Bengkulu is the capital of Bengkulu province on the west coast of Sumatra Island. The city was a British outpost for nearly two centuries, though the colonial remnants are not as well preserved as the famous Straits cities. I visited Bengkulu after going from Palambang to Lubuk Linggau by train. Instead of backtracking on the […]
Notes on Lubuk Linggau – At the end of the line in South Sumatra
Lubuk Linggau (or Lubuklinggau) is a city in South Sumatra, Indonesia. A train goes from Palembang to Lubuk Linggau, so that was the only excuse I needed to visit. I didn’t want to backtrack to Palembang, so I decided to stay in Lubuk Linggau and then find other transport to Bengkulu on the coast. The […]
Southeast Asia train travel guide
A guide to train travel Southeast Asia, featuring resources for buying tickets and reviews of rail travel in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia railways index Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Southeast Asia train travel resources Southeast Asia train travel FAQs Future Southeast Asia railways Cambodia Railway Operator: Royal Railway. Buy Cambodia train […]
Notes on Siantar: things to do while waiting for the train in North Sumatra
Pematangsiantar (also known as Siantar) is city in North Sumatra Province of Indonesia, and it’s the second-largest city in North Sumatra after Medan. Siantar not a city on the tourist trail, but I ended up here on the way back from Lake Toba to Medan. There is a train from Siantar to Medan, and I […]
Singapore to Indonesia by ferry: A list of every port and ferry operator
A guide to every ferry service between Singapore and Indonesia, including how to connect to other ferry services in Indonesia. Singapore and Indonesia are close maritime neighbours separated by the Singapore Strait. The two countries are just over 5 km apart at their closest point, and the fastest ferry services take a little under an […]
Notes on Lake Toba: The paradise lake of North Sumatra
Lake Toba is a volcanic lake in North Sumatra, Indonesia. It’s the largest lake in Indonesia and the largest volcanic lake in the world. It should be more famous, yet somehow it gets few visitors. I first visited Lake Toba in 2009, and I ended up going back to spend a month there. The centre […]
Palembang to Lubuk Linggau by train in South Sumatra
Kertapati (Palembang) to Lubuk Linggau is one of the main passenger rail routes of South Sumatra. This is a review of train service KA Bukit Serelo from Palembang to Lubuk Linggau. I have previously been to Palembang to take the train from Palembang to Bandar Lampung. Like the Bandar Lampung service, the service to Lubuk […]
Hotel Review: Hotel Royal, Lubuk Linggau – Indonesia
Hotel review of the Hotel Royal in Lubuk Linggau in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Hotel Name: Hotel Royal. Address: Jl. Yos Sudarso No.88, RT.2, Jawa Kanan Ss, Lubuk Linggau Tim. II, Lubuklinggau, Indonesia. I stayed at the Hotel Royal in Lubuk Linggau, Indonesia. I booked online at the rate of 330,000 IDR ($20.36 USD), and I […]
Hotel Review: Ayola Sentosa Palembang
Hotel review of the Ayola Sentosa Palembang, a mid-range hotel in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. Hotel Name: Ayola Sentosa Palembang. Address: Jalan Kolonel Atmo No. 16 17 Ilir, Ilir Timur, Palembang, Indonesia. I stayed at Ayola Sentosa Palembang in Palembang, South Sumatra. I booked online at the rate of 392,931 IDR ($24.23 USD) per night, […]
Notes on Rantau Prapat, and a rant about Google, Tripadvisor, KAI, and Tourism Indonesia
Rantau Prapat is a city in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Its main claim to fame is that it’s at the end of a railway line, which was what brought me there. There are things to do outside the city, but you wouldn’t know it from the railway website or Tourism Indonesia. And I’m going to rant […]
