Equator Monument (Tugu Khatulistiwa), Kelok 9 & Bandrek, Sumatera

I never paid much attention to any Equator Monument, and the only one that I knew existed was the one in Quito, Ecuador. The rest? Am not aware and least bothered.

Now, everything changed.

Equator Ball/Monument in Kota Alam - Sumatera.

During this trip where we traveled overland from Pekan Baru to Padang in Sumatera, Indonesia, I was being educated about Equator Monument when we chanced upon it at Kota Alam in Kabupaten Limapuluh Kota. This is when I learnt (sure ramai tak tau nih) that there are a few Equator Monument in Indonesia and the most popular monument is located in Pontianak, it being the only city the in the world  that sits right on the Equator Line, hence also known as Equator City, and that it is the largest city on the Earth's longest invisible line, the Equator. Amazing right.

I was being educated further as I start blogging on this, Indonesia herself have six (6) Equator Monument that is easily accessible and I was lucky to set foot on one of it *blushing*. Ada quest baru ler lepas nih, keh keh keh…

• Equator Monument in Pontianak - Kalimantan
• Equator Monument in Santan Ulu, Bontang - Kalimantan
• Equator Ball/Monument in Kota Alam - Sumatera
• Equator Arch & Equator Park in Bonjol - Sumatera
• Equator Monument in Kabupaten Pelalawan - Sumatera
• Equator Monument in Parigi Moutong - Sulawesi

I find it fascinating that Indonesia champions the most Equator Monument on this imaginary Equator line, separating the earth's northern from the southern hemisphere.

The new Kelok 9 Overpass.

Kelok 9's old road.

After being intrigued with this, we later lepak at Kelok Sembilan (9) while having a sip of local juice and grilled corn, enroute highway Lintas Sumbar - Riau. Imam explained to us that this overpass is newly built replacing the old winding road. Now it is a popular place where the locals lepak and enjoy the view (trucks passing by). Kelok 9 (old road) links West Sumatra to Riau province built between 1908-1914 by the Dutch and the new Kelok overpass, which is made up of 6 bridges was completed in 10 years.

Farah from That's So Farah in orange.

Ed Junaidi from Gaya Travel.

As usual, we wanted to try every food and this includes the famous Bandrek, not knowing what type of drink it is, I agreed on having Bandrek special that we had at Bandrek House. Bandrek House is located right after Kelok 9, with Bukit Sanggu at one side and Bukit Barisan on the other. It was majestic and cooling, something that I never expected before. Ok, I bet you are curious on this Bandrek thingy, so was I? Hahhahahhaaa… below is what I found on Bandrek.

Background

Bandrek is a traditional hot, sweet and spicy beverage native to Sundanese of West Java, Indonesia. The Sundanese people who live in the cool, highlands consume bandrek to warm themselves at night and during cold weather.

This hot beverage is made of a mixture of jahe (ginger) essence, gula merah (palm sugar) and kayu manis (cinnamon). Other ingredients such as, star anise, cloves, coriander seeds, cardamom pods, lemongrass, and sometimes a small amount of black pepper maybe added. Milk can be added or not, depending on one’s taste. Sweetened condensed milk or coconut milk is commonly used (even durian [what?!?]).

It is believed that bandrek has a healing effect on minor health problems, such as sore throat.

Source : Wikipedia

Not sure whether you read the above but the drink contains a mixture of “ginger, palm sugar, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, coriander seeds, cardamom pods, lemongrass, and sometimes a small amount of black pepper”, which made me wonder, is this a drink or food (musykil hokkay!!??!?!?!) and I know you will be wondering how the taste is? By the way, they have a version with egg and coconut milk of which I surrendered drinking! Ok ok ok… the taste right? Curious on the taste heh! It was….. yucky! Not to my liking. It is definitely a taste to acquire. And I did not acquire it. Not. One. Bit. Bluek.

What was I thinking, right?

Bukit Barisan. 

This was just the beginning of our journey… more stories to come *smile*.

Few entries on this trip blogged :

Jami Air Tiris, Oldest Mosque in Veranda of Mecca City,Kampar

One Thousand Rumah Gadang Village / Nagari Seribu RumahGadang

A Quick Stop at Solok Tea Plantation, Padang

#TravelTips | Where to stay in Danau Maninjau? (Beach GuestHouse)

Harau Valley. Untouched wonder

#Travetips | Jembatan Akar (Root Bridge), Padang #Indonesia

FRAM Museum, Oslo - A great seafarer museum

The last Viking Ship I saw was in Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden and that was during my 2006 trip. 

Visiting another ship museum in Oslo, Norway clearly brings back a lot of memories, and a lot of comparison too. There are also another one in Roskilde, Denmark; Viking Ship Museum. My target next  *smirk*. 

I have few choices in terms of ship museums here in Oslo; Kon-Tiki Museum, Fram Museum and Viking Ship Museum and we voted for Fram Museum. No disappointment *smile*.

We planned it in such a way that every country we visit, we will include 1 museum as we know the cost will burn a hole in our already pathetic wallet and we managed to do so just about that. What I always say is ‘alang-alang menyelok pekasam, biar sampai ke pangkal lengan’, ‘alang-alang dah sampai, apa kata belajar history dia orang and cover one educational attraction’, the least we can do. Sungguh ilmiah tetiba, ahaks.

Fram Museum. 

