Enjoyable 4 a.m. wake-up calls

My travel guide warned me that the Hotel Asia in Bukittinggi in West Sumatra has lovely, clean rooms, but also a lot of noise from the street. Though I was able to fall asleep with the sounds of cruising cars and motorcycles, what caught me off guard was the call to prayer at 4:45 this morning.

Before I fully awoke, I remember my dream taking an interesting turn, and an Arab singer starting to make an appearance. Then, once I become aware of my hotel room and the darkness still seeping in the window, I listened gleefully, while somewhat groggy, to the sound of the nearest Masjid letting devout Muslims known that it is now morning and it is time to pray.

Though many tourists head straight to Bali (which is actually a Hindu island), those who travel to one of the other 17,000 islands will see signs of Indonesia’s Islamic influence. In fact, Indonesia is the largest Islamic country in the world. It is easy to miss this particular fact, while hidden in plain view, but for those looking, Islamic culture is quite ubiquitous.

With Sumatra being one of the less developed and less visited islands, much of the rich culture is still untainted and abundant, especially in the west. On drives from one city to the next, onlookers will see Mosques of all shapes and sizes peering out from behind the rich greenery that defines the island.

Children donning hijabs and prayer caps skip gleefully from their madressas, playing like children from any country around the globe. And much like my 4 a.m. wake up call, five times per day, wherever you are, a chorus of different calls to prayer become audible, meshing with the sounds of unadulterated jungle and motorists whizzing by.

Though Sumatra is a great place to visit for jungle treks and immaculate beaches, the vibrant Indonesian Islamic culture is a bonus for interested travelers. Make sure to do some research beforehand on Islam, and take the time to fully immerse in a culture that is often times misunderstood in the west.