My Sweet Little Hometown

2011-11-17T08:05:00.001-08:00

I ever said that I'm not from a big city or metropolitan city or famous city but, I just live in little city. Even though it's just a little hometown, this city is really precious for me because there was so many things happened here that can't be forgotten by me.

My Hometown is Bukittinggi City,,

My Dream Town,,

Bukittinggi or "High Hills" in english is one of larger city in West Sumatera in Indonesia. With population over 91.000 people and an area of 25,24 km². It is situated in the Minangkabau highlands, 90 km by road from the West Sumatran capital city of Padang. It is located at 0°18′20″S 100°22′9″E, near the volcanoes Mount Singgalang (inactive) and Mount Marapi (still active). At 930 m above sea level, the city has a cool climate with temperatures between 16.1°-24.9°C.

~~History~~
The city has its origins in five villages which served as the basis for a marketplace. The city was known as Fort de Kock during colonial times in reference to the Dutch outpost established here in 1825 during the Padri War. The fort was founded by Captain Bauer at the top of Jirek hill and later named after the then Lieutenant Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Hendrik Merkus de Kock. The first road connecting the region with the west coast was built between 1833 and 1841 via the Anai Gorge, easing troop movements, cutting the costs of transportation and providing an economic stimulus for the agricultural economy. In 1856 a teacher-training college (Kweekschool) was founded in the city, the first in Sumatra, as part of a policy to provide educational opportunities to the indigenous population. A rail line connecting the city with Payakumbuh and Padang was constructed between 1891 and 1894.
During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia in World War II, the city was the headquarters for the Japanese 25th Army, the force which occupied Sumatera. The headquarters was moved to the city in April 1943 from Singapore, and remained until the Japanese surrender in August 1945.
During the Indonesian National Revolution, the city was the headquarters for the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI) from December 19, 1948 to July 13, 1949. During the second 'Police Action' Dutch forces invaded and occupied the city on December 22, 1948, having earlier bombed it in preparation. The city was surrendered to Republican officials in December 1949 after the Dutch government recognized Indonesian sovereignty.
The city was officially renamed Bukittinggi in 1949, replacing its colonial name. From 1950 until 1957, Bukittinggi was the capital city of a province called Central Sumatra, which encompassed West Sumatera, Riau and Jambi. In February 1958, during a revolt in Sumatra against the Indonesian government, rebels proclaimed the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI) in Bukittinggi. The Indonesian government had recaptured the town by May the same year.
A group of Muslim men had planned to bomb a cafe in the city frequented by foreign tourists in October 2007, but the plot was aborted due to the risk of killing Muslim individuals in the vicinity.Since 2008 the city administration has banned Valentine's Day and New Year's celebrations as they consider them not in line with Minangkabau traditions or Islam, and can lead to "immoral acts" such as young couples hugging, kissing and not to mention fornicating.

~~Administration~~
Bukittinggi is divided in 3 subdistricts (kecamatan), which are further divided into 5 villages (nagari) and 24 kelurahan. The subdistricts are:

Guguk Panjang, Mandiangin Koto Selayan, and Aur Birugo Tigo Baleh.

~~Transportation~~
Bukittinggi is connected to Padang by road, though a dysfunctional railway line also exists. For inner-city transport, Bukittinggi employs a public transportation system known as Mersi (Merapi Singgalang) and IKABE that connect locations within the city. The city also still preserves the traditional horse-cart widely known in the area as Bendi, although the use is limited and more popular to be used as vehicle for tourist, both domestic and foreign. But now, so much people use motor vehicle in this city that can make this city will be jammed sometimes.

~~Tourism~~
And this is the most thing I really want to tell you. Tourism. My hometown, Bukittinggi city is well-known about the tourism in this city. So many interesting landmarks in here. Well, I'll explain it to you one-by-one.

1. Bung Hatta Palace

Bung Hatta Palace or Tri Arga State Building is located at the center of Bukittinggi precisely in front of the Clock Tower park. Formerly, in 1946 the building was in use as the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia first, Drs. Mohammad Hatta, and In 1947 the building was made as the Central Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia. Now, name the building was replaced with a building of Bung Hatta Palace to commemorate the services of Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesia.

2. Sianok Canyon

Sianok canyon is a steep valley (ravine) located in the border town of Bukittinggi, the IV Koto district, Agam regency, West Sumatra. The valley is long and winding as the southern border town of Koto Gadang canyon to the village Sianok Anam Tribe, and ended in the district Palupuh. Sianok canyon has very beautiful scenery and also became one of the mainstay of the provincial tourist attraction. Jurangnya Sianok deep canyon about 100 m, stretches along 15 km with a width of about 200 m, and is part of the fault that separates the island of Sumatra in half lengthwise (Semangko fault). This fault forms a steep wall, even perpendicular and form a green valley-the result of movement down the earth's crust (sinklinal)-fed rod Sianok (rod means river, in the Minangkabau language) where the water is clear. In the Dutch colonial era, the gap is referred to as buffalo sanget, because of the many free-living wild buffalo in the bottom of this canyon. Sianok rod can now be forded by the use of canoes and kayaks are disaranai by a water sports organization "Qurays". The route taken is from the village until the ellipsoid Sitingkai Lambah Palupuh village for about 3.5 hours. On its banks there's also rare plants such as Rafflesia and medicinal plants. Fauna encountered such long-tailed monkeys, gibbons, hoops, deer, wild boar, leopard, and tapirs.

