Some say that West Sumatra has some of the most flavorful foods in the world. You can tell a lot about an environment based on the food that they eat (and I sure had a lot to say during our conversation on food). In past entries, we've dived into the Indonesian world of food and spices. But where does it all come from? What does this country look like? Just imagine damp green ivy and trees.
The environment here is quite dazzling because no matter where you are in West Sumatra, you can access mountains, lakes, jungle, and even the ocean in about an hour!
West Sumatra in particular contains a very strong farming community, heavily influenced by the Minang Kabau (or buffalo). As I mentioned in the log-book blog, the traditional people of West Sumatra call themselves the Minang Kabau, after the baby buffalo who defeated the angry bull of an invading kingdom from the east. That is why most of their buildings have the stylish "horned" roofs!
In addition to the the Kabau, should you wander in the jungle instead of the rice paddies, you''' be sure to find the well known Sumatran tiger. They tend to live deep in the mountainous jungle, away from people.
