Sunday, April 19, 2009

The 44 turns

Maninjau is two hours from the aiport in Padang. About one hour of this is spent doing hairpin turns.


Well, that's how it feels, anyway. The lake is in a volcanic crater so the journey up or down is, shall we say, rather steep. The road is famous for its 44 turns. You do switchback after switchback until everyone in the car is turning green and queasy.


Just when you've almost convinced yourself there can only be three or four turns left, you realize some cigarette company has put up a numbered sign at every switchback. And you realize you actually have fifteen to go. Thanks, cigarette company! No wonder everybody loves you guys!


The views of the lake do offer some consolation, though.

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