Born in Rumbai

[cjfleck]

Hi, I am brand new on this forum. I was born in Rumbai in 1958. I have not been there since 1959. My wife and I would like to visit next year. Any thoughts on where, when to go? I would like to see the teeny tiny village my parents told me about but I expect it has grown exponentially in the last 65 years.

We will fold in this visit to a tour of some sort around the island to see my homeland.

Thanks!

Chris

 

[ilovered]

Rumbai Pekanbaru or where?

 

[cjfleck]

Yes - Rumbai. (Near Pekanbaru)

 

[ilovered]

You have to go this year as next year we have presidential election. The way things are going now, s**t might hit the fan sooner than later.
The election will be held on next year's valentine's day.

If you can't do it this year, then somewhere after June/July next year should be safe enough. Should be.

 

[vocalneal]

I suspect that after 65 years your small village will have been absorbed by Pekanbaru. Since I lived about 75 kms from PB there is now a toll road to Dumai!
A bit further north about 500 kms Lake Toba is worth a look/stay. https://maps.app.goo.gl/epZJ8SBr1DGihqok6

Nearer PB Siak is worth an hour. https://maps.app.goo.gl/bEvDJwnqxv6A6Dpg8

 

[gemima]

Hi, I am brand new on this forum. I was born in Rumbai in 1958. I have not been there since 1959. My wife and I would like to visit next year. Any thoughts on where, when to go? I would like to see the teeny tiny village my parents told me about but I expect it has grown exponentially in the last 65 years.

We will fold in this visit to a tour of some sort around the island to see my homeland.

Thanks!

Chris

No time like the present to organize a trip. I met a friend of mine over the weekend who's aunt was born here in one of the Japanese camps, she was lucky to survive and leave Indonesia and enjoyed her first visit back here for 6 weeks recently (she is in her 80s now). It sounds like the trip was very meaningful and its sad she never had a chance to come when she was a little younger and more mobile.
In most places in Indonesia you just need to find a driver or a local travel agency to arrange private tours so I recommend you look for a travel agency based in Sumatra (I dont have any recommendations - sorry). Check prices with multiple agencies to make sure they arent overcharging you.

 

[tehtelor]

Hi, I am brand new on this forum. I was born in Rumbai in 1958. I have not been there since 1959. My wife and I would like to visit next year. Any thoughts on where, when to go? I would like to see the teeny tiny village my parents told me about but I expect it has grown exponentially in the last 65 years.

We will fold in this visit to a tour of some sort around the island to see my homeland.

Thanks!

Chris

Hi Chris. Have you had the chance to visit Rumbai yet? I'm currently living in Pekanbaru, and Rumbai is just 8km away from my place, and about 15km from Pekanbaru airport. It seems to have transformed into a bustling city, quite crowded and accessible by various vehicles, mostly private since public transport isn't available.
I've seen some old photos of the Rumbai bridge in a heritage house here; maybe from around the time you were born. It's one of the iconic landmarks of this city. And oh my landlord is a retired midwife from Chevron Rumbai Hospital, maybe she was one of the doctor's assistants during your birth If you ever visit, I'd be happy to introduce you to her.
Anytime of the year it's nice, but I particularly nervous every August-September when the rains lessen, hope there won't be any forest fire smoke. I've had a couple of bad experiences with that in the past.
I usually head to the Rumbai area every weekend for outdoor activities; there's an 'artificial lake' and a mini forest nearby. What's the name of your village? I'd love to help collect memories from there.

 

[cjfleck]

No time like the present to organize a trip. I met a friend of mine over the weekend who's aunt was born here in one of the Japanese camps, she was lucky to survive and leave Indonesia and enjoyed her first visit back here for 6 weeks recently (she is in her 80s now). It sounds like the trip was very meaningful and its sad she never had a chance to come when she was a little younger and more mobile.
In most places in Indonesia you just need to find a driver or a local travel agency to arrange private tours so I recommend you look for a travel agency based in Sumatra (I dont have any recommendations - sorry). Check prices with multiple agencies to make sure they arent overcharging you.

Thanks Bob! I’m just now looking on this site for the 1st time in months. Do you know if there are hotels or guesthouses in Rumbai?

