e martë, 26 qershor 2007

Padang The Gate Of Minangkabau

Padang on Sumatra's west coast is the island's third largest city with population of 800.000. It is the provincial capital of west sumatra and most of the product from this region is exported through Padang.

The major export articles are coal, rubber, coffee, spice, tobacco, rattan and tea.
Padang situated at the foot of Minangkabau highland, which is named after the original inhabitant of west sumatra, one of the two main ethnic groups on Sumatra.

The Minang people converted to Islam many centuries ago, and majority of the population today are Muslim. The name Padang means field and the city is located on the coastal plane between the Indian ocean and the Bukit Barisan Mountains.

According to the history, Dutch traders established a trading post at Padang about 1680. It was remain the same until the 19th century when to war against the traditional Adat Minangkabau (law) followers.

The Dutch entered the war and joined the traditional leader in 1821 when the Padri's controlled much of the highlands. The Benteng de Kock fort in Bukit Tinggi became the new main base for the Dutch and in 1837 they finally conquered Bonjol, the headquater of the Padri leader Imam Bonjol.
Padang was under British control during the Napoleon war from 1781 to 1819 when the Dutch again seized control. During world war II it was occupied by the Japanese before Sumatra became a part of the new Indonesian Republic.

Like other tropical location, Padang presents certain health risk to travellers from high temperature climate, but with minimal precautions is as safe and no threatening destination as any.

One common risk is heatstroke and dehydration: people should not exert themselves during the heat of midday.

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Padang Photo Slide Show