Pilgrimage and Maritime Tourism in Ulakan Pariaman

Visiting Pariaman means seeing a lot of tourism sites. Being located by Samudera Hindia makes Pariaman famous of its wondrous beach. There is Pantai Gondoriah which is close to Pariaman City and well-known of its specific food, Nasi Sek. Moving further 15 KM to northern side are locations of Pantai Kata, Lubuk Bonta, Tapian Puti dan various beautiful tourism objects.
Besides those beaches, Pariaman has other worth seeing places; Pulau Piai and other religious tourism objects in Ulakan, Pariaman. Pulau Piai itself has fabulous natural resources with beautiful coral beneath. No wonder many tourists enjoy diving there. Not much further, there is Ulakan located around 10 KM from central Pariaman. The 1 KM-length beach is precious and has white clean sand.
Ulakan is also famous of a grave of Syekh Burhanudin, a very popular Islamic preacher in his times. It is known that he was a great moslem leader who successfully spread Islam around Sumatera Barat. His dedication resulted many followers and increased Islam spreading. He died in When he died, his burial took place in Ulakan.
Up to present, his legendary makes people want to visit his grave. People come there both for pilgrimage which is known as Basafa, and sight-seeing. Basafa procession is conducted annually based on Islamic calender, every Syafar.
Entering Syekh Burhanuddin’s grave yard will be welcome by street vendors selling pilgrimage stuffs, souvenirs and local food. Even the number of vendors are many more on Basafa days to greet visitors and expect benefit from them.
Those who come for Basyafa are usually from Syafei and Syatariah tuitions followers. But, according to community living around Ulakan, those from Naksabandiyah and Sammaniyah tuitions sometimes do the same thing there.
Visitors are normally 50 year-aged people.Their intention is not only for pilgrimage but to get their spiritual close to the Almighty.
In Syafar month, people can even stay in Ulakan for 40 days. They do not need to worry about homestay since there are Surau to stay which are only open in Syafar for visitors.
It is also known that some high rank officers came to Syekh Burhanuddin’s grave. There were Gus Dur, Wiranto, Taufik Kiemas, and many more. Uniquely, some local officers also pay a visit to the grave before a public election.
Syekh Burhanuddin was a moslem who believe in Syafei teachings and Syattariah. He was named Pono when he was a child. He learned about Islam to Syekh Abdul Alif. When Syekh Abdul Alif got old, he suggested him to learn more about Islam in Aceh to Syekh Abdul Ra’uf. He returned home and started teaching what he got in his home town before continue across West Sumatera Barat.
There are some historical stuffs he left and now become objects to see in Ulakan. Some of the sutuffs are clothes, belt, hat and Holly Quran which is assumed 200 year old. Those stuffs are safely kept in a cabinet of small surau. Visitor can only see them during Basyafa. Yuhendra

Pasar tanah kongsi, Shopping in Oriental Atmosphere

Morning has just broken. Like in every market in Padang, that morning Pasar Tanah Kongsi enliven by regular activities. While merchants arrange their stuffs, buyers come with investigating eyes selected vendors they are going to shop.

Unlike other markets, Pasar Tanah Kongsi has something different in atmosphere. Not because artificial sound of swallows from old houses around which are transformed into swallow nests, but sort stuffs being sold are pretty different from what we found in other ones.

Chinese food aroma from food vendors make it more distinguished. The aroma of Kwetiau, fried noodle, fride rice with oriental recipe get along with visitors. In addition to its oriental atmosphere, most of the buyers and the merchants are slanted-eyed people.

Going shopping to Pasar Tanah Kongsi can be easy by getting on public transport with route Gadut-Pasaraya which costs Rp1500 to Rp2000. The location is not far from Jalan HOS Cokroaminoto, or Simpang Pulau Karam.

The market which is the same age with Padang Old City usualy starts the crowds in early morning. It ends its activities around 11.00-12.00. The busyness could be seen when we start step in to Kali Kecik, the entrance of the market. Along Kali Kecik we can see old buildings with colonialism touch. The name of Kali Kecik comes after the small drainage behind those buldings.

Shopping in Pasar Tanah Kongsi gives particular comfort. It is not as wet and dirty as other satelite markets. Vegetables merchants offer are fresh which mostly used for chinese food. Fruits are fresh and various and some of them are imported and so are fishes and meat. Since they are fresh and in good quality, it does make sense the price is little bit higher than normal.

Since the market is located in Chinese area, any stuffs for chinese ceremony are easily found in shops there. Those who loves to have chinese ornaments or like to cook chinese food can satisfy their passion there.

Despites its chinese majority and its oriental atmosphere, buyers and merchants are interacial. Yet, the exsistance of the market gives different color of social life and contributes particular value in tourism.Yuhendra