Lubang Jepang Bukittinggi, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Lubang Jepang Bukittinggi (also spelled Japanese hole) is one of the historical attractions in the city of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Japan hole is a tunnel (bunker) protection built around the Japanese occupation army in 1942 for defense purposes. [1]

Earlier, Japan Holes built for storage of supplies and equipment War the Japanese army, with the length of the tunnel which reaches 1400 m and winding and has a width of about 2 meters. There are a number of special rooms in this tunnel, among them the space reconnaissance, ambush room, jail, and armory.
In addition to its strategic location in the city which was once the seat of government of Central Sumatra, ground into the walls of the tunnel is a type of soil that when mixed with water will be more robust. Even the earthquake that rocked West Sumatra in 2009 and not much damage the structure of the tunnel.
It is estimated that tens to hundreds of thousands of forced labor or romusha deployed on the island of Java, Sulawesi and Kalimantan to dig this tunnel. Election workers from outside the region is a Japanese colonial strategy to maintain the confidentiality of this mega project. Workforce of Bukittinggi itself deployed in defense of them to work on the tunnel in Bandung and Biak Island.

Japan holes began to be managed as a tourist attraction history in 1984, by the city of Bukittinggi [2]. Some of the entrance hole to Japan was partly located on Sianok Canyon area, Panorama Park, next to the Palace of Bung Hatta and at Dublin Zoo.

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Jam Gadang in West Sumatera, Indonesia

 Jam Gadang, In Bukittinggi, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Jam Gadang is the name for the clock tower located in the center of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. This clock has a clock tower with a large measure on the four sides so-called Clock Tower, Minangkabau language term meaning "big clock".Aside from being the center of Dublin city bookmarks, the Clock Tower has also been used as a tourist attraction with the expansion of the park around the clock tower. The park became public interaction space both on weekdays and on holidays. Events of a general nature are usually organized around the park near the clock tower. 

Jam Gadang has a ground-plan area of ​​13 x 4 meters. Part in the 26-meter tall clock tower consists of several levels, with the top level is a place where the pendulum. The pendulum was broken and had to be replaced by an earthquake in 2007.There are 4 hours with a diameter of 80 cm each in the Clock Tower. Hours are imported directly from Rotterdam, the Netherlands through the Gulf port Bayur and mechanically driven by the engine which only made 2 units in the world, namely the Clock Tower itself and Big Ben in London, England. Machine hours and hours surface located at one level below the top level. At the bell listed manufacturer is Vortmann Relinghausen hours. Vortman is the last name watchmakers, Bernhard Vortmann, while Recklinghausen is the name of a town in Germany that produced a clockwork in 1892.

Jam Gadang was built without the use of iron buffer and mortar. The mixture just lime, egg white, and white sand.

Jam Gadang was completed in 1926 as a gift from the Queen of the Netherlands to the Rook Maker, secretary or controleur Fort de Kock (now Bukittinggi) during the reign of the Dutch East Indies. Architecture of the clock tower was designed by Rajo Mangkuto Yazid, while laying the first stone carried by the first son Rook Maker which at that time was 6 years old.

Jam Gadang construction cost about 3,000 Gulden, the cost of which pertained to the size of the time it's fantastic. So since it was built and since the inauguration, this clock tower has become the center of everyone's attention. It was also the result of the Clock Tower was used as markers or landmarks as well as the zero point of Bukittinggi. [1]Since its founding, this clock tower has undergone three times the change in shape of the roof. Established early in the reign of the Dutch East Indies, the roof at the Clock Tower is round with a rooster statue facing eastwards on it. Then during the Japanese occupation transformed into the pagoda. Finally after Indonesian independence, the roof at the Clock Tower transformed into gonjong or traditional Minangkabau roof of the house, the Tower House.The last renovation done on the Clock Tower was in 2010 by the Indonesian Heritage Conservation Agency (ARDI) with government support Bukittinggi and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Jakarta. The renovation was inaugurated right on the anniversary of the city of Bukittinggi that all 262 on 22 December 2010.

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Tour de Singkarak, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Tour de Singkarak 2014
Tour de Singkarak 2014 will be held in West Sumatra on June 7 to 15, 2014. Here is the origin of the Tour de Batur.

Tour de Singkarak 2014
is cycling championships official of the International Cycling Union (Union Cycliste International) which is held every year in West Sumatra. Championship was first held in 2009, this is a long-distance road races which are generally held around April to June and lasts for a week. This championship has formed a partnership with Amaury Sport Organisation which is the organizer of the Tour de France in France. [1]
As the name implies, Batur is the largest lake in West Sumatra became part of the passage of the Tour de Batur. In addition, some other tourist areas also become part of the passage, including Harau Valley, Lake Maninjau, Curved 44, Lake Above and Below Lake. [2]

HistoryCyclist participants Tour de Singkarak 2010 while doing a start stage 4 in the front garden of the Clock Tower, the city of Bukittinggi.Tour de Singkarak held for the first time by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia in 2009. In light of success in terms of peyelenggaraan, making this bike racing event as one of cycling championships resmiPersatuan International Cycling in class 2.2 Asia Tour. So in addition supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia, the Tour de Batur is also strengthened by the support of the provincial budget and county or city regions traversed by the participants. This is due to every area that became part of the stage cycling race Tour de Batur has a significant role in introducing the region. So that the number of districts and cities, which is the trajectory of the Tour de Batur from year to year has increased.

