Greetings from the island of Sipora, my temporary Indonesian paradise!
I've found an island with where I can have morning walks on deserted sandy beaches that stretch for a few kilometers. Thank you to the universe.
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| My personal beach every morning! |
How was your past week? What was your best memory? What are you most grateful for? Do take a few moments of silence for self-reflection!
My unexpected gift of temporary paradise came about from a misunderstanding I had about my destination. My original intention for visiting this island was the opportunity to take an excursion to a neighboring island to visit the Mentawai tribe. I discovered you need to travel to Siberut Island directly for the hands on experience. Perhaps next trip!
I've been busy with a few things back in Canada over the past week. I, with the capable assistance of my accountant Gladysse, successfully filed my personal income taxes. I had a small amount of taxes to pay which is a financial relief! A former high school classmate, Randy, has been in touch regarding the 50th reunion of our high school graduating class being held in June. 50 years! Where has the time gone?? On a sad and somber note, Randy also shared the class list where the reunion organizers identified about 20 former classmates (25% of our graduating class) have passed away! Grateful to the universe for today's gift of opening my eyes one more day!
My daily beachwalk came with a harsh reminder about how the sea is regularly used as a garbage disposal site. A woman walked onto the beach with a garbage bag, stopped to load the bag with some stones and then tossed the bag into the sea. I saw the same thing happen during a beach walk in Sri Lanka. I also had the unpleasant experience of watching a woman take the diaper off her child and throw the diaper into the sea. These small acts contribute to the much larger environmental problem we have with our planet. We are in so much trouble!
May the universe bring endless blessings and moments of magic 🦄 to you and your loved ones in the week ahead. 🙏
Travel Administration
I've now stayed in a few places over the weeks where the room is accessed with only using a key from the outside AND from inside the room. My practice is to leave the key in the lock on the inside in case of an emergency. I want to avoid the situation where I am scrambling to find the key in the dark if I need to evacuate the room quickly! Something to keep in mind about your personal safety wherever you travel!
Travel Update
I'm just lingering over my travel itinerary for the remaining two weeks in Sumatra. It all hinges on if I decide to stay two or four days on Sipora Island. I'll likely fly to Medan from Padang, then work my way towards Berastagi and Lake Toba. I fly to Brisbane, Australia from Kuala Namu International Airport (outside Medan) on Sunday, May 3.
Travel Maps
This week's travel highlight would be the 14.5 hour bus trip from Jambi to Padang. More taxi rides to get around plus a fast ferry and scooter ride exploring Sipora Island.
Indonesia (Sumatra): April 7 to May 3, 2026
Jambi
After some additional research, I discounted the idea of visiting the local places I identified as potential destinations. The local lake, Sipin Lake, was more of a water control reservoir than a real lake. The inclement weather further 'dampened' my curiosity. I settled for a walk in the local area to forage for food.
In the evening, the sidewalks become a place to enjoy food and drink from the roadside vendors who appear just before the sun sets. The mats you see in the photo above cover the sidewalks for the diners' comfort.
Interesting People
Sumatran little people and their parents are a wonderfully engaging combination. Parents love the attention their children receive, including high fives and handshakes. I discovered this mother and her son enjoying an ice cream at McDonalds.
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| One with his ice cream |
Interesting Food
I've been on a long-term mission to test the consistency of McDonalds french fries worldwide. Well, it's a good excuse to have french fries. I can report the Jambi McDonalds serves the same french fries that I've tasted everywhere else globally. Remarkable when you think about the need for using a similar type of potato and oil to cook the fries. The one difference was the tomato sauce used which was had a different color along with a chili zing.
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| I'm LOVING it! |
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| Nasi Goreng |
The following statement was drew me to visit this complex: 'The Muara Jambi Temple Compound (Candi Muara Jambi) is the largest and most important Hindu-Buddhist temple complexes in Southeast Asia.' What I found disappointing, as compared to Angkor Wat, was the lack of buildings I could climb up on and walk through. Oh my god, I had to use my imagination to recreate what this site would have looked like so many centuries ago. Best to visit earlier in the day for a couple reasons - it's the coolest part of the day (relatively) and you avoid the potential afternoon rain showers that can develop. I also benefited from almost having the entire complex to myself.
You can rent a scooter outside the complex to get around the various temples more easily and quickly.
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Local market to purchase food/take a
break while visiting! |
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Artistic moment with rain drops;
my daughter does this so much better! |
Living amidst history
There are small sections throughout the complex site where people have set up their homes and have small gardens. I also saw a few fallen trees. Rules are enforced with different thoroughness in Sumatra.
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| Home Sweet Home |
Interesting People
The opportunity to have my photo taken with Sumatrans seems boundless. The group of women below insisted they have a photo with me. Every woman then shook my hand to thank me. The two security/ information staff were equally agreeable to having their photo taken.
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| Note the woman on the right! |
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Guy on right was less enthusiastic
initially - discomfort with language
barrier |
Bus Trip - Jambi to Padang
My 12 hour day time bus trip from Jambi to Padang turned into a small drama. My journey became a team effort between staff at my hotel, vendor at the bus terminal, the government staff at the bus terminal responsible for the terminal's smooth operation and a fellow passenger.
