Padang food

Pic: Padang beach foodstalls

Pic; Tempting Padang food

Pic: Padang beach


What is there to see in Padang? is usually the first question people ask.

Frankly, there is nothing much. Although Padang came under Dutch control there are no grand monuments or buildings except for a row of Dutch houses.

How about the beach? Padang beach is forgettable really. The beach is filled with black sand and littered with all sorts of rubbish. Careless, and you might end up in the emergency ward of Padang Hospital as there are nails and broken glass on the beach.

But watching sunsets at Padang beach is a favourite activity for courting couples.

Those who are interested in surfing head out to Mentawi islands.

Finally, mention should be made of the famous Padang food which has spread to Singapore and Malaysia. Walk into a Padang restaurant, and immediately the waiters slap a dozen small dishes of food on your table. The food range from skinny, tough chicken, curried beef liver, curried fish, chili eggplant, sambals (spicy sauces) and so on.

You pay for what you eat, and the dishes taken away to await the next customer!

If you have a weak stomach, beware. After eating Padang food a few trips to the toilet are guaranteed!