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

Khmer boy at Wat Moha Montrei.

Directly across Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium lies Wat Moha Montrei along Sihanouk Boulevard.

There is a pedestrian crossing near the traffic light junction.

The temple's entrance is at Street 163 while another one is at Street 173 which is near the Psar Olympic market.

Hotel Samreth Olympic is just in front of the temple at Street 163.

The room rates here starts from USD25.
 Behind this hotel at Street 310 is Guesthouse Kiyo Tel:(855)23 222 834.Room Rates between USD10 - USD40.

Street 163 is quite a long stretch that meets Mao Tse Toung Boulevard and continues across till Street 430.The road system here is very strange,instead of ending at the boulevard it continues on to the other side with the same road number.

Furthermore all the roads are not numbered in sequence.

The Toul Sleng Genocide Museum is just a 15 minutes walk from the temple while a 30 minutes walk will reach the Russian Market(Psar Toul Tom Poung) after crossing the boulevard.

 Wat Moha Montrei has a multi layered roof with a khmer style stupa at the roof centre.

Within the temple's perimeter were many smaller stupas which were fenced.

The Khmer's Empire was once a Hindu Kingdom where the deity Brahma,the Hindu God Creator of the Universe was being worshipped.

When one of the Hindu emperor,King Ashoka introduced Buddhism during the early 3rd century,the transition began with the influence of Mahayana Buddhism.

That's the reason why most of the temple's in Cambodia,the Erawan Shrine in Paknam near Bangkok,Wat Phou in Vientiane,Laos,Candi Borobodur in Yogjakarta,Indonesia and Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon,Myanmar altogether have stupas incorporated into the architecture due to the Hindu influence.

The main building of Wat Moha Montrei has exterior pillar columns that resembles that of Wat Sisaket in Vientiane,Laos.

Maybe it could be the Ashoka Pillars.Ashoka the Great was a powerful emperor who ruled the Indian subcontinent between 269BC till 232BC.

 The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha,crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne.

 His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the spire's base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of the lower terrace; and the base is his throne.

The Hindu God Ganesha has an elephant head so at the base of this stupa is the scuplture of the elephant part body.

Surely this stupa must be dedicated to some old warriors. According to the Tibetan texts on stupas,there are 5 purified elements:
 1) The square base represents earth.
2) The hemispherical dome/vase represents water.
3) The conical spire represents fire.
 4) The upper lotus parasol and the crescent moon represents air. 5) The sun and the dissolving point represents the element of space.

Ashoka pillar has four lions whereas this stupa has many lions guarding round the base.








The Lotus Blossom Stupa which refers to the birth of the Buddha. At birth the Buddha took seven steps in each of the four directions (East, South, West and North). In each direction lotuses sprang, symbolizing the Four Immeasurable love, compassion, joy and equanimity.






Met this Khmer boy who was reading a book under the Bo Tree.

His name is Vanette (chinese name:金jīn 合hé).

He was trying very hard to master mandarin which at first I thought he was studying Buddhism.

 The textbook which Vanette was reading is a Mandarin text with English pinyin translation.
 Cambodian students are now emphasizing mandarin as a second language in view of the fact that China has vast investment in the country.

The four faced Buddha is actually Brahma,the Hindu God of Trinity.

Again at Erawan Shrine at Paknam near Bangkok,the Thais called Brahma Than Tao Mahaprom or Phra Prom.

This is a result of Indian scholars who came over to Southeast Asia and spread Buddhism bringing with them their Hindu culture and folklore.

In actual fact Brahma has four faces and eight hands.


The Khmer people embraced not only the Brahmanic and Buddhist religion but also the social customs.

There are seven headed serpents protecting the Buddha.

Legend has it that in the sixth week after enlightenment,as the Buddha sat meditating,a storm broke out and a mighty serpent spread its hood over the Buddha to shelter him.

Serpents are associated with the waters of the earth.

In Thailand's Chiangmai Wat Doi Suthep,the temple also has this Buddha image with the serpents.

Around this Bo Tree at Wat Moha Montrei are the statues of Buddha in different postures.

The reclining Buddha which symbolises Tuesday of the week which is Realizing Nirvana (Paang Saiyasna),the image reclining on the right side with toes even indicating his death.

Tuesday is the day where Buddha entered parinibbana(perfect liberation)

That's where every year around May,there is the Buddhist Wesak Day festival to observe the three important events in Gautama Buddha's life:his birth,enlightenment and parinibbana.

