Check out the cheap travel agents for flights to Jakarta, about S$160 student; then from Jakarta take the train with through connections on the ferry across the Sunda Strait, then straight up to Palembang, South Sumatra. Or take the Pelni boat from Jakarta, Rp10,000 deck, to Padang, West Sumatra. Another way from Singapore is take a launch (S$40) 4 hours to Tanjung Pinang Island. From this small island board a boat to Pekanbaru, East Sumatra, for around Rp3600. From Pekanbaru, it's only 6-8 hours by bus to Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. From Tg. Pinang you can also board the Pelni ship on Wed. for Medan, North Sumatra; costs about Rp13,000. from Malaysia: Many prefer to enter Sumatra from the north at Medan so that they can travel the island lengthwise, continue on to Java and Bali, and exit finally out of Jakarta to Singapore; this itinerary fits nicely into the usual 3 month allotted visa. Penang is S$24-27 (SS2.46 = US$1) from Singapore on the train. In Penang, stay at Pin Seng Hotel, 82 Love Lane, M$7.35 (M$2.48 = US$1) single; an OK place. Or at the New Asia Hotel at 110 Rope Walk; double rooms, M$10.50, a real palace and more central, only 2 minutes walk to the Prangin Road Bus Station. The best cheapie in Telok Bahang is Miss Low's, M$1.50 per head, but clear out by the first Sat. of every month when immigration officials sweep through using SS police tactics at 1 am, stamping S.H.I.T. (Suspected Hippy in Transit) in your passport, giving you 72 hours to get out of the country. From the Prangin Road Bus Station in Penang, take Bus 66 out to the airport for M65C. Each day either a Merpati or MAS flight departs Penang at 8:55 am, takes 20 minutes to Medan, costs 14,500 (US$36) plus M$5 airport tax. Perentis Lines, 165 Victoria St., Penang, has a boat across for Rp8000, but is less reliable; takes 1 night. There are also charcoal boats from Melaka to Dumai, East Sumatra, for around M$30; takes 1 day.