Obyek Wisata Bukit Siguntang, Palembang

This is a backdated post that should have been up at least in December 2011. But better late than never.

Last November during the SEA Games in Palembang, a local friend took me and another Malaysian friend for some shopping and a brief tour of Palembang  city  before we depart for Kuala Lumpur the next day. It was a bit of a rush since we are against time.

One place that she took us is the Obyek Wisata Bukit Siguntang.

The entrance to Obyek Wisata Bukit Siguntang taken from HERE. 

Bukit Siguntang is situated in Daerah Bukit Lama has a historical background in it. it has been a park where teenagers hang out with their partner under the trees or gasebos since the place is quite secluded, cool and have some romantic environment. I do not want to elaborate more. 

At the highest point of the hill, smell of burning incense can be felt and scattered are tombs under small buildings erected over them. There are eight of them and these tombs were well kept and has the impression that it is sacred. Visitors come to pay tribute the deceased.

It was said that during the rule of Sriwijaya, Bukit Siguntang is a Buddhist place of worship. During the Dutch colonialisation, this hill with a height of 27 metres, archeologist found artifacts such Buddhist arches and inscriptions. In 1950s, ancient building structures were also found. Read more about the history HERE.

Tombs found here belongs to the following

- Raja Si Gentar Alam

- Putri Kembang Dadar

- Putri rambut Selako

- Panglima Bagus Kuning

- Panglima Bagus Karang

- Panglima Tuang Junjungan

- Panglima Raja Batu Api

 

		Obyek Wisata Bukit Siguntang VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

More Photos HERE

Pecel Lele For Dinner In Palembang

During the SEA Games 2011 in Palembang, I had the opportunity to savour another popular and cheap Indonesian cuisine known as Pecel Lele. We were taken by the Games ICT volunteers to a place but I couldn’t locate it. I check my Foursquare check-ins while in Palembang but it was not registered in my history. I think I can’t check in that night. Well, maybe its along Jalan Kolonel Hj Burhan. Anyway there are many pecel lele stalls in Palembang. The one we went has the banner Seafood Ayo Mampir Pecel Lele.

Pecel lele is a popular dish in Indonesia especially in Jakarta as it is an affordable food and as it seems is well balanced. There is carbohydrate, protein, vegetable and you gulp down a glass of warm or cold water.

The main ingredient of pecel lele is the ikan lele (its catfish or ikan keli in Malaysia) and the name of the dish arise from this. Ikan lele is deep fried and taken with rice. Side dish that came along the rice and ikan lele is the lalapan consisting of vegetables including sliced cucumber, kemangi leaves, long beans, tomatoes and cabbage. It might not include all the veges but most of it. then there is also a piece of fried soya bean curd. To add taste these is also the hot chili sambal and mashed tomato. To experience the best out of pecel lele, you must take it when the rice is still smokey warm.

Being a popular dish it is an alternative to chicken based food especially fried chicken.

Our group- with the ICT volunteers who supported us at the Baseball and Softball Venue in Jakabaring Sports Complex.

I surfed the internet and if you would like to try preparing pecel lele for your family or guests click HERE.

Video YouTube about Pecel Lele.

Pasar Cinde Palembang

After breakfast with a plateful of Mi Celor, we stop at Pasar Cinde not far from the restaurant.

At Pasar Cinde, these are some of the items offered to customers.

Mi Celur of Palembang

When I was in Palembang for the SEA Games in 2011 I and my friend were taken to savour one of the local cuisine. We were told that the restaurant serves the best Mee Celur in Palembang. The food is quite similar to our Mee Rebus with yellow mee, bean sprouts and the thick gravy and topped with boiled egg, fried onions and chives.

The restaurant is just an ordinary small shop lot but based on the amount of yellow mee, the bean sprouts, a long Q of take away customer and the full house inside when we arrived, I think it is confirmed the Mi Celur can be the best in Palembang. Well, we have to stand and search for empty seat and when we found them, we still have to share with other diners who is halfway finishing their plate of Mi Celur. Breakfast, anyway.

If you think you want to cook this for your family or guest get the recipe HERE.

The restaurant if I am not mistaken is at Mi Celor 26 Ilir. After a heartful plate of Mi Celor for breakfast, we went to shop for local souvenir at Pasar 26 Ilir nearby. Location MAP

So, if you visit Palembang, do not miss to try this Mi Celur.

Es Dawet di Palembang

In Malaysia we call it cendol but here in Indonesia or maybe Palembang (not sure) this drink is called Es Dawet. In Malaysia it is cendol a concoction of cendol, coconut milk and brown sugar juice and top up with shaved ice. 
Its the same basic mixture as in Malaysia but something extra here is a bulb of durian is added giving it a different taste compared to our popular cendol pulut in Malaysia.


