K M Cheng-Travel Journal: 2025

" The biggest quest to learn anything is curiosity. If you are curious about something, you will go & dig "

History, geography & cultural lessons about Sumatra come alive as soon as I set foot on Aceh soils in North Sumatra, Indonesia !

" The Malacca Sultanate was founded by Parameswara, also known as Iskandar Shah, around the year 1400. He was a prince from Palembang, Sumatra, who fled to Temasik (Singapore) & later established his new stronghold at the mouth of the Bertam River, which became the city of Malacca " - so my childhood history lesson re-visited in the light of the story of Parameswara, Malacca Sultanate & Temasik as I roamed Sumatra for 16 days from May 22 > June 6 2025 !

" Sumatra is known for its rugged tropical terrain, wildlife & smoldering volcanoes. Prior to my visit to Sumatra on May 22 2025, there were 2 earthquakes reported in local press & social media ie Mount Merapi volcanic eruption in West Sumatra on April 27 2025 & another 6.0 earthquake struck in North Sumatra on May 17 2025 ! But after checking with our hotels in Aceh & Medan, everything appeared fine in major cities of Sumatra so a safe landing for our first day arrival in Aceh & the rest of the cities in Sumatra ! So just beware if you are heading to Indonesia, home to approx 150 volcanoes & situated in the part of the Pacific Ring of Fire ! Where there are volcanoes, the soils are fertile & the food grown in volcanic soils proved to taste better ! A case in point, Lake Toba in North Sumatra is one of the largest volcanic lakes in the world & I loved eating the fresh bananas & papaya there ! As a retiree traveller, I was not "fired" from employment but instead "re-fired" like a volcanic eruption, wanting to see the world as much as possible after my retirement in 2006 at the age of 56 ! Volcanoes or no volcanoes, you use your wisdoms & plan every of your travel to ensure a "safe & soft" landing but unforeseen circumstances do occur at times !

" The west coast of Aceh is well remembered as the epicenter of the 9.2 Indian Ocean earthquake & tsunami which devastated the coastline & loss of lives of over 200,000 people from the region & the worst hit were Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka & Thailand ". Aceh has a number of Dec 2004 tsunamic landmarks & memorial sites to serve as a grim reminder of this tragic event to mankind !

" In Malaysia, you have the Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, Fraser Hills & Kundasang (holiday destinations, cool mountain village, British hilltop summer resort). In Sumatra, you have the Bukittinggi, a Dutch hilltop outpost, the Dream Land of Sumatra - a great delight for me after visiting the Taman Panorama Sianok Valley & the Lubang Jebang (Japanese Tunnel) ! Seeing is believing ! Make a date to visit Malaysia, Indonesia & Singapore (if you are a first timer), the "melting pot" of South East Asia with a rich diversified cultural blend !

" Seeing the Minangkabau & Batak architectural style buildings, the Dutch colonial style, 35 room mansion of Tjong A Fie in Medan, tasting of nasi Padang & nasi Kapau (Bukittinggi), curry fish head, nasi sayur wrapped in banana leaf, mie pangsit asin (Medan), Chinatown chicken porridge in Padang & Dutch recipe bread & pastries, decent hotel accommodations, efficient city to city public transport - so no dull moment at all & all my days of travelling in Sumatra were full of excitement & refreshing bringing home fond memories of this Sumatra visit covering May 22 > June 6 2025 "

" The largest indigenous ethnic groups in Sumatra are Malays, Minangkabau, Bataks, Acehnese & Lampungs. Other major non indigenous group ethnic groups are Javanese, Sundanese & Chinese, I had a lasting impression of the Chinatown I visited in Old Padang town, West Sumatra, this will continue to be felt or remembered for a long time, language is not a major issue here as both of us could communicate in Malay language so this makes life easier for our day to day dealing with the public ". Visiting a provincial or state museum in Aceh or Medan, the exhibits on various ethnic races & their culture in pictorial presentations said it all !

So as soon you land in Sumatra, just Go Dutch, you should be alright as after all, Indonesia was under Dutch colonial rule & influence since the early 17th century till 1949 ! Enjoy a cup of Gunongan coffee filled with a little less Dutch brand condensed milk - the taste is simply delicious & you soon realised you are on top of the world !

Here goes my story (juicy or not that juicy tale, you are the best judge as one man's meat is another man's poison) of my most recent 16 days free & easy visit to Sumatra island, a Wonderful Indonesia awaits you - Minangkabau or Melayu style !

