Depart Pekan Baru for Palembang.

In the late evening,I headed to the Bandar Raya Payung Sekaki Bus terminal using the Trans Metro bus.

The bus was quite full in view of the after office hours and school session.

 At the Soekarno-Hatta traffic light junction lies the SKA Mall which is the biggest shopping mall in Pekan baru.

After picking up a few passengers,the bus continued for anoher 3km ahead to this isolated bus terminal.





 It was a complete nightmare when one reached the terminal.

There will be many touts swarming for business when one alighted from the city bus.

I should say there were more touts than passengers in this quiet terminal. No way can we browse through the many ticketing counters to make decision and worst still no clerks were in there.

  I was shown this PO Jaya Utama non aircond bus which will be leaving for Jambi at 6:30pm so I paid 100,000 Rupiah for a seat.

 Out of the blues came another tout who says he's from Jambi and the owner of this bus. He suggested that I should skip Jambi and head for Palembang as Jambi has nothing to see and gave me conflicting views about the touts there.

 So I paid another 100,000 Rupiah for the additional journey to Palembang.

 On leaving the terminal,the bus went around the city to try and pick up passengers as there were only three heads so far.

At about 7:30pm,the bus stopped at the office to get somemore waiting customers.

I was chatting with the lady receptionist at the office when I happened to see a price list schedule.

Fares Pekan Baru to Jambi 95,000 Rupiah while to Palembang which is the last stop will be 140,000 Rupiah.

Knowing that I was focusing my eyes on the price list,the bus conductor distracted me and on turning back to see again it was covered with a book.

Now I know that I was being misled by a fictitious 'bus owner'.

So beware as most touts are good at cooking unwarranted stories.

 In actual fact Jambi is famous for the ancient Buddhist temple called Candi Muaro Jambi,an archeaological remains dated back the 13th century which was first discovered by a British miltary.

It is about one hour journey(26km) from Jambi town and transportation there might pose a problem.

 The Kerinci's National Park is Sumatra's biggest national reserve lies along the Bukit Barisan mountainous range rich with its flora and fauna.The administrative center of the park is at Sungai Penuh town.

The Eco -Rural Travel cooperative in the village of Kersik Tuo provides advice on trekking ,day trips and hiring of camping equipments.

 Gunung Kerinci (3,800metres) a dormant volcano is the highest mountain in Western Sumatra and "kurinci" in Tamil means hilly landscape. Jambi Map

At 8:30pm the bus started leaving Pekan Baru and the long hours of journey began.

The main trunk road was very busy with heavy vehicles especially those transporting oil palm fresh fruit bunches.

Indonesia is the world's major producer of oil palm. There were two drivers with each taking turns to drive.I was occupying two seats to myself throughout the journey.

 At 1:30am,we had a half hour break at a rest area where there were a few snack stalls and a RM Umega coffeeshop.

The place was Cabang Gunung Medan Riau,Kota Lama Inhu Lintas Timur.

To translate this should be Medan Riau Mountainous Boundary,Old Inhu city eastern expressway.

After an hour into the journey,the conditions of the roads were very very bad with many potholes as the bus descended down a valley.

It lasted close to an a hour just imagine it.The non stop bumps possibly volcanic craters made most of the bus passengers slept through the lost world.

Things began to be calmer at about 4:00am where the roads were more even.

 Close to 6:00am before the sunrise,another half hour stopover at a layby cofeeshop with a scenic view of the of the high mountains beyond.

 It was 8:30am when the bus reached Jambi town.We had an hour half stopover and a new bus driver took over the wheels.





 There were too many bus companies operating in the Trans Sumatran route.

Trayek (route) PO (perusahaan otobus)/(autobus industry)  

To Pasir Pangaraian and Dalu-Dalu.(both in Rokan Hulu district about 5 hours journey)Location west Sumatra near to Bukit Tinggi side.

Dalu-dalu is the location of historical bamboo Fortress Seven Layers built as a defense against colonization by Tuanku Tambusai. #Muda Raya,N Hadi,Nuantara,Sari Keencana,Silvana,sri Kampar,Trio Trans,Silvana Abadi,Cahaya Kempar,Rimbun Jaya,Sail Transport,Rengat Transport,Fajar Inhill,HDR,Ranah Makmur,Putra Kampar,Sinar Riau.


  Pekan Baru to Dumai bus companies:

Asia Expres,Dorex,Gumarang,Mitra,Trio Trans,Ramos,Sari Jaya,Sinar Baru,Batang Kampar,Swarna Agung,Merah Sari,Karmila,Sri Kampar and Danau Wisata.

