This leg was initially intended as the jumping point to the Mentawai Islands, but after some travel negotitions we decided to bail the Mentawai's and head to Bali. Instead the trip became a lesson in travel and prior planning.
The leg started with an early walk around KL to check out some cheap mobiles but after trying for five minutes to wake the young fella at the accommodation to let me out, when I finally got to the market with the phones it was closed.
Once we were all up we went for a feed and a bit of a walk around before getting our shit together to go to the airport. This time was a bit easier, with the monorail to central and a bus to the airport. When we arrived at the que for the Padang flight with only an hour to go until departure we all had our worries when the que was very long and not moving quickly at all. Apparently the Air Asia flights don’t leave until everyone is checked in anyway so it was no big drama.
Finally we arrived in Padang and after getting Visas sorted we were greeted by very friendly airport staff that assisted with our bags. We were then mobbed as we tried to sort out flights for the next day’s trip down to Bali. When we eventually bailed the flights idea, in favour of getting them online, and made it to the taxi, the friendly airport staff demanded money for carrying the bags. They were in fact porters and we would later become accustomed to these people demanding to take your bags and then asking for money.
We then got into Padang and it was a real eye opener.
The place is full of industry and very few tourists venture here, and with good reason by the looks of the place. The few tourists that travel here are generally those heading out to the Mentawai Islands or elsewhere offshore for diving and hiking.
Kat was still feeling pretty worse for ware so she and Jimmy laid low in the hotel. The hotel wasn’t much, but it had a pretty friendly vibe and the rooms were comfortable enough. The Lonely Planet had labled the place “as sweet as a tall glass of Fanta”. I don’t know if I’d say that, and the place didn’t even sell Fanta. We’re going to write to Lonely Planet (maybe) and let them know.
Justine and I set about looking for flights down to Bali. When we eventually found some, we were unable to secure them because they wouldn’t accept credit card payment so our research and hours in front of the computer were all in vain. Most of the locals in Padang also speak very little English so it was very difficult. We decided to leave it until the morning and we went for a feed at a local restaurant.
Padang is supposed to be the birthplace of Indonesian cuisine, serving up huge amounts of food to your table and allowing the diner to select their dishes. We weren’t having great luck however and we couldn’t find any of the local chains that sell this type of cuisine so we settled for a flash looking seafood joint, where we had to be real tight arses and keep checking the bill because of limited cash. Justine grabbed a beef hotplate and me the chilli squid. The chilli squid was really a massive plate of chilli with a bit of squid. A real arse burner for the next day.
The next day we were stoked to be out of there and on our way to Bali. Jimmy and I sorted the flights, after wandering around
town for an hour to find the tourist centre. After a feed we decided to head
out to one of the beaches on the way to the airport for a bit of a relax away
from the centre of Padang.
Jimmy and I grabbed one of the local opelet, which
is a pimped up van with a big stereo system. They drive around town picking up
passengers, similar to the tuc tucs in Thailand. We managed to get one to
ourselves so all the gear could fit in. The driver stopped at the tourist
centre so we could pay for the booked flight tickets. These tickets turned out
to be hand written, the first any of us can ever remember seeing. He then took
us out to Uncle Jack’s, a little homestay on the beach of Pantai Pasir Jamak
(Pantai being the locals word for beach – I think). We had a bit of a swim and
grabbed a bight to eat and then headed for the airport. Finally it was time to hit Bali.
