Bukittinggi, Home of the Brave

"Minang men were willing to buy expensive dogs to hunt pigs and then thrown away," says Faisal, youth Minang, my friend for a drive in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. We're talking about hog hunting tradition is amazing. Once the pigs were hunted as fond of damaging plants in gardens or fields. This hunting tradition now grown to become a prestigious sporting events. Sunday morning a group of men would gather, complete with hunting dogs are trained, and then go pig hunting forest.

Since Minang people do not eat pork, usually the pigs that died will be left alone in the forest. Later there are traders of Nias pig which often involved hunting or buying their game results. Of the activities that need to be, hunt pigs became a hobby, even a hereditary tradition. Faisal had come to hunt pigs since childhood. Faisal little pleased by car and roads into the forest. Since childhood he willingly told this and that as long as it can go up the pick up and walk through the forest to hunt pigs.

Minang realm is so rich in tradition. Every aspect of life is maintained tradition from generation to generation. By Faisal I talked about how he grew up with such a strong tradition. Including when he was growing up and are required to go abroad. Each youth Minang, towards adulthood, must go wander out of its territory to draw from the experience and know the world outside. Youth are expected to be able to forge Minang persistence, soul and never give up mentally with being away from family and faced a hard life.

It is expected to be equipped to enhance their self to the degree of a better life. Even before Minang men must wander with only a sarong and a little money. It's an honorable tradition. Since childhood, Faisal called Aseng by her parents, this supposedly stands for "Son of the Passion". His family is in poor condition when she was born.

At the age of eighteen he left his village in the village of Matur and went to Jakarta to do anything that can be done, working at the restaurant in Padang, trading at the Tanah Abang market, and more. Until finally he came back to Bukittinggi and start a business rental car with some friends. Forge a strong tradition of youth Minang for persistent and do not know surrender has spawned so much the strongest person ever had this republic.

The names of the founder of Indonesia are the sons of pride Minang realm. Hatta, the father of economic populist, Sjahrir the democrats, Haji Agus Salim is wise, or Tan Malaka, a mysterious figure who is said to eventually have a rifle shot and killed an auxiliary army of the republic was founded. Minang realm is also the home of the leaders of Indonesian literature. He is home to Marah Rusli, Hamka, until AA Navis. Chairil Anwar was also one of the many Minang bloody poet. Major works such as "Siti Nurbaya", or "Sinking Ship Van Der Wijk" may be born out of his reverie, daydream in this beautiful land.

Fortunately for me who had spent time walking in the town of Bukittinggi is cool and hilly. Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery in the canyon Sianok daydreaming, or see cage-cage fish in Lake Maninjau, there is another feeling when in a city with a long history of struggle. During the Japanese occupation he was a Japanese military control center for the region of Sumatra, at times defend the independence, Bukittinggi is the capital city of Indonesia at Yogyakarta while falling into the hands of Holland. The city is also home to Hatta spent his childhood.

I have time to stop by the childhood home of Bung Hatta, saw his bedroom, old furniture, or looking at photos of Bung Hatta, when he was thirteen years old. Who then thought, a quiet child's face is a figure that far exceeded his time and who later became one of the stand at the front when Indonesia declared independence.

From the house of Bung Hatta, I got stopped by a mysterious Japanese hole. Holes along the 1.4 km that was built with the blood of residents of the republic from 1942 to 1945 period is intended to be one final hideout Japanese troops. It is said that once concealed the existence of these holes so that thousands of native Japanese who has never thrown to dig it out again. Thousands of residents of the republic were put in forced labor, to then be killed and disposed of in one of the streets are very bleak.

There he found the prison where prisoners detained Japan that never came out again. No one knew of the existence of this hole in the 1942-1945 period than those who were taken there. Nobody even knew anyone who had ever thrown in forced labor and murdered there. No one knew where the land was first dug the rest discarded. Its existence was only known to outsiders in 1946 when Japan was gone. The hole was there and still keep the mystery.

Walking in Bukittinggi we will be brought in a passage of time. Many point to witness wrote down the history. There is a strong Clock Tower, Fort de Kock is old, and many more. Have a look at Indigenous Museum Banjuang and notice how a society shaped by a long tradition and strong culture.

Or go a little out into the Plains area and enjoy a coffee Kawa leaves unparalleled. This coffee made from coffee beans but not from its leaves. Among the cool air, coffee is served over coconut shells is really making me addicted. And of course, in this hilly city corners with beautiful scenery, lovely hills around the canyon Sianok, or the stunning views of the Peak Lawang. Ah man, never bored me, said that Indonesia still has a lot of surprises.