 Dumai is a major port city of Riau Province and takes 5 hours(188km) by bus from Pekan Baru.

There are ferry services to Malacca,Port Klang and Port Dickson in Malaysia,as well as to Batam Island near Singapore.

 Pekan Baru to Bagan Siapi-api buses:

 Indah Karya,Winda,Nusantara,Ranah Makmur,Sri Pinang,Vala Transport,Asia Expres.

 Bagan Siapi-api is towards the south eastern part of Pekan Baru,Rokan Hilir district and is believed to be the first place where mainland chinese landed.

Hok King Chinese Temple is the oldest temple and the most popular festival here is the Ritual Bakar Tongkang.(burning paper replica of a barge/ship) around early June annually.

 Pekan Baru to Buton buses: Trio Trans,Sail Transport,Indo Kencana,batang Kampar,Gumarang,Merah Sari,N Hadi,Ranah Makmur.

 Buton is near to Indragiri Hilir.  

Pekan Baru to Taluk Kuantan buses:
Swarna Agung,Karmila and Rimbun Jaya. Very few bus operators.

Taluk Kuantan is 10km south from Pekan Baru after crossing the equator line just after Lipat Kain.
It lies upstream of the Indragiri River and was once a gold mining area.
 Each year on the 17th August on Indonesia's Independence day,there'll be a traditional boat race called Pacu Jalur.

 Pekan Baru to Rengat buses:
Asia Expres,Muda Raya,Mus Transport,Rimbun Jaya,Gumarang,Kerinci Expres,Merah Sungai,Nusantara,Sail Transport,Sarana Expres,Sinar Riau,Yala Transport.

 Rengat is at Indragiri Hulu amid thick equatorial rain forest is a conservation forest managed by the World Wildlife Fund to help protect the Sumatran tigers.
Also known as the Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park conservation forest.  

Pekan Baru Tembilahan buses:
 Rimbun jaya,Karmila,Silvana,Swarna Agung,Mus Transport,Inhil Jaya,Kurnia Expres,Nusantara,Muda Jaya,Riau Transport,Putra Kampar,Matra Riau,Beringin Putih.

Tembilahan is about 146 km from Jambi and has a small river port in Indragiri Hilir(Inhil),Riau Province.
 Most of the lands here consisted of peat soil.That's the reason for the annual haze blanketing over neighbouring countries.
 Due to the south westerly dry winds coming from the southern hemisphere,almost all of Indonesia Island is experiencing a hot and dry season.
The south westery winds passing through the sea brings heavy rain to most part of Indochina and especially parts Thailand which is having the worst flood.





  LORENA Transport and Tours Company is one of the most established bus company in Indonesia.

The company has the super executive(21 seats),executive(30/34 seats),VIP(40 seats),and business class(53 seats) buses with facilities like toilet,full aircond,reclining seats,GPRS,TV and blanket.
Contacts in Pekan Baru,No:294,Jalan Tuanku Tambusai ,Tel:(0761)62256,
Medan,km 7,No:11,Jalan Sisingamangaraja,Tel:(061)7875139,
Padang,Km7,No:1,Jalan By Pass,Tel:(0751) 777666
Jambi,Jalan Lingkar Barat 3 Kec Kendali Besar Simpang Rimbo,Tel:HP o81384453766, Palembang,No:65,Jaln Kolonel H Burlian,tel:(0711) 417488,
Lampung,No:36,Jalan Soekarno Hatta,By Pass Kali Balok Bandar Lampung.Tel:0721-240606. Merak,No:6,Jalan Raya Pelabuhan Merak,Pulo Merak,Nabten.Tel:(0254)572267,
Tangerang,No:1,Jalan MH Tamrin,Taman Lido,
Banten.Tel:021-55753480,
 Jakarta Pusat,No:15 C,Jalan KH Hasyim Ashari,Tel:021-6341166 Surabaya,No:22A,Jalan Arjuna,Tel:031-5345767.Bungarasih Teminal Counter 11. Probolinggo,No:35,Jalan Soekarno Hatta,Tel:0335-436966 Banyuwangi,No:163,Jlan Basuki Rahmat,Tel:0333-420225 Denpasar,No122,Jalan Diponegoro,Tel:0361-262021
It has services to Medan,Lubuk Pakam,Tebing Tinggi,Jambi,Palembang,Bandar Lampung,Merak,Jakarta,Bogor,Bandung,Cirebon,Tegal,Perkalongan,Semarang,Yogyakarta, Klaten,Solo,Madiun,Ponorogo,Kediri,TulungAgung,Blitar,Bojonegoro,Surabaya,Malang, Bangkalan,Blega,Sampang,Pamekasan,Sumekep,Probolingo,Jember,BayuWangi,Denpasar.

