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Palembang, Indonesia – Mini Me Bangkok!

Before this trip to Indonesia, I had never heard of Palembang in South Sumatra.

I only know about it because I was told there was a large blogging community there called Wongkito.  They have been showing me around their city and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.Palembang shares many things in common with Bangkok.  It is a river city, and a lot of daily life occurs on the river called Sungai Musi.
Except unlike Bangkok, there aren’t loads of tourists here in Palembang.  And that’s why I like it!

Palembang, Indonesia – In Pictures

Palembang Indonesia River | Airasia Pesta Blogging Communities Trip 2009 | Palembang, Indonesia - Little Bangkok | Bangkok, Indonesia, Little Bangkok, Palembang Hotel, Palembang Indonesia, Palembang Map, South Sumatra | Author: Anthony Bianco - The Travel Tart Blog
Wongkito commandeered a pumpboat for a leisurely cruise down the river to see what it’s all about.
Some of the Wongkito members are shown below:
Dsc 7795 | Airasia Pesta Blogging Communities Trip 2009 | Palembang, Indonesia - Little Bangkok | Bangkok, Indonesia, Little Bangkok, Palembang Hotel, Palembang Indonesia, Palembang Map, South Sumatra | Author: Anthony Bianco - The Travel Tart Blog
Cruising down the river provides a great insight into the daily life of Palembang residents. I managed to take some great shots on the pump boat trip.  This is what happens on a typical day:
People taking public transport
Public Transport Palembang Indonesia | Airasia Pesta Blogging Communities Trip 2009 | Palembang, Indonesia - Little Bangkok | Bangkok, Indonesia, Little Bangkok, Palembang Hotel, Palembang Indonesia, Palembang Map, South Sumatra | Author: Anthony Bianco - The Travel Tart Blog
Boy On Top Of Pump Boat Palembang Indonesia | Airasia Pesta Blogging Communities Trip 2009 | Palembang, Indonesia - Little Bangkok | Bangkok, Indonesia, Little Bangkok, Palembang Hotel, Palembang Indonesia, Palembang Map, South Sumatra | Author: Anthony Bianco - The Travel Tart Blog
Women doing the daily washing.
Women Washing Clothes Palembang Indonesia | Airasia Pesta Blogging Communities Trip 2009 | Palembang, Indonesia - Little Bangkok | Bangkok, Indonesia, Little Bangkok, Palembang Hotel, Palembang Indonesia, Palembang Map, South Sumatra | Author: Anthony Bianco - The Travel Tart Blog
Men fishing
Men Fishing In Palembang Indonesia | Airasia Pesta Blogging Communities Trip 2009 | Palembang, Indonesia - Little Bangkok | Bangkok, Indonesia, Little Bangkok, Palembang Hotel, Palembang Indonesia, Palembang Map, South Sumatra | Author: Anthony Bianco - The Travel Tart Blog
Ship maintenance
Shippinh Maintenance Palembang Indonesia | Airasia Pesta Blogging Communities Trip 2009 | Palembang, Indonesia - Little Bangkok | Bangkok, Indonesia, Little Bangkok, Palembang Hotel, Palembang Indonesia, Palembang Map, South Sumatra | Author: Anthony Bianco - The Travel Tart Blog
Loading and Unloading Goods
Loading Ships Palembang Indonesia | Airasia Pesta Blogging Communities Trip 2009 | Palembang, Indonesia - Little Bangkok | Bangkok, Indonesia, Little Bangkok, Palembang Hotel, Palembang Indonesia, Palembang Map, South Sumatra | Author: Anthony Bianco - The Travel Tart Blog
Checking out what the neighbours are doing
Checking Out The Neighbours Palembang Indonesia | Airasia Pesta Blogging Communities Trip 2009 | Palembang, Indonesia - Little Bangkok | Bangkok, Indonesia, Little Bangkok, Palembang Hotel, Palembang Indonesia, Palembang Map, South Sumatra | Author: Anthony Bianco - The Travel Tart Blog
The thing is, I haven’t seen another foreigner here at all.  I’m not hassled to buy anything when I walk down the street.
I’m more of a curiosity here more than anything.  People look at me in the street because they obviously don’t see too many foreigners, or ‘bule’ (pronounced boo-lay) in Palembang.  But they all are friendly and say hello, and I like saying hello back.
In fact, people want me to have a photograph taken with them.
Like this:
The Travel Tart And Fan Club In Palembang Indonesia | Airasia Pesta Blogging Communities Trip 2009 | Palembang, Indonesia - Little Bangkok | Bangkok, Indonesia, Little Bangkok, Palembang Hotel, Palembang Indonesia, Palembang Map, South Sumatra | Author: Anthony Bianco - The Travel Tart Blog
If you are ever near Palembang, spend a couple of days here and check it out!