Had the experience trying this drink during the SEA Games 2011 in Palembang. Its cooling and refrehsing to drink on a hot day. However the drink is a bit sweet and might not be suitable for those who are concerned with his/her high sugar content in the blood. Its worth trying. Price? hmmmmm……sorry I forgot.

JEJAK PERTAMA DI INDONESIA

Ia merupakan perjalanan aku yang pertama ke Indonesia. Sememangnya rezeki yang diberikan Allah selepas aku bersara dari perkhidmatan dengan kerajaan. Aku diberikan tugas untuk menjadi salah seorang koordinator untuk sistem keputusan di SEA Games edisi ke 26 di Palembang. 

Inilah SEA Games pertama aku terlibat secara langsung. 

Ini kali pertama aku menjejaki kaki di bumi Indonesia.

Ini kali pertama aku melintasi Garisan Khatulistiwa. 

Ini kali pertama aku menaiki pesawat Garuda.

Ini kali pertama aku menaiki pesawat Lion air. 

Perjalanan aku ke Indonesia ialah pada 11 – 11 – 2011. Penerbangan Garuda Airlines dari KLIA ke Sukarno Hatta International Airport, Jakarta (SHIA). Untuk keselamatan anda, sila pasangkan sabuk pengaman.

Destinasi Jakarta 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Dari SHIA menaiki taksi Bluebird ke tempat penginapan di Take’s Mansion, Jalan Tmn. Kebun Sirih I, Jakarta. Adalah dinasihatkan kepada pelancung untuk mengambil Teksi Bluebird kerana perkhidmatan yang lebih reliable dan cemerlang mereka dengan pemandu yang jujur. Salah seorang ahli rombongan kami yang datang lebih awal, telah tertinggal telefon bimbit di dalam teksi dan pemandu teksi itu telah mengembalikan semula telefon bimbit itu. Itu satu kejujuran pekerja perkhidmatan teksi tersebut. 

Take’s Mansion (Atas), terletak tidak jauh dari Tugu Monas (Bawah)

Selepas pergi menunjau di HQ Indosat tempat terletak pusat kawalan ICT SEA Games. Indosat adalah merupakan penaga telekomunkasi resmi SEA Games 2011. Di Indosat, aku telah setup Blackberry dan juga membeli kad Sim Broadband IM3 Mentari untuk Samsung Tab aku.


Selepas itu pergi ke Sakinah Mall di Jalan Muhammad Husni Thamrin untuk membeli adaptor kerana punca eletrik adalah seperti ini. Ini juga peringatan kepada mereka yang hendak ke Indonesia dan menggunakan peralatan eletrik. Bersedia dengan adaptornya. 

Sudah sampai Sakinah Mall terpaksa beli stokin kerana bawa sepasang saja. Nasib baik dapat stokin yang ada diskon 50%. Jadi bolehlah beli stokin yang berharga Rp36,000. Selepas itu makan di

		Soto Betawi VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Dinner malam itu ialah Nasi Uduk ayam. Macam Nasi Lemaklah di Malaysia tetapi presentationnnya agak menarik dan kemas.

Memandangkan masa tidak mengizinkan, aku tidak sempat melawat Jakarta. Hari keesokannya akan berlepas pula ke Palembang untuk memulakan tugas di SEA Games selepas menikmati fajar buat kali pertama di Jakarta pada jam 4.15 pagi.

Fajar pagi pada jam 6.00

Destinasi Palembang

Sudah agak lama tidak membuat posting baru di sini. Maklumlah sekarang sudah kurang mengembara. Kalau dulu sekali dua setiap bulan ada sahaja travelling. Anyway, blog ini tetap juga akan aku kendalikan kerana sekali sekala pasti akan ada pengalaman baru yang berkait dengan As I Travel…. yang boleh aku muatkan dan berkongsi pengalaman dengan rakan-rakan pembaca.

Sepanjang tahun 2011 hanya sekali sahaja travel iaitu balik ke sabah pada bulan Januari dan selepas itu sekadar berlegar-legar di sekitar Kuala Lumpur sahaja. Maklumlah dah bersara, jadi tak banyak assignment.

Rezeki, kadang-kadang Allah berikan tanpa kita duga. Baru-baru ini aku mendapat panggilan yang berupa satu tawaran untuk berkhidmat di Sukan SEA ke 26 di Palembang. Sepanjang perkhidmatan aku dengan Majlis Sukan Negara, tidak pernah sekali pun berpeluang untuk hadir di Sukan SEA sebagai petugas.

Insyaallah jika tidak ada aral aku dapat juga menjejaki kaki buat kali pertama di bumi Indonesia. Pastinya azam aku untuk membuat posting tentang perjalanan ini.