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Padang ??

 
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jaksamania



Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Posts: 14
Location: U.S. Embassy - Jalan Merdeka Selatan

PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:31 am    Post subject: Padang ?? Reply with quote

I have just been recently offered a job in Padang Sumatra. Any body have any experience or information about the city?
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malu



Joined: 22 Apr 2007
Posts: 1344
Location: Sunny Java

PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I lived there 4 years ago and still visit occasionally.

Padang itself is a bit grubby like most provincial cities but you don't have to go far to find lush greenery. It is searingly hot - partly because the air is so clear, so bring your sunblock - and at the time I was there this wasn't helped by frequent power cuts that would knock out my air-con for a couple of hours at a time.

The area is quite literally a breath of fresh air after Jakarta, the prevailing wind comes off the Indian Ocean and only very rarely swings round the other way to bring smoke from the pillaged forests of Riau.

It isn't a very cosmopolitan kind of place so don't expect to find much western food in the supermarkets or shoes larger than size 43. Expect a few Hello Mister's.
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Pale



Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 29

PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of my preferred cities in Indonesia. With that said, it's not pretty. But it's quite compact, has eveything you need and is relatively uncrowded. Best of all, there's some relaxed, cooler places within a 2-3 hour drive such as Bukitinggi and Danau Maninjau. It's also an ideal location if your into surfing, with some world class surf breaks around such as the Mentawais. Oh, and the women there are the most beautiful in Indonesia. All in my opinion of course Razz
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alc



Joined: 14 Dec 2008
Posts: 55

PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:28 pm    Post subject: language schools? Reply with quote

I'm sorry this doesn't answer the original question. Do any of you know of language schools other than EF that are located in Padang? I liked the city and location when I visited a few years ago. Thanks!
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malu



Joined: 22 Apr 2007
Posts: 1344
Location: Sunny Java

PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The EF is no longer an EF. Their franchise ran out recently and it seems they have decided to become an independent. Same owners, different logo. Don't know any more details - just found out from a friend in Padang.
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missjo



Joined: 23 Dec 2008
Posts: 15
Location: Jkt

PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have some background knowledge/experience of the old EF set up in Padang. If you need further details please PM me.
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jaksamania



Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Posts: 14
Location: U.S. Embassy - Jalan Merdeka Selatan

PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the information. Luckily I have been offered a job by Universitas Andalas as an English instructor for six months and not by any of English school there. Btw, any idea why EF Padang was closed? Always interesting to discuss about EF Laughing
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malu



Joined: 22 Apr 2007
Posts: 1344
Location: Sunny Java

PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jaksamania wrote:
Btw, any idea why EF Padang was closed? Always interesting to discuss about EF Laughing


Their 5 year franchise ran out and they decided not to renew it. They presumably thought the franchise fees were too expensive.
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toddumptious



Joined: 08 May 2009
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 11:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The school is now called Elite English Institute. Same owner and some of the same staff, but they come and go quite often as conditions aren't great there.
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laughing_magpie06



Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 282

PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2009 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm a man in touch with human nature and really love orang utans so this region of the world really appeals to me although i'm yet to visit it. My friends though have tried their best to put me off the idea by saying it is pretty fundamentalist islam and pretty hard to find a cold beer anywhere. Any truth in this? To be honest I would have said anywhere outside of Bali can suffer that problem even many parts of Jakarta not frequented by expats. Any thoughts guys / girls?
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malu



Joined: 22 Apr 2007
Posts: 1344
Location: Sunny Java

PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 10:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's a Muslim area but they are traditional Minangkabau Muslims not the wahabi types you might encounter around Jabotabek. Most eateries close during the day in Ramadhan though some do operate but behind screens or curtains. It is considered very bad form indeed to eat or drink outdoors at this time.

Finding a cold Bintang is never a problem. Fellas on Jl Dipo is a popular bar while virtually any Chinese owned warung keeps a few bottles in the fridge. The Muaro and Pondok areas of Padang are very Chinese indeed and there is also a western owned but overpriced surfie hotel on the old harbourside.
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