More Palembang Stuff

Air Asia have helped me get to Indonesia to experience this great trip.  You can do the same by going to their website and checking out their cheap airfares all over South East Asia.


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32 thoughts on “Palembang, Indonesia – Little Bangkok”

  1. Avatar Of Ira

    you were a rock star, everybody want to be on the picture with you… you should come again next year, and we will show you more of Palembang…

  2. Avatar Of Adityawirawan

    Great pictures sir. I hope Palembang can be more famous in the future. I am also member of wongkito, but i am working at oversea now. Nice to hear a good respon about Palembang from you sir.

  3. Avatar Of Au'

    I very like those photos, two thumbs up for U. Those pics really2 show Palembang with Musi River daily routinity. Thx for promoting our city 🙂

  4. Avatar Of Arles

    hemmmmmmm Palembang,,,, it’s a good city we have…. so beautiful….. oh ya mr…. don’t forget your vocabulary…… ok?

  5. Avatar Of Easy

    anthony.. *kamu harus berfikir keras mengartikan komentar saya* hehehe

    thanks untuk kunjungannya ke palembang. maaf dengan semua keterbatasan sarana dan prasarana selama kamu disana. tinggal di kost yang sempit, mandi dengan gayung di kamar mandi yang juga sempit, dan harus sikat gigi menggunakan air di bak yang aku tahu kamu gak suka… kkkkk… tapi kamu tetap menunjukkan tampang “manis” dengan semua kondisi itu.

    sungguh bule yang tauladan 🙂

    arles, rusli, rino, dan semua teman kost menitipkan salam buatmu..

  6. Avatar Of Dave And Deb

    Great post. Now I wish that we were flying into Sumatra before going to India. We haven’t been there before and your time there seems so incredible. Fantastic photos.

  7. Avatar Of Huang

    Anthony, I’ll translate comments from easy for you 🙂

    Thank you for visit to palembang. sorry with all the limitations of facilities and infrastructure for you there. live in a small house, a bath with a bucket in the bathroom which is also narrow, and should brush your teeth using water in the tub that I know you do not like. but you still show look “nice” with all the conditions.

    bule was a model:)

    Arles, rusli, rino, and all my friends left boarding greeting for you

    p.s : Glad to know you.

  8. Avatar Of Xonket

    What a great post sir… the pic is very very intresting to the human life shown us the activity around the musi river. thx 4 promote our city to the world ;).. i’m member of wongkito.net too…

    1. Avatar Of Anthony

      It’s my pleasure! I saw the very best of Indonesia with this trip, and Wongkito treated me like a king in Palembang! I loved every second of it!

  9. Avatar Of Garth Wayne

    Wow those pictures are fantastic! It must be strange living on water like that, I’d fall in all the time.
    .-= Garth Wayne´s last blog ..Why Single Men Can’t Go To Bangkok =-.

  10. Avatar Of Annosmile

    nice place in sumatera island..
    next time i will go there…
    .-= annosmile´s last blog ..Beautiful Sunrise In Mount Penanjakan =-.

  11. Avatar Of Mike In Thailand
    Mike in Thailand

    Palembang look really interesting and looks different from Bangkok for sure.I wonder if there any nice hotels nearby.

  12. Avatar Of Koh Samui Aboriginal
    Koh Samui Aboriginal

    very good article, but when I read it, I thought that one country different people see differently, but i want know: i have a lot photo about Thailand, i here live more 5 years, if you want, i can send it’s photo for your blog

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