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
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