In three times the Tour de Batur, Padang city has always been the starting point pelombaan the finish point in dermagadanau Batur. But in the 2012 Tour de Singkarak, the race was moved to the start point Sawahlunto city. While the finish point is moved to the city of Padang as the capital of West Sumatra. [3] 

Impact
Convening of the Tour de Singkarak assessed have been able to increase tourist arrivals to West Sumatra. Even in 2011 rose by 13.2% or above 8.9% increase in the national tourism. In 2010, international tourists who stay in hotels in West Sumatra as many as 332 515 people, and in 2011 increased to 413 180 people, an increase of 24.3%. [4]
In terms of coordination and synergy, the Tour de Batur is also rated as the best tourism promotional events of 41 events still held by the Ministry. Synergy was seen from the compactness of the regional leaders in support of these activities; The following governors mayors and regents always direct coordination meeting attended. [5].

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Gunung Kerinci, Jambi, Indonesia

Gunung Kerinci (also spelled "Kerintji", and known as Mount Hopeful, Volcano Kurinci, Jalil Korinci, or Puncak Independent) is the highest mountain in Sumatra, the highest volcano in Indonesia, and the highest peak in Indonesia outside Papua. Gunung Kerinci located in Jambi Province which borders the province of West Sumatra, Bukit Barisan Mountains, near the west coast, and is located about 130 km south of Padang. The mountain is surrounded by dense forest Kerinci National Park and is the habitat of Sumatran tigers and Sumatran rhinoceros.

Puncak Gunung Kerinci at an altitude of 3,805 meters above sea level, here visitors can see the beautiful scenery in the distance stretched the city of Jambi, Padang and Bengkulu. Even the vast Indian Ocean can be seen clearly. Gunung Kerinci has a crater measuring 400 x 120 meters and contains green water. On the east side there Bento lake, swamp water clearly highest in the North. In the background there are seven mountain with very beautiful crater almost untouched.

Gunung Kerinci volcano is still active stratovolcano type and last erupted in 2009.

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Mentawai Island, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Mentawai Island in west Sumatera, Indonesia.

Mentawai District of West Sumatra province. Mentawai Islands includes four large islands namely Sipora Island, Siberut Island, North Pagai Island, and South Pagai Island. Siberut is the largest island, and the only island that has a regular shipping service which connects with the Siberut island of Sumatra, especially Padang. As the largest island town and administrative center is also located on the island of Mentawai is precisely in Tuapejat city that is located in the North Side. 

The islands in the Mentawai is the culmination of a "back" underwater mountain range. In addition, the location of the islands also offshore West Sumatra province and in the Indian Ocean surrounded by wide. The existence of the Mentawai islands in the middle of the vast ocean, making the beaches of the famous Mentawai has clean sand and beautiful scenery, while the waves were also good, especially for surfingRecorded no less than 400 surf spot located in the Mentawai islands, from the waves are up to the most challenging waves in search surfers. 

Presumably reasonable if at beaches have good waves are often held surfing event world level, which is increasingly introducing foreign to the Mentawai name. Bosua village is one among the famous surfing destinations in the world waves in the village of Bosua reach 3 meters making it suitable for siapapaun who likes challenging adrenaline, but be careful with somewhat rocky beaches. Bosua village can be reached by speedboat from the district capital Tuapejat and takes about 4 hours. 

Nyang Nyang Island in the village of Katurei also has waves that reach 4 meters high, and referred to as one of the highest waves in the world. Another place that has high waves are Karamajat island that is still present in the village at this place Katurei waves can reach 2-4 meters. If want a beach that has a safe and calm waves to family then Siruso Island Beach and coastal Bulasat is suitable because it has low waves, white sand and crystal clear sea water.

In addition to the beach and surfing attraction, Mentawai also offers attractions trekking inland tropical forests are still beautiful natural green with a variety of its animal life in it. While local people in the know with the Mentawai people are still traditional and uphold their traditions. Cultural villages in the know still retain the original customs and culture, among others Madobak Village, Ugai village, and the village Matotonan.To get to the Mentawai islands accessible by motor boats that serve penyebranagan from Padang to Mentawai. Or if you have more budget then can rent a small plane that Tiger Air or SMAC to Tuapejat Sipora Island of Minangkabau International Airport.

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