 PAHALA KENCANA Transportation is also a luxury bus covering Trans Sumatra,Jawa Island,Madura Island and Bali Island. HANDOYO bus only service till Jambi in Sumatra and covers nearly the whole of Jawa Island.

Pekan Baru downtown

Pasar Cik Puan which was just nearby Poppies Guesthouse along Jalan Tuanku Tambusai/Jalan Nangka has about 1000 wooden stalls and kiosks.

This old market was a fire prone area and way back in April 2009,nearly 400 stalls were engulfed and burnt to ashes.

Currently a new building is under construction and once completed by year 2012 will soon see a modern trading hub replacing this traditional market.

Meanwhile the oplet(angkot) vans are using this area as a terminal.

The market is about 3km from the Siak River which divide Pekan Baru City into two section.

 A new flyover bridge is still under construction linking Jalan Jenderal Sudirman across the Siak River.Jalan Jenderal Sudirman which is a short distance from the market is the main artery with many of the Riau Provincial administrative offices are being located.

The second tallest building Masjid Ar-Rahman ,located on prime lands along the golden Jalan Jenderal Sudirman road.

 It is among the most beautiful mosque after An-Nur Grand Mosque and Masjid Raya Pekan Baru.

Beside the mosque is Gedung BAZ and KPU Pekan Baru.

There is a road circle fountain nearby these two buildings.

One of the buildings has a windmill on top being an outlet of the Holland Bakery.

Being a newcomer in the Indonesian market,Holland Bakery has over 150 outlets spreading all over Jabodetabek,Batam,Lampung,Surabaya and Pekan Baru.

The outlets open from 0700-2200hrs. The "Kek Lapis Legit " (Layered cake) is the most popular Indonesian cake not to be missed.





 A very unique landmark housing the Soeman HS Library.

The design resembles a book or rehal(small bench serves as a base for the Al Quran).

It can accomodate 1000 visitors in every floors. It operates from 8:00am till 8:00pm weekdays except every Fridays which will be closed between 11:30am to 1:30pm for Friday prayers.
On Saturdays will be 9:00am to 6:00pm and Sundays frm 9:00am till 3:00pm.

The Governor of Riau Province,Indonesia administrative office.

The Riau Province encompassed 11 districts:
1) Kota Pekan Baru
2) Bengkalis
3) Kampar
4) Indragiri Hulu
5) Kuantan Singingi
6) Siak
7) Pelalawan
8) Rokan Hulu
9) Rokan Hilir
10) Dumai
11) Indragiri Hilir.

The Province of Riau was established way back in 1958 with the first governor through martial law with the Central government in Jakarta making all decisions.

After a series of reformasi demanded by the Indonesian people in year 2001 at national level,there were drastic changes in political and government at provincial level thus making the Riau Islands an autoomous 32nd province of Indonesia on July,1,2004.

Gedung Kantor Gabungan Dinas Provinsi Riau Building beside the governor's office.

 In the decentralization era,the Riau Government has emphasized tourism as a revenue earner.

There are many rich historical sites in Riau such as: 1) Istiqomah Mosque in Bengkalis

2) An-nur Mosque in Pekan Baru

3) Senapelan Grand Mosque in pekan Baru

4) Juang 45 Building in Pekan Baru

5) Muara Takus temple in Kampar

6) Sang Nila Utama Museum in pekan Baru

7) Ar-Rahman Grand Mosque in Rengat

8) Tuan Guru Syekh Abdurrahman Siddiq Mosque in Indragiri Hilir

9) Al-Huda Mosque in Tembilahan

10) Ashserayah Hasyimiah Palace in Pelalawan

11) Syahabuddin Graand Mosque in Siak

12) the grave of Sultan Mahmud Shah I in Pelalawan

13) Hibah Mosque in Pelalawan

14) Hok An Kiong Buddhist Monastery in Bengkalis

15) Air Tiris Grand Mosque in Kampar

16) Grave of Sultan Syarif Kassim II in Siak

17) Graveyard of Indragiri Kings in Indragiri Hulu

18) Benteng Tujuh Lapis (Seven Layers Fortress) in Rokan Hulu

19) Graveyard of Marhum Pekan in pekan Baru

20) House of Kerabatan Adat Siak in Siak

21) Al-Badar Grand Mosque in Dumai

22) the Grave of Putri Tujuh (The Seventh Princess) in Riau.