My travel saga started the evening before the bus' planned departure at 5 am. I received a text, in Bahasa, advising my bus was likely going to be late given its current location. The hotel's reception staff readily agreed to helping me including calling the text originator to confirm what was expected to happen. The reception staff also reassured me they would ask the night staff to support me in the morning. I decided to arrive at the bus terminal at 6 am based on the bus status texts I received throughout the night. The night clerk pitched in with his Grab app when the driver who had accepted the ride from my Grab app had yet to move after 25 minutes. At the bus terminal, I met a vendor and his wife who happened to have grown up in Tuk Tuk, a destination I have visited. The couple fed me and took responsibility for ensuring I got on the right bus. I then met (and spent time with) the government staff who operate the bus terminal. They also assumed responsibility for getting me on the right bus.
The bus finally arrived at 9 am. Our bus reached a deserted bus terminal in Jambi at 11:30 pm. I had a fellow passenger who looked out for me to ensure I got off the bus at the right place in Jambi. I am truly blessed!
A brief backgrounder about traveling Sumatran roads. You need patience, a big sense of adventure and a healthy amount of risk taking/courage. The roads are mostly narrow, full of twists and turns and filled with large slow moving lorries, small slow moving scooters/motorbikes, passing through villages and the occasional animal drawn cart. The risk taking/courage part is related to your constant need to pass the slow moving vehicles over short distances and/or on curves in the road. The liberal use of your vehicle's horn is mandatory to alert traffic to your presence. Vehicles entering the main road without looking for oncoming traffic. If you are on the main road, it's your job to look out for the entering traffic.
Self driving may give you a marginal advantage in your arrival time versus taking a bus. You need to account for the extra driving effort if you decide to self drive. Let your adventure begin!
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| Government bus terminal staff reporting for duty |
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My Batak acquaintances who fed and looked
out for me. |
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| Bus terminal |
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| Bus terminal |
I spent a few hours late Monday afternoon exploring the area adjacent to my hotel which is a five minute walk from the sea. Padang's key tourist destination is Old Town where buildings built by the Dutch in the 16th century have been restored.
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| Where to go next? |
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| Seaside dining |
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| Seaside dining up close |
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| Beach dining |
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| My dinner at a local restaura |
Sipora Island
Journeying to Sipora Island has been a favorable twist of fate. I initially hesitated about coming to the island, then I booked a two night stay which I subsequently extended into a four night stay after I arrived. I met a Taiwanese traveler who had traveled extensively and loved surfing. We discovered through our conversation that many of my past destinations were high on his list as they (Sri Lanka, Maldives, Chile, Portugal, USA (Hawaii)) had famous surf beaches he wanted to visit.
Welcome to a relatively unspoiled Indonesian beach paradise. Unspoiled is a relative term as I met Sarah (from Netherlands) who discovered through her snorkeling that the coral reef was considerably damaged. The island is well known to surfers who enjoy great waves and small crowds. There are several surf camps on the island. The local accommodations (only one place) have limited number of beach paraphernalia like beach umbrellas and beach chairs. The island is about 80 km (50 mi) long with very limited tourist development. I imagine this island was how Bali might have been in the beginning. Here's a great travel destination if you are looking to escape the crowds, enjoy lower costs and readily mingle with the locals during your visit. A totally laid back experience.
I met a couple (surfers) from the Netherlands while on my morning beach walk. We starting talking about different surf destinations including Nazare, Portugal - home 30m (100 ft) waves. I learned that there are special surf boards (bullets) that are lead weighted in the board's front to keep the board down. The big waves are reserved for the more skilled surfers given the danger they pose.
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| Beach near my accommodation |
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| More empty beach |
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| Beach zone |
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My morning walk - goes around the corner in the
distance |
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| Yes, the entire beach to myself at 6:30 am |
Sioban Road Trip
My original intention was to travel the island's length by scooter; about a 2.5 to 3 hour journey one way. Several surf camps and lots of surfing are found on the island's southern tip. Brad, the Australian owner of my accommodation, cast doubt on my travel plans. He suggested driving to Sioban which is about an hour away. He advised me that my bum would likely thank me for traveling the shorter distance. He was so right. While the majority of the road is in great shape, there are sections that remind me of Nepalese roads. I was also thankful for the almost non-existent traffic including trucks and cars. The half hour rainstorm near the end of my trip added a little drama to the overall experience! The drama included a local offering me the opportunity to buy land from him overlooking a local beach. The universe is nonstop with the blessings I receive!
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| Sioban CBD |
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| Sioban |
Meals
Mumbang Cafe was a three minute walk from my accommodation. What an incredible culinary blessing! The couple who ran the cafe, along with their family members who helped out, were the most amazing hosts I could ask for. I had my daily lunch and dinner at the cafe. I also enjoyed the gift of watching the sun set every evening!
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| Beach/sun set view from 'my' table |
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| Fried bananas with chocolate |
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| Fish |
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Squid and shrimp with rice, cooked vegetables,
and the best peanut sauce ever! Missing is the
watermelon/bananas for dessert |
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| Dinner companion |
Sunsets
Four nights, four sunsets! Each sunset uniquely engaging. Enjoy!
April 22
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| Fellow sun set watcher |
April 23
April 24
April 25
Next Week
The week ahead is my last full week in Sumatra. I return to Padang on Sunday for two nights. I fly to Kuala Namu International Airport on Tuesday morning, then take a taxi to Berastagi. After two nights in Berastagi, I head to Lake Toba for my last three nights in Sumatra. My Lake Toba accommodation is the same place I stayed last year.
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