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. And that’s why I like it!
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:
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
Women doing the daily washing.
Men fishing
Ship maintenance
Loading and Unloading Goods
Checking out what the neighbours are doing
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:
If you are ever near Palembang, spend a couple of days here and check it out! Find out more at Footprint Sumatra Handbook: The Travel Guide.
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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October 12th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
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…
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October 12th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
nice post ..
U are Rock ..
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Koh Samui Aboriginal Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:49 am
I agree with you =)
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Twitter: suzannita
Says:
October 12th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
wow… it’s really Palembang… I agree with Ira, you should come to Palembang again
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October 12th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
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.
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October 12th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
wakakakakka, you’re like a star, but a human ^_^
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October 12th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
you are too funny.
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October 12th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
nice post… I Love Palembang, the environment, the foods, the rivers…hu hu..
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October 12th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
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
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October 12th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
yuhuuuuuu!
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October 12th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
have fun in bandung, ant! *counting the days* :p
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October 12th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
hemmmmmmm Palembang,,,, it’s a good city we have…. so beautiful….. oh ya mr…. don’t forget your vocabulary…… ok?
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October 12th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
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..
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Twitter: theplanetd
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October 13th, 2009 at 1:57 am
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.
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October 13th, 2009 at 6:28 am
dont forget about geli geli sensation… hahahahaha
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October 13th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Great post!
You look so happy and relaxed. I will have to come one day!
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October 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
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.
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October 13th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
You are the star beyond those girls… Hahhhahaha
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October 13th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
#Jafis…
Is really Anthony a rock for you???
=))
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October 20th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
foto2nya keren2
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December 9th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
trip to the kemaro island ?
dio´s last blog ..Sumbang Saran atau Saran Sumbang
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December 14th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
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…
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anthony Reply:
December 14th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
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!
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December 28th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
The Musi river is magic and so are the people of Palembang.
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Twitter: properrandom
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February 6th, 2010 at 1:52 am
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
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March 10th, 2010 at 1:12 am
nice place in sumatera island..
next time i will go there…
annosmile´s last blog ..Beautiful Sunrise In Mount Penanjakan
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April 6th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
Palembang look really interesting and looks different from Bangkok for sure.I wonder if there any nice hotels nearby.
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May 2nd, 2010 at 2:47 am
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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