Let's Visit Bengkulu City

Have you had a plan to spend your end-of-year holiday? If not, I will tell you one good option. You can get an exceptional and unforgettable journey, exploring my town, Bengkulu City. It is the Capital of Bengkulu Province, which is also a beautiful, plural, and friendly city. It is located on the west coast of Sumatra Island facing the Indian Ocean.

You are better off coming by air. You can depart from Jakarta via the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Some airlines such as Garuda Indonesia, Lion, Batik, Citylink, or Super Jet, can be an option. It takes around one hour to arrive at Fatmawati Airport in Bengkulu City. The schedules are routine every day. You can book the tickets from the early days.

Once you arrive in this city, you can stay at many budget hotels, widely spread throughout downtown, around thirty minutes from the airport. Many options can be considered, based on the cost, location, amenities, or comfort. Each hotel provides special services such as a restaurant, a swimming pool, or a balcony with beautiful scenery. For example, The Grage Hotel will give you a direct view of the Indian Ocean from its balconies. At the end of the day, you can see the beautiful sunset from there.

Indeed, the public transportation system here needs to be better. No routinely scheduled trains or buses connecting some places to others within the city area. But, you can use online taxis, such as Grab, Gojek, or Maxim, to go anywhere. The applications can be installed on your smartphone, and you do not have to wait long to go. The drivers have fast responses.

If you like to play in the sand, the best option is to go to Long Beach, the longest beach in Indonesia, which is 7 km long. Its sand is one of the best in the world. However, It is dangerous to swim there. So, if you want to play with the water sea, then you should go to Zakat Beach located in the north. Its water is so clear and pretty. Don't be afraid, the waves are safe. You can swim toward the ocean until tens of meters. Residents around the beach provide rented lifebuoys that help you swim in deep water. Besides, beach guards will always supervise you to ensure your safety.

Bengkulu City is a historical city. Some historical places still stand now, such as the Soekarno's Exile House, the Fatmawati (Soekarno's wife) House, the Tapak Padri, and the Marlborough Stronghold. The distance between each of them is pretty close. You can easily get to each place by using a low-cost online taxi. Many people usually take pictures there to make historical moments and memories.

When you feel tired and hungry after going around for a long day, many restaurants, from local to international, can be an option to get food. KFC, Pizza Hutt, McDonald's, and Higure Ramen are international restaurants located downtown and near scenic spots. Meanwhile, Kampoeng Pesisir and Marola serve local food that has a unique taste including seafood.