THE MINANGKABAU

SINGKARAK LAKE WEST SUMATERA

2008-09-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

Another ideal place for recreation and water sport is Singkarak Lake, 36 km from Bukittinggi. There are several motels and restaurants in the area. Singkarak Lake is located about 10 Km of Solok city and ± 35 Km from Kayu Aro. This lake is located in X Koto district and spread across Solok - Bukit Tinggi way. The lake is state between two regencies that is Solok regency and Tanah Datar regency with ± 129,70 km2 (± 1.129,29 Ha) width. Siangkarak Lake is the widest lake in West Sumatra and the second widest lake in Sumatra Island after Toba Lake.

The Lake that located in 362,5 m height from the sea level, has special species of fish that only live in this lake and the only in the world. Society around called as Bilih Fish (Mystacoleuseus Padangensis). Uniquely, this fish cannot live in other habitat, both in an aquarium and in a pool. The people around are often selling this fish and the visitors can enjoy the specific taste of this fish in the restaurants that located around the lake.

The Lake is equipped by some facilities, such as; hotels, motels, restaurants and also water sport facilities. Beside used as tourism objects and the economic source of society around, nowadays, this lake also used as the electric source of Sicincin.

NGARAI SIANOK BUKITTINGGI WEST SUMATERA

2008-09-05T21:47:00.000-07:00

The 150 meter deep canyon lies on the outskirts of Bukittinggi. It is an incredibly picturesque area, lush green with a river winding through the bottom of the steep-walled canyon. West Sumatrans claim it is unrivalled for natural beauty in all of Indonesia, and locals frequently take visitors and friends on outings here.

MANINJAU LAKE WEST SUMATERA

2008-08-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

MENTAWAI ISLAND WEST SUMATERA

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JAM GADANG BUKITTINGGI WEST SUMATERA

2008-08-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

TABUIK

2008-08-30T21:06:00.001-07:00

Tabuik is the local manifestation of the Shi'a Muslim^{[citation needed]} Remembrance of Muharram among the Minangkabau people in the coastal regions of West Sumatra, Indonesia, particularly in the city of Pariaman.

The festival includes reenactments of the Battle of Karbala, and the playing of tassa and dhol drums. Tabuik is also the term used to refer to the high funeral biers carried around during remembrance procession. Although originally a Shi'a festival, nowadays most inhabitants of Pariaman and other area's where similar Tabuik-festivals are held, are mainly Sunni Muslims.

The remembrance is referred to as Tabut in Indonesian.

Tabuik is made from bamboo, rattan and paper. During the week of Tabuik many activities are held including kite races, traditional plays such as Tari Piring and traditional plays. THe remembrance draws a large crowd including dignitaries such as the provincial governor, to see Tabuik in the morning before it is slowly taken to the beach. At noon, before it is thrown into the sea, there is a lot of activity with Tabuik. After they are thrown into the sea many people go swimming looking for 'memories' of the Tabuik to keep.

The practice of throwing a tabuik into the sea has taken place every year in Pariaman on the 10th of Muharram since 1831^[1]. The practice was introduced to the region by Shi'ite Muslim sepoy troops from India who were stationed and later settled there during the British Raj^[1].

PANTAI NIRWANA, WEST SUMATERA

2008-08-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

LAMBAH ANAI

2008-08-30T06:36:00.000-07:00

SILAT

2008-08-30T06:21:00.002-07:00

(www.palantaminangwordpress.com)

Pencak silat as self-defense has always existed, since human beings had to fight with each other and with wild animals in order to survive. At that time, people who were strong and skilled in fighting could attain a privileged position in society, and could become heads of clans or army commanders. In the long run, fighting techniques started to be regulated, so that a comprehensive martial art form was developed which was eventually called pencak silat. (Asikin 1975:9-10)

Style Silat of Minangkabau (West Sumatra)

- Silat Bungo
- Silat Sterlak
- Silat Kumango
- Silat Pauh
- Silat Lintau
- Silat Harimau
- Silat Sabandar

MATRILINEAL

2008-08-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

In Minangkabau, the centralization of power is never in the hand of a family leader, but the authority is usually vested in a Senior Woman (Mother or Grandmother) or a mamak (the mother's brother -- Uncle-). In the Minangkabau kinship system, the grandmother if she is still alive has a higher status than the mamak. Both men and women are involved in traditional ceremonies. In the processing of marriage, the role of women is very dominant. Generally, they have the right to supervise the ricefield management and the harvest including the supervision of the earnings, trading, sewing, etc.

Minangkabau Matrilineal Homeland

2008-08-30T05:49:00.000-07:00

The Minangkabau ethnic group (also known as Minang or Padang) is indigenous to the highlands of West Sumatra, in Indonesia. Their culture is matrilineal, with property and land passing down from mother to daughter, while religious and political affairs are the province of men (although some women also play important roles in these areas). Today 4 million Minangs live in West Sumatra, while about 3 million more are scattered throughout many Indonesian and Malay peninsula cities and towns.

The Minangkabau are strongly Islamic, but also follow their ethnic traditions, or adat. The Minangkabau adat was derived from animistic beliefs before the arrival of Islam, and remnants of animistic beliefs still exist even among some practicing Muslims. The present relationship between Islam and adat is described in the saying "tradition [adat] founded upon Islamic law, Islamic law founded upon the Qur'an" (adat basandi syara', syara' basandi Kitabullah).