Padang

Padang

Since the 16th century Padang has been a trade centre. During the 16th and 17th centuries pepper was cultivated and traded with India, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In 1663 the city came under the authority of the Dutch. The Dutch built a trading post here in 1680. The city came under British authority twice, the 1st time from 1781 to 1784 during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, and again from 1795 to 1819 during the Napoleonic Wars. Afterwards the city was transferred back to the Netherlands. Up to approximately 1780 the most important trade product was gold, originating from the gold mines in the region. When the mines were exhausted, the emphasis turned to other products such as coffee, salts and textiles.
At the time of independence in the 1940s the city had around 50,000 inhabitants. Coffee was still important, but copra was also a major item produced by farmers in its hinterland. The population growth since then has been partly a result of growth in the area of the city, but largely is a result of the migration to major cities seen in so many developing nations. In 1950 there was development of the Ombilin coal field with Padang as its outlet. This was seen by some observers as reflecting the economic as well as political colonization of Indonesia.
On 30 September 2009, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit about 50 kilometers off the coast of Padang. There were more than 1,100 fatalities, 313 of which occurred within Padang.
The city is served by the newly opened Minangkabau International Airport in Ketaping, Padang Pariaman. It replaced the old Tabing Airport. Tabing Airport now is used as military base. Padang's Teluk Bayur harbor is the largest and busiest harbor on the west coast of Sumatra.
West Sumatra administration has secured lands for 27-kilometer toll road between Padang and Sicincin district with about Rp.1.3 trillion investment. 80 percent land acquisition with 30 meters in width has already done, but they will acquire more land to meet an ideal 50 meters width. The construction project will be initialized in 2012.
Railroad tracks connect Padang to Padangpanjang and Bukittinggi to the northeast, to Solok and Sawahlunto to the east. The largest train station in Padang is Padang Station.
The cuisine of the Minangkabau people is commonly called Padang cuisine. Padang restaurants are common throughout the country and are famous for their spicy food. Padang food is usually cooked once per day, and all customers choose from those dishes, which are left out on display until no food is left. It is served in small portions of various dishes, but constituting, with rice, a complete meal. Customers take â€" and pay for â€" only what they want from this array of dishes. The best known Padang dish is rendang, a spicy meat stew. soto Padang is local residents' breakfast favorite, meanwhile sate (beef satay in curry sauce served with ketupat) is a treat in the evening.
Padang is the home town of the soccer team Semen Padang, with Haji Agus Salim Stadium being the home stadium of the club.

Padang is home to an boat competition.

annual international dragon -

Padang is a common transit point for surfers traveling to Batu Islands and Mentawai Islands, and for tourists visiting the West Sumatran highlands. Padang beach which located from Samudra Street until Puruih, is well known for its beautiful sunset and hundreds of food stalls. Bungus bay, to the south of Padang, is suitable for swimming and boating.
Adityawarman Museum specializes in the history and culture of the local Minangkabau ethnic group, and the main exhibits are housed within a Rumah Gadang style building.
Batang Kuranji flows in Padang and on top area of the river at Batu Busuk, Lambung Bukit sub-district is suitable for white water activities.
Government and the people of Hill Pangilun has agreed to make Mount Pangilun as tsunami shelter and will be built better access to the peak of the hill and also make temporary shelter including their facilities.

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