Padang

Encompassed by jungle-clad hills, terraced rice paddies and glistening Indian Ocean beaches, the city of Padang is a conglomeration of trader warehouses packed with aromatic cinnamon and spices, traditional Indonesian homes and rustic bamboo shacks, anchored to its place on the south-eastern coast of Sumatra by a cosmopolitan local population of Chinese, Indonesian and European ex-pat alike.

Start by asking your Padang tour guide about the medley of markets that pepper the town, lurking between the sporadic traces of dutch colonial architecture and the banks of the Muaro River, selling woven cloths and whittled trinkets from the Minang hills. Then, why not delve into the bustling streets of Chinatown, sampling some of the region’s famous masakan Padang (comprising mainly of spicy beef curries and chilli laden satay)?

And once you’ve had your fill of city life, consider a walk along the pretty stretches of Padang Beach, where local juice sellers cluster to offer refreshments over a sunset show. Or, break out even further, to the beaches and legendary surf swells of the nearby Mentawai Islands, or the rugged caves and canyons of Bukittinggi town in the hills.