Cubadak Lontong
Nasi Padang
Culture and Tourism The cuisine of the Minangkabau people is commonly called Padang cuisine, due to it being the capital and largest city of the region. Padang restaurants are common throughout the country and are famous for their spicy food and their unique way of serving it. The best known Padang dish are rendang (a spicy meat stew), soto Padang (crispy beef in spicy soup), sate (beef satay in curry sauce served with ketupat).
Nasi Soto
Ketupat
Sate
Rendang
Padang is a common transit point for surfers traveling to Batu Islands and Mentawai Islands, and for tourists visiting the West Sumatran highlands. Padang beach (known as Taplau or Tapi Lauik) which located from Samudra Street until Puruih, is well-known for its beautiful sunset and hundreds of food stalls. Bungus bay, to the south of Padang, is suitable for swimming and boating. Adityawarman Museum specializes in the history and culture of the local Minangkabau ethnic group, and the main exhibits are housed within a Rumah Gadang style building.
Angkot
Bendi, Traditional transporation
FACTS about Padang Living in Padang will be very different compared to living in your country. We hope you will not get culture shock after you arrive here.
Geographically, West Sumatra province is in the line of equator. That is why Padang is very famous as a Hot City. Sometimes it rains in summer. As well, it can be very hot in wet/rainy season.
Padang is a Muslim City. Almost 90% of Padang peole are Muslims. But, we are very respectful with each other. Since Padang is a Muslim city, we wear courteous clothes in daily activity. We hope that you can do the same thing. For women, please do not wear such kind of tank top, bikini, mini skirt, hot pants, etc. Since the weather is hot, for top you can wear tshirts or shirts with short sleeves, and for bottom it’s good to wear jeans, trousers, pants or skirts which at least can cover your knees. So please prepare your clothes before coming here. We do not people do impolite things when you are walking on the street.
Your accommodation in Padang is free. We provide host families for trainees. They are voluntarily accept you to stay with them. You need to accept any condition in your house, such as their home, food, etc., and especially respect your host family. You need to follow the rules set by your host family. Just act as if your host family is your own family. They are your family in Padang. Love them like you love your own family. Beside sometimes, it is difficult to find an available family to be a host family.
Padang food is very famous all over Indonesia. It is famous with its spicy food. But, if you can not eat spicy food, there are a lot of choices here. Don’t worry!
In padang, we use “angkot” and buses as public transportation. But mostly, people use angkot. Angkot is a car which can carries around 12 passengers. To travel around the city, you can use angkot. Normally, angkot costs you IDR 3,000. It is cheap.
For trainees who teach at schools, please wear semi-formal clothes. You can wear shirt or t-shirt and dark color trousers.
You must be knowing about the big earthquake happened in Padang in 2009. Today, the condition is not fully normal, but it is not as bad as before. Everything is getting better and better.
For the internet connection, you can find Wi-Fi in our university and our AIESEC office. But maybe the connection is not very fast. Internet cafe can be another option.
Are you sensitive with mosquitoes? Sometimes, trainees are very sensitive with mosquitoes. You can bring a mosquito repellent from your country. You can also buy it here. Another suggestion, you can bring some medicine for flu, cough, etc. Most people is difficult to adapt to new medicine.
About money matters, it is better for you to bring US dollar. It’ll be easier to change. JP Yen, Euro, MY Ringgit, and SG Dollar are also available.
Last Words We do hope that you can be mingle and get closer to AIESEC members. They want to know you more and get some learning from you. This is what we call living diversity. We do understand that it is not easy to adapt with new situation. But you need to try it. You will get new and different experience that you will never forget in your life. We hope that you will have the real life changing experience by taking internship in Padang. Let us make friendship. We also hope that you can give your best participation in AIESEC Universitas Andalas.