Pekanbaru
Pekanbaru, or "New Market", was officially established in 1784. The city's history can be traced back to a small village called "Payung Sekaki", which was founded by the Senapelan tribe. Sultan Abdul Jalil Alamuddin Syah, the fourth Sultan of Siak, made Senapelan the central seat of the Siak Kingdom. Under his reign, commercial activities flourished and a pekan, or market was needed to cater to increasing trade. After the Sultan's death, his son, Prince Regent Muhammed Ali, further pursued the establishing of a market center at Pekanbaru.
Pekanbaru is now the capital of the Riau province and is home to a variety of different ethnic groups. Around 900,000 people live in the city, the majority of whom are of Riau Malay or Minangkabau ethnicity.
Pekanbaru's streets are crowded with motorcycles, oplets, pedestrians, and street vendors peddling a variety of wares. You'll see young people dressed in the latest fashions and women wearing headscarves. In the market, people bargain with stall-owners for the best possible prices while loud, Western music contrasts with the call to prayer.
Take a walk through Pekanbaru now by selecting one of the sites above.