Ramayana Departmental Store,a retail chain company was first established in 1978 whose founder was Mr Paulus Tumewu and his wife ,Tan Lee Chuan who left their family home in Ujung Tanjung,Sulawesi.

Their vision of selling quality merchandise to the lower income segment has now seen the fruit of success.

The word RAMAYANA is synonymous with the Hindu epics and out of coincidence Java and part of Sumatra were once the Srivijaya Empire,a Hindu Kingdom.

Suzuya Departmental Store started in 1983 is a leader in retail business throughout Sumatra Island with its head office at Jalan Iskanda Muda,Medan.

Its business synergy includes department stores,supermarket,superstore,fashion outlets(Romp),Furniture Plaza,Hotel and Restaurant.

There are currently 28 outlets in 8 localities that is Medan,Tanjung Morowa,Binjai,Permatang Siantar,Rantau Prapat,Pekan Baru,Padang,Lhokseumawe and Banda Acheh.





  Komplek Mal Pekan Baru along Jalan Jend Sudirman is an integrated shopping complex with an annexed Grand Jatra Hotel(a 5 star category) beside Jalan Tengku Zainal Abidin.

The room rates are from 976,000 Rupiah to 3.176m Rupiah.

Food stalls lining along the streets in the late evening .Surprisingly the streets of Pekan Baru were very clean.

  A mosque with a different kind of architecture. A medieval Moorish style castle.

 Hotel Asfri along Jalan Dr Setia Budi has a total of 15 rooms.
Tel:(076) 33190-33134-31613.

The hotel is at the corner end junction of Jalan Jend Sudirman and also very near to the Siak River.

Across the road is Jalan Insinyur Haji Juanda leading to the Chinatown area and the Pasar Bawah market.

Another 5 star Furaya Hotel is nearby with room rates from 650,000 Rupiah onward.

Penginapan Kautsar is directly opposite Hotel Asfri has 12 rooms.Tel:(076) 34682

Impressive real flowers embossed wordings.

Pekan Baru a major gateway to Sumatra Island.

On arrival at the Sultan Qasim II International Airport or formerly known as Simpang Tiga Airport in Pekan Baru Province, Sumatra Island of Indonesia,visitors will be very surprised to see the airport being used for commercial as well as airforce base of the powerful Indonesian 12th squadron.

The airforce fighter planes were making non stop training flights.The sound of the jet fighters taking off were deafening as the immigration control was quite near to the runnway.

Only those smaller Boeing aircraft were suitable for landing here.

Last November 2010,when US President Obama visited Jakarta,the Indonesian Airforce was given 24 ex-USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon for free.

PekanBaru is one place to see these 'air shows'. As I walked out of the terminal,I couldn't find where the bus stop was so I took an ojek(motor) ride to town which was 8 km away.

The bus route as seen do connect the airport but I have walked on the wrong side to the right.

After much bargaining,the ojek ride cost me 15,000 rupiah. Pekan Baru is a very modern oil city of Indonesia and is the third most populous after Medan and Palembang.

Centrally located in the island of Sumatra,the local people are of the Minangkabau origin which is the largest ethnic group mainly from the highlands of West Sumatra.

The Minangs are the world's most matrilineal society in which the female lineage will inherit all assets and properties.

After a 15 minutes ojek ride,I was dropped off at Jalan Nangka/Tuanku Tambusai Road which was south-west of the city. The first hotel I went to was Hotel Holie,room rates 120,000 rupiah for.

Unfortunately I was denied registering as a guest due to paper work involved and submission to the police station for foreign guests which is quite troublesome.

Hotel Lido which was a few metres from Hotel Holie had fan room costing 65,000 rupiah but was full and accepted foreign guests.





A 10 minutes walk further down in the direction of the traffic is a market square and old bus Terminal Mayang Terurai,just across it was Hotel Linda 1,room rates at 95,000 rupiah.

Again I was rejected for being a foreigner. A few metres further up was Hotel Linda II just beside a side lane has room for 110,000 rupiah and foreign guests acceptable.

Even Wisma Dwi Pharma guesthouse nearby at Jalan Nenas was strictly for locals only.The rates are from 85,000 rupiah.





A bus stop platform along Jalan Nangka/Tuanku Tambusai Road just in front of Pasar Cik Puan market is specifically only for Trans Metro buses which were implemented on the 18 June 2009.

One need to pay for the fare inside here and a receipt will be issued by a clerk.

