Market
Padangpanjang is a great alternative market if you find bukittinggi too intense and huge to navigate in. sunday is the big market day. find the aisle in the main undercover building where rows of women dish up dollops of sweet pudding of many varieties. the seated women, each one a matriarch with warmth and goodwill, offer a little respite from the market buzz and sell sell sell while eating these pudding pots, find a stool to park your bum in mama's circle. each one has only one combo to serve so just nod and point - most ingredients are the same just configured differently - glutinous rice or rice flour and coconut milk and sugar, coconut flesh or maybe banana or other toppings and red palm sugar syrup - very cheap, and comforting. stay until you feel ready to face the frenzy again.