3. Jam Gadang (Clock Tower)

This is the famous landmark in my hometown. Clock Tower in its history, presented by Dutch queen to Controleur (city secretary at the time). This large clock to come from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, through the bay bayur (1926), and the machine Jam Gadang believe there are only two in the world. I can say it looks likes Big Ben in England. Form of a high building, on the Dutch intended for a place to spy the movement of Imam Bonjol's followers during Padri War. The roof on this building changed several times, during the reign of the Netherlands, Japan, and after the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. After Independence, in the Clock Tower is the first time hoisted the Red and White.Meanwhile in the space below it never used the ticket booth terminals, police stations, and warehouses (1970). As a serine Clock Tower in the Dutch colonial period as signaled the end of the curfew. Currently functions as a clock prayers Friday, time to break and the Ruling on the Ramadhan month.

4. Bukittinggi Zoo

Wildlife Parks and Kinantan Cultural or better known by the name of Bukittinggi Zoo is one of the zoo on the island of Sumatera, which lies on top of Mount Cubadak Bungkuak Bukittinggi, West Sumatra province, Indonesia. Wildlife Parks and Cultural Kinantan is also one of the oldest zoos in Indonesia, and the only one in West Sumatra, with the most complete collection of animals on the island of Sumatra The zoo was built by the Dutch East Indies government In 1900's, with the name Stormpark (Flower Garden). Construction of the zoo was designed by Gravenzande, Controleur dutch who served in the town of Bukittinggi at that time. At the start of construction, Wildlife and Cultural Park is just a garden Kinantan not yet have a collection of animals, and several collections of animals began to put into the park, and then in 1929, exactly on July 3 was used as a zoo park with the name of Fort De Kocksche Dieren Park or the Zoo by Dr. Bukittinggi. J. Hock. In 1935, the area of the zoo was built Baanjuang Traditional House (House gadang) bergonjong maharam elephant, which has 9 rooms with anjungannya on the right and left. Later again, change the name of Fort De Kocksche Dieren Puti Garden Park becomes youngest. And in 1995 through local regulation No.. 2 of 1995 also changed the name of the youngest Puti Garden Wildlife Parks and Culture Kinantan.The zoo is also a mainstay attraction in the town of Bukittinggi is connected by bridge with attractions Limpapeh Fort de Kock. Is situated not far from downtown, making the zoo's main attraction for the tourists who visit the town of Bukittinggi.

5. Fort De Kock Citadel

Fort de Kock is a bastion of Dutch heritage that was standing in the town of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Fort de Kock is also the old name of Bukittinggi. The fort was built during the War of Padri in 1825 by Captain Bauer at the Mount Jirek and originally named Sterrenschans. Later, its name was changed to Fort de Kock, according to Hendrik Merkus de Kock, Dutch military figures. In later years, around this fort grew a town which is also named Fort de Kock, now Bukittinggi. Until now, Fort de Kock is still there as the green-white-painted buildings as high as 20 m. Fortress Fort de Kock is equipped with a small cannon in the four corners.The area around the castle has been restored by the local government into a garden with many shady trees and children's toys. The fort is located in the same location with Bukittinggi Zoo and Museum of Traditional House Baanjuang. The area is located on a hill fort left of the entrance while the area zoos and museums gadang shaped house is located on the hill to the right. Both are connected by a bridge Limpapeh beneath which is a highway in the town of Bukit Tinggi. This area is located only 1 km from the center of Bukittinggi in the Clock Tower, precisely on the canal road Tuanku nan Renceh.

6. Japan Hole

Japan hole Bukittinggi is one of the historical attractions in the city of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Japan hole is a tunnel (bunker) the protection of the Japanese occupation forces built around the year 1942 for defense. Earlier, Japan's Hole was built as a storage supplies and equipment Japanese soldiers of war, with a long tunnel that reaches 1400 m and winding and has a width of about 2 meters. A number of specific rooms contained in this tunnel, among them the space reconnaissance, ambush rooms, prisons, and armory. In addition to its strategic location in the city that was once a center of government of Central Sumatra, the land that became the wall of this tunnel is a type of soil which, when mixed with water will be more robust. Even the earthquake that shook West Sumatra in 2009 and then not much damage to the tunnel structure. It is estimated that tens to hundreds of thousands of forced labor or romusha deployed from the island of Java, Sulawesi and Kalimantan to dig this tunnel.Election workers from outside this area is the Japanese colonial strategy to maintain the confidentiality of this mega project. Labor from Bukittinggi itself deployed them to work on the tunnel defenses in Bandung and Biak Island. Japan began to run into holes historical attractions in the year 1984, by the city government, United Kingdom. Some of Japan's entrance into these holes are located on Gorges area Sianok, Panorama Park, next to the Bung Hatta Palace and Zoo in Bukittinggi.

7. Limpapeh Bridge

Limpapeh bridge is a bridge over the Ahmad Yani street, which connects Bukittinggi Wildlife Parks and Cultural Kinantan Bukittinggi with Fort de Kock. This stretch of Limpapeh bridge has a length of 90 meters and 3.8 meters wide.
Many right? But i still have some more, like Pasar Atas (uptown market) and Pasar Bawah (downtown market). These markets is really famous in my hometown. In Pasar atas is incleded by like clothes, accessories, and many others like food and place for eat too.
In other way, in Pasar Bawah is included by things that used for cooking or making food, drink, or we can say the people in Pasar Bawah sell the materials or ingredients of food for our kitchen.

And one more..
There's a Museum of Bung Hatta Birthplace thats well-known in Indonesia, the house where Indonesian founding father Mohammad Hatta was born, but now it changed to be a museum.

Now, I really wish that, this blog can amuse you and make you interesting to come to my hometown.

If you worry about the place to stay overnight in here, you don't have to worry.

There's so many hotels with best facilities and not really expensive.

So, come here and enjoy youir time in my lovely hometown.

And if you have something to ask, just feel free to ask me straight away..

I won't eat you. =P

Dreaming Girl

My Sweet Little Hometown