When the bus arrived just hop into it. This side here goes to the city centre.

A total of 6 route corridors currently functioning.
 Route 1: Pandau - Pelita Pantai
Route 2: Terminal Payung Sekaki - Kulim
Route 3: Kampus UIN - Sudirman
Route 4: Terminal Payung Sekaki - Jalan Riau
 Route 5: Pelabuhan Sungai Duku
Route 6: Terminal Payung Sekaki - Torganda.

We may switch buses using the same ticket if it happened that the route was not covered by the bus.

 


Trans Metro Pekan Baru fleet of buses were a flat rate of 3000 Rupiah irrespective of the distance that you want to go.

The Trans Kota buses will ply routes different from many oplet and angkot.

Since the bus drivers were monthly salaried,they will not rush in their duties compared to the commissioned drivers of oplet and angkot.

 The buses were air conditioned and very comfortable similar to those Mass Rapid Transport(MRT) implemented by neighbouring countries.

They were very punctual and help you to plan your journey efficiently as special bus lanes were alienated for this purpose.

With cost efficiency and forgoing about privatisation,the people will not be burdened with inflated ticket price.

There were 33 seats and could accomodate 32 standing passengers.





Right across the market was a side road Jalan Takurun.
Walk for less than 5minutes and turn left into the first lane.
A short distance away make a right turn along one graffiti wall and you'll find Poppies Guesthouse as listed on Lonely Planet.

In the event you have difficulty finding, a couple of ojek riders were hanging near the corner shop will fetch you for 5,000 rupiah.


This is the family house of Eddy Hwang (Edward),a Christian.
I took a fan room queen sized bed for 90,000 Rupiah with bathroom attached.

Shaun and Matthew are two lovely grandchildren of Eddy.

The fighter planes flew along the path above the guesthouse.

There is a Matahari Shopping complex a short distance near Pasar Cik Puan market which was across the main road from Poppies Guesthouse.

A bus stop platform on this side from the guesthouse goes to the main bus terminal.
Nearby was a shop that sells ticket to Medan.

  A mosque was just nearby from the guesthouse.
Turn left will lead to Taskurun Road and onto Jalan Tambusai.
Turning right will be onto the second lane and back to Taskurun where I had a bowl of 'soto ayam' as breakfast for 4,000 rupiah.

Soto ayam is a kind of spicy chicken soup with noodles and some lontong(cut rice cake)

  Wisma Gemini at No:44 Jalan Taskurun with room tariff from 85,000 Rupiah - 135,000 Rupiah is another out of bound to foreigners.

 I think the Pekan Baru Local Council must have set up such restrictions by laws.

 Trans Metro Hino bus arrived at the bus stop at Bandar Raya Payung Sekaki bus terminal which was about 7km from city centre.

Bandar Raya Payung Sekaki (BRPS) bus terminal tower.












  A classic Minangkabau design building architecture to blend the local culture.

The upper floors have a few operational restaurants,prayer rooms and administrative office.

It was very strange to see that most of the ticketing counters have no clerks manning it.

Either the touts or company representatives not in uniform were hanging around to scout for passengers. Competition was very stiff among them and these touts also gave misleading informations and tend to overcharge possibly for the sake of their commission.






Whenerver one is in Indonesia,to "find a guesthouse" we use the phrase "cari rumah penginapan"

At this terminal is the Penginapan Selasi Seleguri.
Room rates:90,000 Rupiah 50,000 Rupiah if you use it for only 6 hours.

   




Distances to respective towns from Pekan Baru in( kilometres). Mina(31),Kandis(63),Duri(124),DUMAI(201),UJUNG TANJUNG(178), Rimba Melintang(231),Kubu(229),Bagan Bala(339),BANGKINANG(64), RANTAU BERINGIN(83),Muara Mahat(100), Tandun(135),Ujung Bala(157),Pasir Pangaraian(192),Dalu-dalu(228),Lipat Kain(71) Kuntu(92),Muara Lembu(138),TALUK KUANTAN(165),Lembah Jambi(190),Baserah(201),Cirenti(229),Peranap(238),Air Molek(287). Simpang Japura(298),Permatang rebah(313),RENGAT via Taluk Kuantan(328), TEMBILAHAN via Taluk Kuantan(420), TEMBILAHAN via SOREK(380), Perawang(62),Buatan(92),BAGAN SIAPI-API(121),Sungai Apit(180),PANGKALAN KERINCI(78),SOREK(125),LIRIK(189),Air Molek via Sorek(203),Rengat via Sorek(229).



 Pekanbaru Map