Travel Itinerary: My 16 days free & easy Wonderful Indonesia visit covering Acheh > Medan > Lake Toba > Medan > Dumai > Pekanbaru > Bukittinggi > Padang in Sumatra Island (approx 1,427km):

My "two cents" on the magnificent 7 cities / towns / touristy places of Sumatra I visited with my travel buddy (KF Wong) from May 22 > June 6 2025; my new found knowledge of travelling in Sumatra island (May 2025) & Java island in recent years (May 2023, July 2017, Oct 2011 & Feb 2009) has raised my awe in travelling to Indonesia - a Wonderful Indonesia in the making as far as tourism is concerned ! KM, how about Lombok island & taking a high speed train from Jakarta > Bandung ? Or Keep dreaming or humming The Beatles song, take it easy & speaking words of wisdom "let it be" ! Let the power of dream inspires you & turn it into reality soon if you elected to choose this path or join a travel buddy or buddies with "initiative" to make things happen in travelling !

Sumatra Island, Indonesia

Sumatra: The 6th largest island in the world
Acheh: The epicenter of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
Medan: The Maimun Palace & The Octagonal Great Mosque
Lake Toba - The largest volcanic lake in the world
Dumai: Ferry link between Dumai Port, Sumatra & Melaka, Port Dickson & Muar, Malaysia
Pekanbaru; The Capital City of Petroleum & biggest palm oil city in Indonesia
Bukittinggi: Dutch Hilltop Outpost & The Dream Land of Sumatra
Padang: The Minangkabau Architecture & The Rendang beef

My Good Old Days travelling in Java, Bali & Batam Islands (2024, 2023, 2017, 2011 & 2009)

Java Island, Indonesia

Batam (Aug 2024)
Surabaya > Semarang > Yogyakarta > Malang > Batu > Malang > Probolinggo > Surabaya (May 2023)
Jakarta > Bandung & Jakarta > Bogor (July 2017)
Bali (Oct 2011)
Yogyakarta > Borobudur > Kaliurang & Yogyakarta > Dieng Plateau > Surakata (Feb 2009)

Total expenses incurred (16 days): Rm1,748 (US$397)

Air Asia (KILA2 > Acheh & Padang > KLIA2) : Rm206 + Rm182 = @Rm388 inclusive of a 20kg luggage & taxes

Travel Insurance: @Rm85

Airport shuttle bus (Senior): @Rm21

Sim Card: @Rm30

Groceries: @Rm15

Hotels (15 nights): @Rm508 twin sharing

Long distance bus (Acheh > Medan > Dumai > Pekanbaru > Bukittinggi > Padang): @Rm228

Bus (Medan > Lake Toba > Medan): IDR70k + IDR125k = IDR195k (@Rm52)

Boat Ride (Tiga Raja > Lake Toba > Tiga Raja): IDR25k x 2 (@Rm13

Bike Hire + Petrol (Lake Toba & Padang): @Rm28

Grab (15 rides): @Rm83

Auto-rickshaw: @Rm7

Mini van / Town Bus: @Rm10

Entrance fee: @Rm53

Food: @Rm214

Sundries: @Rm13

Currency exchange: US$1 = Rm4.40; IDR100k = Rm27

My travel buddy: KF Wong who was also my travel buddy to Thailand, Vietnam, India (twice), Sri Lanka, Laos & Southern China between Nov 2022 to Feb 2025 + 3 Cuti Cuti Malaysia post-Covid 19 staycation visits in 2022 (Kuala Rompin, Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Tioman) & a visit to Pulau Perhentian in 2024.

Travel Highlights:

1) Aceh, North Sumatra

Tsunami Museum Aceh, North Sumatra

2) Medan, North Sumatra

Masjid Raya Baithurrahman
Medan, North Sumatra

3) Parapat / Lake Toba, North Sumatra

Lake Toba, North Sumatra

4) Dumai, Riau

Dumai Islamic Center,
Riau, Sumatra

5) Pekanbaru, Riau

Masjid Raya Pekanbaru
Riau, Sumatra

6) Bukittinggi, West Sumatra

Taman Panorama Sianok
West Sumatra

7) Padang, West Sumatra

Masjid Syeh Ahmad Khalib
Al Minangkabau, Padang, Sumatra

Exercise (Walkabout when travelling) & Sightseeing come hand in hand - passion fuels energy, food provide calories so that you could walk that extra mile in sightseeing activities on a particular day ! I was over the moon when my travel buddy released these sets of data to me that in one or two of the sightseeing outings in downtown Aceh & Medan, both of us chalked up 19,797 steps = 13km of walking distance on a particular day; on others days 15,332 steps (10km) & 9,164 steps (6km) - what an amazing outcome, well done KM & KF !

Small Eat - The "down to earth" Sumatra food (simple, hearty, spicy & flavorful) I tasted in local restaurants & food stalls; food glorious food ! These Sumatra food are economical & affordable to eat (not going to cause a big dent in your pockets) & suite your taste buds especially if you love spicy food ! So use your 5 senses ie sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste & enjoy every piece of food you ordered & placed in front of you !

A little sightseeing, a little eating, a little nap, a little public transport travelling (rock & roll), a little understanding on the history, geography & cultural aspects of the country or cities; the sum of all these could make you a better traveller & yearn to see more of the world we lived in !