Padang is the gateway to the Minang highlands. With the largest port on Sumatra’s West Coast, this is a merchant town attracting ships trading in goods such as rubber, cinnamon, coffee, tee, cement and coal. If you take a stroll down to the old colonial waterfront you’ll see century old warehouses stocked with fragrant cinnamon and other spices waiting to be shipped to Jakarta and Singapore.
Padang is the capital city of West Sumatra, and it becomes the largest city on the western coast of Sumatra Island. During the Dutch colonial, Padang was one of major cities in Sumatra, together with Medan, Batam, Palembang and Pekanbaru. Has awarded by Adipura Award for 17 times and Adipura Kencana for 3 times as the cleanest and greenest city in Indonesia, make Padang increase their quality in everything.
Padang is the gateway to the Minang highlands. With the largest port on Sumatra’s West Coast; this is a merchant town attracting ships trading in goods such as rubber, cinnamon, coffee, tea, cement and coal. If you take a stroll down to the old colonial waterfront you will see century old warehouses stocked with fragrant cinammon and other spices waiting to be shipped to Jakarta and Singapore.
The Batang Arau River flows through the city and it is quite a sight to see the collection of small boats and hand paddled ferries that line the riverside. Padang city is the center of the economy with the highest income number per capita in West Sumatra. In addition, the city became a center of education and health in the region of central Sumatra, it supported by the existence of a number of universities and health facilities.
As a city of art and culture, Padang popular with the legend of Malin Kundang and Sitti Nurbaya, and it annually been held the festival to support the tourism sector.
Padang residents are mostly from Minangkabau ethnic group. Another Ethnic settled are Javanese, Chinese, Nias, Mentawai, Batak, Acehnese, and Tamil. Minang people in Padang are immigrants from other regions in the province of West Sumatra.
Nias people had become the largest minority group in the 19th century. VOC take them as slaves since the beginning of the 17th century. Slavery system was terminated in 1854 by the Padang District Court. At first they settled in Kampung Nias, but then mostly living in Mount Padang. There are also numbers of people who are married to residents of Nias Minangkabau. In addition, some are married with Europeans and Chinese. The number of mixed marriages is lowering the percentage rate of Nias in Padang.
Among the people of Indonesia, the name of the city is generally associated with the Minangkabau ethnic cuisine and they are commonly known as Masakan Padang or Padang cuisine. If you like a little spice in your food then Padang is the place for you. Famous throughout Indonesia for its distinctive cuisine, Padang is the place to go to sample the famous spicy nasi padang food that has spread throughout the country and the world. Padang food includes such delicacies as the spicy coconut curry rendang and soto padang. Experience the unique way Padang food is served. Watch how waiters expertly carry more than ten plates with all kinds of delicacies on both arms. These dishes will then be spread out on the table for diners to pick and choose. You will be charged only for those dishes you have tasted.