Padang

We were excited to be arriving in Padang after two weeks of city living. There isnt much to do in Padang apart from chill out which were getting very good at!
Our hostel "Bridget's" is a home away from home. She really does look after everyone and nothing is to much trouble. She makes the best banana pancakes!
Ed took me on a tour of the area, even though there isn't much to do it was great to finally see the place that I've heard so much about. The people are so friendly, young and old stopping in the street to say "hello mister, hello mam" you couldn't take two steps without people saying hello and how are you.
Walking around padang I soon started to realise the devastation that the 2009 earth quake had caused. Missing buildings every few feet. Ed wanted to go to his favourite bar however when we arrived it too was just a pile of rubble.

The traffic in Padang is crazy everyone on motorbike or in cars, no regards for traffic lights etc it's madness, the only familiar sound you get to here is the consent beeping at each other. They also have some crazy taxis (opulets) which are small vans that have been pimped up, bright orange, green, blue, pink all with body kits and extremely loud music pumping out.... Half of them look like they could fall apart at any minute however they fit up to 10 people in the back with all their shopping from the markets. I will post a picture of a van soon so you can see what I'm talking about.
We stayed in Padang for 2 nights before we headed up to bukittinggi for a few days. Ed and I are now back in Padang and will be meeting up with Nathan on Sunday. The ferry out to the islands has a mechanical problem so unfortunately we may have to wait until Thursday before we head out to nyang nyang, I will keep you posted.