Photos Story of North Sumatera

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You'll feel the atmosphere of North Sumatera while looking to the pictures and hear the music!!

Home to a diverse array of cultures and a fascinating kaleidescope of Indonesian life, the region of North Sumatra has many wonders to explore. North Sumatra’s specacular natural beauty spreads from the magnificent Lake Toba, the biggest lake in Southeast Asia, to the jungle of Bukit Lawang which organgutans make their home. The natural and cultural wonders here make this is a region to come and have a true adventure.

The people of this region can be divided into five main ethnic groups and languages: The coastal Malays, living along the Malaka Straits, the Bataks, the Angkola or Mandailing of the southern Tapanuli, and the Nias Islanders off the western coast of the province. These groups each have their own dialects, religious beliefs, arts, custom and cultures. Several other ethnic groups also live in Medan and other towns of North Sumatra, the largest of these being Chinese and Indian.

In the capital city of Medan there are ethnic tribes from all over Sumatra and Indonesia who’ve come to the city to do business. The city is also home to a sizeable Chinese and Indian population.

For those who want to embrace exotic cuisine, North Sumatra offers unusual dishes including with ingredients like dog, congealed blood and pig. You can easily find those in certain restaurants, just ask around.

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My days in North Sumatra was started in Medan, the home for vast number of delicious foods. I recommend you to try as many foods as possible here, especially because the foods here have the touch of various ethnic tastes. Try to Google these foods and find those which match with your tongue (also some of the foods contain pork. If you are Muslim you have to care more about the foods in North Sumatra. They actually name the restaurant "Muslim Restaurant" if they do not serve pork.):

Arsik
Lappet
Lemang
Sayur Ubi Daun Tumbuk  (cassava leaves)
Powul-powul & Ombus-Ombus
Badak drink
Mie Gomak (Gomak Noodle)
Bika Ambon
Kacang Sihobuk (Sihobuk Nut)
Naniura ( Indonesian "sushi" with ancient recipe)
Saksang
Bolu Meranti
Sirup Markisa 
Durian Medan
Fried Pork
Es Campur Medan, Es Sekoteng, Kolak Dingin,  (kinds of  sweet cold drink mixed with fruits and jelly)
Kembang Gula
          
There are also many Chinese foods which tastes very delicious. Fried rice, Bakmi pangsit, Capcay, Kwetiauw, Siomay, Soybean Sauce Pork and many more. You may find these foods in many places in Indonesia, but Medan Chinese are known the best in serving these foods.

Making Lemang

Lemang of Siantar

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After in Medan for 2 days, I went to Siantar, stayed 1 night there, then I went to Silaen. This is the village of my mother's clan, Silaen Clan. I had prepared my camera since this village is quite unique. They keep the traditional houses and foods, also the tradition, since it is the center of a clan.

a cemetery's cross

mud-bathing buffalo

I didn't take too many pictures here, since the houses conditions was not as good as I had expected. I still got a lot of places to visit so I thought I could find the houses elsewhere.

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The town of Parapat is the main tourist resort and lies on the very shore of Lake Toba. This lake is about 50 miles long and 16 miles across, with a depth of about 1,400 feet. In Parapat live Batak Toba and Batak Simalungun tribes, and are happy and easy going people. They are known for their lively and sentimental love songs.Recreational sports in Parapat are among others swimming, water skiing, motor boating, canoeing, fishing. Golf is at Sally golf course (19 holes), about 5 km from Parapat. Parapat is 176 from Medan and can be reached in 4 hours by bus. The climate in Parapat is cool and dry, making Parapat an ideal place to relax. Many hotels, bungalows, villas, rest-houses welcome visitors. Small shops sell souvenirs such as Ulos (local woven cloths) and specific fruits locally grown.

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I took many photos in parapat :)

A Rice Field Near Lake Toba

My sister, play self paddle "kiddle ride" boats.

 There are various kind of water games you can play in Parapat, such as water scooters,speed boat rides, private boat to Batu Gantung (hanging rock), Tomok or Tuktuk, Self paddle "kiddle ride" boats, banana boat and many more. You also have many other options in Parapat. You can go to Sipiso-Piso Waterfall, shopping at the market, take photos at Penatapan or Simalam Garden (quite far) or simply go swimming in Lake Toba.

 

Parapat Mango

The mango is good. Don't forget about Kacang Sihobuk (Sihobuk Nut), a production from my clan's village, Tarutung. It is great, and you can simply find it in Parapat.

One thing I don't really like from this town is the lack of hospitality, and they are quite opportunist. The people will give a very high price and you may ask them to lower the price even more than 50%. Be careful with the balance, also you should be careful with the mango or your food. you might get the bad ones and not fresh anymore. The lakeside also full with inns and hotels. The place is very commercial and lost the beauty itself. there should be a free, beautiful place for people, as the lake was made freely to human. Also the seller should have the mindset that people should get the service and goods appropriate with the money they pay. deceit will bring more harm than good.

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there's an Island in the middle of Lake Toba, named Samosir Island.I can say that the hotels and inns in this island has a better tourist management than those hotels in Parapat. The island is the home of various history sites and museums of Bataknese cultures. You can take great pictures from every corner of the island, but unfortunately, the weather was bad when I was in Samosir, and it was late in evening. So I can't show you the scenery. There are places to visit in Samosir, and obviously the best view is in Tuktuk. The view is great. You can see the lake beyond the lake from the hill (a lake in the  corner of Samosir Island which is beyond the Lake Toba). But this place is very dangerous in the  rainy time because of the slippery road and landslide hazard.

Samuel Bakery

There's a small bakery in Samosir, named Samuel Bakery. It's just like in the middle of nowhere, when the people are looking for fishes and working in rice field, this family make a fine taste of bread. The bread was made by a German, who marry local woman and make the bakery there. Try the breads, you'll have local taste and view, and soft, warm and fine quality of bread.

Fishing!!

Fishing may be a nice option in Samosir. But don't hope too much. I think the fishes are clever, and very hard to get. I took canoe and fished for about 2 hours, and get nothing. Instead, I just fished at the Inn's fishing pool, and I got plenty of fishes. But I regret nothing because the view from canoe was beautiful (and I didn't bring my camera in the canoe of course). I could see the waterfall from the hill to Lake Toba, flying birds, and fresh air.

Coin Collector

They are skillful swimmers and divers. Throw coins anywhere and they will collect them. You can also wrap a small rock with paper money and they will also collect it happily.

Sunrise in Samosir, My favorite picture

 

Yes, this one is my favorite, and I were very disappointed because of the cloud! I woke up early and I know I could get better picture than this. But, this one still my favorite.

Sigale-gale is a statue made of wood. It is a kind of  statue as a handicraft of Batak people from North Tapanuli in Sumatera. This Sigale-gale doll, driven by ropes that connected to the various parts of the doll that controlled by the player.

Bataknese Symbol

There are two symbols describe the ideology of ancient Batak. Gecko, it means that Bataknese should be able to adapt in any conditions and places, as gecko do. Breasts, it describes old Bataknese view point that the definition of beautiful woman was those who have big breasts, because they believe the women would be able to take care of their children.

 

market

merchandise

Don't forget to buy merchandise and traditional Ulos here. Yes, the condition is the same as Parapat, no one use label. If you are international tourist and looked rich, they might have unreasonable price for you. If you are interested, don't hesitate to ask for a lower price, especially if you want to buy many merchandises in one store.


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