thoughts wander but the cold keeps you alert. The fine tarmac and twisting roads to Mae Hong Son only made the ride more enjoyable.

En route to Mae Hong Son

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