Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine April 2017 | Page 105

Travel | Pekanbaru
In downtown Pekanbaru,
the quaint Raya An-Nur
Mosque is not to be missed,
with its five iconic domes
and a tower reaching
up to the sky.
5 Senses – Sight
ZAPIN API
Zapin Api dance festival is a unique
attraction for visitors to Pekanbaru.
The thrumming of gambus strings
and the pounding of gendang kompang
fills the night air with soul-stirring
sounds. Dancers sway in time to the
rhythm, accompanied by the magical
scent of myrrh, and visitors shriek in
amazement and delight as they witness
the performers moving among flames
without being burned.
Pergelaran tari-tarian Zapin Api
merupakan salah satu atraksi unik di
Pekanbaru. Petikan dawai gambus dan
bunyi gendang kompang menghidupkan
malam dengan irama yang mengentak
jiwa. Beberapa penari meliuk sesuai
irama ditemani bau kemenyan yang
magis. Sesekali pengunjung akan
bersorak melihat penari beraksi
dengan api tanpa meninggalkan luka.
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fascinating points of interest to visit. The
Alam Mayang Recreational Park is one of
the most favoured spots for locals. Located
not far from the city centre, the space –
adorned with animal ornaments such as tiger
and elephant sculptures – offers a sense of
calm and quiet for city-dwellers. Those
visiting with their families can also enjoy fun
activities such as water bikes, banana boats, a
magical carpet and a ball pit.
Further along the coast, you can find the
Kampar River’s world-famous Bono Wave.
To catch this tidal bore, you will need to get
close to the mouth of the river, where the waves
break a little higher – take a speedboat from
Teluk Meranti village. The waves might be
brown as it is a river wave, but the Bono Wave
stands up against its ocean rivals, attracting
both local and international surfers.
In downtown Pekanbaru, the quaint Raya
An-Nur Mosque is not to be missed, with its five
iconic domes and a tower reaching up to the sky.
Located on an expansive 12.6 hectares, there
is plenty to see at the mosque, from its spacious
2
1 Raya An-Nur Mosque in Pekanbaru.
2 Minas Elephant Training Center, on the outskirts of
Pekanbaru. Here visitors can learn how to ride elephants
and bathe them by the river.
rooms, some of which function as offices, to its
park, where kids can enjoy frolicking in the sun.
The construction of this mosque began in 1993
and it was completed five years later. It includes
architectural influences from Malay and Middle
Eastern cultures. Across from this grand
establishment stands a Batak-Protestant
church (HKBP). In Pekanbaru, citizens with
different religious backgrounds have been
living together in harmony for years.
As the sun begins to set in Pekanbaru, the
streetlights come to life. I walk along Hang
Tuah Street, taking in the city’s crowded
corners, its bridges, the rows of majestic office
buildings bathed in light. I’m getting hungry,
so I decide to stop by a restaurant on Sudirman
Street. There are plenty of dining venues to
choose from in this city, and I am determined
not to miss its most famous local delicacy:
a smoked-fish dish with a variety of servings,
from fried to curried. From the restaurant,
I follow the strong aroma of coffee and find
a crowded row of cafés that seem determined
to defy the evening’s call for sleep.
Half an hour from Pekanbaru, we arrive at
the Minas Elephant Training Center, where
I find myself making new acquaintances
with Reno and some of his gigantic friends
as they dine on their lunch.
After their mealtime, Reno and the other
elephants are taken to the river for a bath,
and a group of visiting tourists take turns
hopping on their backs to have their photos
taken and have a go at scrubbing their hides.