#TravelTips 1 : Each museums can be expensive depending respective country exchange rate. Maka, pandai-pandai lah plan yek.

Oslo is pretty easy to get around, we hop on a bus and took a 30mins ride till the end of the town (well, kinda), here lies 3 museums next to each other; Kon-Tiki Museum, Fram Museum and Viking Ship Museum. Since we already decide on Fram and the building looks more interesting, it made fickle minded people like us to decide faster. Not knowing what to expect as I did not even bother to read about Fram before coming here, “surprise me” I said to myself. Sometimes having least expectation is good heh. The road to Fram is so beautiful in, the local homes, the buildings, the country side, makes me wish I have more days and just take a pit stop to wander at every point that calms me. 

These 3 popular museums is located at peninsula of Bygdøy, five museums located here; the Kon-Tiki Museum (houses exhibits from Thor Heyerdahl expeditions, who also being awarded and added to UNESCO's "Memory of the World"); the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum); the Viking Ship Museum; the Norwegian Maritime Museum and the Fram Museum, aside from these five museums, the official summer residence of the King of Norway and Oscarshall Castle are also located here.

#TravelTips 2 : Allocate 1 full day if you plan to visit these museum. Even if you don’t, do allocated 1 full day as you can always wander around Bygdøy area or even plan for picnic at the park *wink*.

The Fram Museum (Norwegian: Frammuseet) is a museum telling the story of Norwegian polar exploration. 

Background

Nansen's Fram expedition was an 1893–1896 attempt by the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen to reach the geographical North Pole by harnessing the natural east–west current of the Arctic Ocean. In the face of much discouragement from other polar explorers, Nansen took his ship Fram to the New Siberian Islands in the eastern Arctic Ocean, froze her into the pack ice, and waited for the drift to carry her towards the pole. Impatient with the slow speed and erratic character of the drift, after 18 months Nansen and a chosen companion, Hjalmar Johansen, left the ship with a team of dogs and sledges and made for the pole. They did not reach it, but they achieved a record Farthest North latitude of 86°13.6′N before a long retreat over ice and water to reach safety in Franz Josef Land. Meanwhile, Fram continued to drift westward, finally emerging in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Source : Wikipedia

The kitchen in Fram looks like any other house kitchen.

  

The museums tells us every steps on the Polar Exploration and it comes with visual and ship experience, we actually went inside FRAM to take a look how it felt inside. Unlike Vasa Ship in Stockholm, we were unable to do this. I beginning to feel, the ship docked in Melaka that is now a museum should imitate this similar format. The history and background is very thorough.

This was the most interesting read for me. It actually explains about the dog as well plus its mission. 

Not only that, they also have a book store that sells books on ships, vikings, seafarers, Fram itself, maps, posters, Oslos museums as well as souvenirs.

I will build a strong ship so constructed that it can withstand the pressure of the ice, and living in this ship, to float across with the ice. It will be just big enough to carry provisions for twelve men for five or six years. – Fridtjof Nansen

We spent an hour or two here then wandered around its compound, and waited to catch Oslo at sunset.

If you wish to view more of this FRAM Museum photos, pleaseclick here and you will be directed to my Facebook Page Album. Pleasant viewing.

  

Psst. Just so you know, the bus stop is at the door step of the museum. Convenient huh.

Nasi Ambeng - Am'Bng' not Am'bang'

Yeah, of course I have heard of Nasi Ambeng. 
The story that goes with it? 
Learning new things everyday.

Let the lesson begin.

As mentioned in my earlier post here, discussing about Javanese delicacies such as Lemper, Punten, Getok and Ketiwol, I thought I should extend it further and write about Nasi Ambeng as well. As many local would have known, Nasi ambeng (pronounce as ambeng not ambang) is a fragrant rice set consists of white rice prepared with 7 types of side dishes; semur style chicken (or ayam masak kicap), fried sambal with soya bean cake (tempe), fried noddle (mee or bihun goring), salted fish, crackers (rempeyek) and coconut floss, the dishes do varies according to clan or district. Having said that, 5 -7 dishes served with white rice is a pretty common site for the Javanese, what differ it is the taste and style of cooking *wink*. Nasi Ambeng is as popular cuisine for the Javanese-Malay communities in Kuala Selangor, Johor and also in Singapore.  

How to serve Nasi Ambeng.

Originated from Java Island in Indonesia, Nasi Ambeng is usually served during festivities such as weddings, birthdays and thanksgiving (doa selamat), it is presented in a large tray or ‘dulang’ and enjoyed by a group of 4 to 5 people. It signifies unity and togetherness also encourages the act of caring and sharing among family members, friends and fellow villagers. The host wishes for guest wellbeing be blessed and abundance of wealth. Some says that the food is to be divided equally and guest to bring it home and share it with family members.

Nasi Ambeng also promotes fairness and equality hence the sharing in a single ‘dulang’, the locals believe that there should not be any differentiation between status, wealth and power. This is belief is strongly upheld by the Javanese-Malay communities since 1890 – 1900.

Tak menyempat-nyempat, makan kat dapur *cheeky smile*. 

I also heard of this 2 Javanese-Malay cuisine – Nasi Rawon and Nasi Janganan. Hemmm…. Now I am very curious. Should we go food hunting?

Kuala Selangor certainly have a lot of offer.

Travel. Eat. Write Media Fam Trip is in collaboration with #TourismSelangor with #GayaTravel as media coordinator