The biggest event can be witnessed be at Candi Borobodur in Yogjarkarta,Indonesia's Java Island

This one is a Protection Buddha,which signifies courage,offers protection from fear,delusion and anger.

The hand gesture of Mudra involved the right hand raised and facing outward while the left hand resting on the lap.

The postures(asana) includes seated with ankles tucked (Double Lotus) or one leg resting on top of the other (Single Lotus)





Wat Moha Montrei has a very good company loitering near the temple.The temple's keeper feed it with biscuits.

Late arrival at Ekamai Bus Terminal.

The Ekamai Bus Terminal also known as the Eastern Bus Station is located at Sukhumvit Road which is also next to the Ekamai Skytrain Station.

There was a Chinese Warrior God or "Kuan Kong" altar guarding at the main entrance to the ticketing counters.

 It was still raining heavily closed to midnight when I reached the terminal on the 6:00pm bus from Trat town.

 It would be pointless  to hunt for a guesthouse at this hour of the day so I decided to spend my night at the bus station.

The main waiting hall seats were limited and fully occupied with some local travellers waiting to catch an early bus for the following day.

 Behind the main hall were the buses platforms and some of the snack stalls were already closed.There were comfortable long concrete benches that allowed me to stretch my aching body and had a short nap.

 As early as 3:00am some of the night buses have arrived and a ticketing conductor will be moving around asking for our destination.




  On display near the ticketing booths were the destinations covered and the bus fares.

1) Panomsarakam--115/122 baht

2) Chantaburi--212/235 baht

3) BanKai -Banlanmapim--200/223 baht

4) Banphe--178/196 baht (3:30am till 20:30)

5) Samyan - Banlanmapim--200/223 baht

6) Klaeng--167/201 baht

7) Trat--275/317 baht

8) LaemNgop--286/331 baht

9) Laem Chabang--108/115 baht

10) Khoaminson-Sakhew--184/203 baht

11) Pattaya--128/136 baht

12) Chachoengsao--83/87 baht

13) Bangsan--85/87 baht

14) Sri Racha--99/104 baht

15) Sattathip--149/161 baht.

The earliest bus is to Ban Phe which start at 3:30am.

Ban Phe is in Rayong province and most travellers used the pier in town for a 40 minutes ferry ride to Koh Samet island which is just 7 km off the mainland.

Buses to Laem Chabang in Chonburi Province start at 5:30am till 9:00pm.
The home of Thailand's largest port. To Trat town for onward journey to Ko Chang,bus service start at 6:00 am. till 11:00pm

To LaemNgop pier near Trat,only three times,6:30am,2:45pm and last at 8:45pm. Most of the other buses start at 6:00am.

Bus to Rongkluea Market,a border town near the Cambodian border with Poipet which is 230 km from Bangkok.

The bus will stop right near the border.

At Survanarbumi airport there are also direct Rong Kluea buses.

Rongkluea or Baan Klong Leuk Border Market is in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo Province.

 This is a very huge market of recycled, used and new clothings, sneakers,shoes.electronics and many other kind of wares.






In front of the 7-11 convenience store just beside the bus station is a stall selling fried noodles called "mee krob" priced at Baht 30.

It tasted a bit saltish and sour.There were no meat involved and it's completely vegetarian.

A pleasant Thai snack and appetizer for night supper.

The Sukhumvit Road area is one of Bangkok's most exciting place for nightlife.

There were many restaurants,clubs,bars,discos and lots of leisure time activities to enjoy.It was still bustling with activities even till the wee hours in the morning.

 Sukhumvit Road is also regarded as the longest road in the world stretching nearly 400km starting near Phloen Chit Road and continuing near the coastal area till Trat Province.

 Four main upmost distinctive entertainment areas are Nana especially among the Sois(sidelane),Asoke,Emporium and Thonglor.

Guesthouses around here I have in mind were:

1) Sukhumvit On Nut Guesthouse--dorm about USD9

2) Soi 1 Guesthouse just behind Bumugrad Hospital---air cond dorm.

3) Sri Guesthouse,Soi 38---Tel: +66 (0) 23 811 309 Room from 450 baht

4) Na Na Chart Sukhumvit 25--Tel:662 259 6908 Dorm 390 Baht

5) DPelican Inn Guesthouse,Soi 22 near Windsor Tower--Tel: +66( (0) 663 5794 Room 900 Baht

 6) Sawasdee Sukhumvit Inn,Soi 57 Tel:+66 (0) 2 714 0703 superior room 920 Baht

7) PTICL Guesthouse,Soi 34 near Thonglor Skytrain station--Dorm from USD18