 

[cjfleck]

Hi Chris. Have you had the chance to visit Rumbai yet? I'm currently living in Pekanbaru, and Rumbai is just 8km away from my place, and about 15km from Pekanbaru airport. It seems to have transformed into a bustling city, quite crowded and accessible by various vehicles, mostly private since public transport isn't available.
I've seen some old photos of the Rumbai bridge in a heritage house here; maybe from around the time you were born. It's one of the iconic landmarks of this city. And oh my landlord is a retired midwife from Chevron Rumbai Hospital, maybe she was one of the doctor's assistants during your birth If you ever visit, I'd be happy to introduce you to her.
Anytime of the year it's nice, but I particularly nervous every August-September when the rains lessen, hope there won't be any forest fire smoke. I've had a couple of bad experiences with that in the past.
I usually head to the Rumbai area every weekend for outdoor activities; there's an 'artificial lake' and a mini forest nearby. What's the name of your village? I'd love to help collect memories from there.

Hi Tehtelor, I am just now looking at this site after several months. It is great you are so close and visit Rumbai. I do not know what the village might be - all I know is Rumbai. If you landlord was involved in my birth, she would be quite old as I was born 1958. Do you know if there are hotels or guesthouses there? I have not been able to find any. I thought we would have to stay in Pekanbaru and hire a driver to take us to and from Rumbai. Also, we would like to see some of the jungle and wildlife. Is it nearby? Our guidebooks are not helpful!
thanks!

 

[cjfleck]

Hi Tehtelor, I am just now looking at this site after several months. It is great you are so close and visit Rumbai. I do not know what the village might be - all I know is Rumbai. If you landlord was involved in my birth, she would be quite old as I was born 1958. Do you know if there are hotels or guesthouses there? I have not been able to find any. I thought we would have to stay in Pekanbaru and hire a driver to take us to and from Rumbai. Also, we would like to see some of the jungle and wildlife. Is it nearby? Our guidebooks are not helpful!
thanks!

I left out our travel dates - late May this year is when we are planning to be there. Only for a few days though.

 

[harryopal1]

If you enter Rumbai Indonesia into google and then click "maps" it will open with the map and photos which you can peruse. You can then, if you wish, use the map page to go down to street level and virtually travel along the streets . If you then enter "accommodation" with the map page open you will find dozens of accommodation options.

 

[cjfleck]

Thank you, Harry!

Chris

 

[Ruserious]

Also, we would like to see some of the jungle and wildlife

Pretty sure all the jungle there was chopped down and turned into palm oil plantations.

 

[cjfleck]

Pretty sure all the jungle there was chopped down and turned into palm oil plantations.

And - maybe further out? Thanks

 

[cjfleck]

And - maybe further out? Thanks

That was supposed to be 'dang' not 'and'. silly auto correct and not proof reading!
Chris

 

[Shadrach]

Pretty sure all the jungle there was chopped down and turned into palm oil plantations.

Sad but true! The Mountains and the Animals are Crying! Greedy Humans must be Stopped!!!

 

[tehtelor]

Hi Tehtelor, I am just now looking at this site after several months. It is great you are so close and visit Rumbai. I do not know what the village might be - all I know is Rumbai. If you landlord was involved in my birth, she would be quite old as I was born 1958. Do you know if there are hotels or guesthouses there? I have not been able to find any. I thought we would have to stay in Pekanbaru and hire a driver to take us to and from Rumbai. Also, we would like to see some of the jungle and wildlife. Is it nearby? Our guidebooks are not helpful!
thanks!

Hi. Looks like she wasn’t the person I thought, she was born in 1944.
As far as I know, there are a few rumah kost (rental rooms) around the Rumbai area, usually for students and workers. But if you want something more accessible, there are a few hotels right by the Rumbai bridge that connects the city to Rumbai.

For wildlife, I only saw elephants and wild monkeys a bit further out in Minas. And yeah, sadly they were in the middle of palm oil plantations and rubber trees.

 

[tehtelor]

I left out our travel dates - late May this year is when we are planning to be there. Only for a few days though.

I just see this forum now. Alright.Just let me know if you need any help or anything.

 

[vocalneal]

there are a few hotels right by the Rumbai bridge that connects the city to Rumbai.

I've stayed many times at the Mutiara Hotel. It is adequate. You can then walk over the bridge if that is your thing. I would take a Grab or Gojek.

 

[tehtelor]

I've stayed many times at the Mutiara Hotel. It is adequate. You can then walk over the bridge if that is your thing. I would take a Grab or Gojek.

I mean the other new bridge, Siak 4. There are a few hotels nearby, Jatra Hotel or Grand Zuri, and they have airport transfers, so it's easier.

Taking a GrabCar is probably more convenient if you're just going to one place that you're already familiar with. But if you're looking to revisit childhood memories, I think it's worth spending a bit of time around the Rumbai area.

@vocalneal Do you live in Pekanbaru? Maybe we can catch up sometime..