Padang
Formerly a small fishing village, in 1784 Padang became a centre of Dutch occupation and trade and then, in 1958, following Indonesian independence, the provincial capital of West Sumatra.
The city population is now almost one million and the vast majority of these are ethnically Minangkabau. There is a strongly held belief that to be Minangkabau is to be Muslim. The iconic West Sumatra Grand Mosque incorporates uniquely Minangkabau architectural features and accommodates twenty thousand worshippers.
Most overseas visitors to the city arrive via the International Airport. But the city is also served by a busy harbour at Teluk Bayur and the trans-Sumatran highway runs through the province.
Education is highly valued by the Minangkabau people and there are eight universities in Padang, as well as other places of higher education. These include: Andalas University, which is the oldest university in Indonesia outside of the island of Java, Padang State University, Baiturrahmah University, West Sumatra Muhammadiyah University and the Imam Bonjol State Islamic University.
There is also another opportunity, if you haven't already, to reflect on the Minangkabau cultural heritage as well as discover what's on some of the bill boards around town.
Visit one or more of these locations on your virtual prayer journey by clicking on the map below.
