Medan, the capital of Northern Sumatra, is probably best known to tourists as the ideal jump-off point for a variety of popular tourist attractions in the area. Near it is Berastagi and Parapat, with its gorgeous falls and mountains as well as the spectacular Lake Toba.
Once reached Kualanamu International Airport, around 8.45am (local time), our tour guide welcome us and we start our journey to Parapat, Lake Toba (estimation 4- 5 hours).
Myself with our tour guide Jojo
On the way to Parapat, we stopped at Permantang Siantar, Paten Shop selling local junk food such as Teng Teng or Ting Ting.
Along the way to Parapat, you can see greeting board located at the road sight, beautiful to see and its different way of greeting people (used for wedding, birthday function and other occasion).
Hotel front view
Hotel side view
Sunset view
Lake Toba is a large natural lake occupying the caldera of a supervolcano. The lake is about 100 kilometres long, 30 kilometres wide, and up to 505 metres (1,666 ft) deep. Located in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, with a surface elevation of about 900 metres (2,953 ft).It is the largest lake in Indonesia and also the largest volcanic lake in the world.
Lake Toba is the site of a massive supervolcanic eruption estimated at VEI 8 that occurred 69,000 to 77,000 years ago,representing a climate-changing event. It is the largest known explosive eruption on Earth in the last 25 million years. According to the Toba catastrophe theory, it had global consequences for human populations: it killed most humans living at that time and is believed to have created a population bottleneck in central east Africa and India, which affects the genetic make up of the human world-wide population to the present.The subsequent collapse formed a caldera that, after filling with water, created Lake Toba. The island in the center of the lake is formed by a resurgent dome.
Map of Lake Toba
Hotel night view
Day 2
We start our journey morning 8am to Berastagi,along the way we went to Samosir Island, after our morning breakfast. Its take 20 minutes from our hotel to Tiga Raja harbor. Most of the tourist accommodations are concentrated in the small town of Tuktuk, which is located a one-hour ferry ride across the lake from the town of Parapat. The passenger ferry leaves from Tiga Raja harbor every hour between 8.30am and 7.00pm
Tiga Raja Harbor
Local kid performing diving stunt, tourist normally throw the coin to lake and they will dive and collect it
At 640 square kilometres (247 sq mi), Samosir is the largest island within an island, and the fifth largest lake island in the world.It also contains two smaller lakes, Lake Sidihoni and Lake Aek Natonang. Across the lake on the east from the island lies Uluan Peninsula. They are mainly the Batak people.
View to Samosir Island from our boat
Reached Tomok Village after 1 hour journey from Tiga Raja harbor by boat.
Samosir Island Jetty
The various Batak cultures differ in their pre-colonial religious ideas as they do in many other aspects of culture. Information about the old religious ideas of the Mandailing and Angkola in southern Batakland is incomplete, and very little is known about the religion of the Pakpak and Simalungun Batak
Tomok (Old Tomb) is a small village at Samosir Island, Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia. It is a one hour walk from Tuk-tuk. There are some beautiful traditional Batak houses to be found at Tomok. Furthermore, here you can find the grave of former king Sidabutar. Together with all the souvenir stalls, this tomb/sarcophagus is the main attraction of Tomok.
Newly appointed Ketua Penghulu Batak
As we made our way to Berastagi, we visited Simarjarunjung the peak hill.It takes 2 hour from Samosir Island to Simarjarunjung. Simarjarunjung hill famous for the so-called Bandrek ginger tea and comfort of fried banana (goreng pisang).I really enjoy the atmosphere of the hill while enjoying afternoon tea.
Simarjarunjung Bar and Restaurant
View from Simarjarunjung Hill
After spending 30 minutes in Simarjarunjung Bar and Restaurant, we continue our journey to Sipiso-piso waterfall.Saw a large fish along the way. It's not open to public but the owner built it as there is a legend about a large fish which goes something like this (very condensed version of what I remembered the guide telling me)
"A young man caught a large fish and was happy to have caught it for food. As he brought it back, the fish spoke to him and begged him to release it and that his wishes will come true. At that point, he was pursuing a love interest but the girl wasn't interested in him. So the fish told him he would meet a beautiful woman who would love and marry him.
Confused, he walked out of the house and when he returned, he was greeted by a beautiful woman. The fish had turned into the woman. She cautioned him that he should never tell anyone that she was originally a fish otherwise a disaster beyond his imagination will occur.
Well, they got married and had a kid. One day the kid, who's duty was to bring his father his lunch, forgot. By the time he arrived, the father was extremely angry and scolded him, "You really are a son of a fish!".Of course the wife found out and wept so much that the lake begin to fill with her tears. Hence the birth of Lake Toba"
The fish structure
View from Sipiso-Piso waterfall
Sipiso-Piso Waterfall
After long journey, manage to reached Berastagi around 6.00pm local time,check in the hotel and put our baggage inside the room.My wife suggested to have a walk around Bukit Kubu Berastagi area.Really awesome view of wide greenish area.
Trumpet flower you may find it everywhere in Medan and gave such a wonderfully strong fragrance
We start our jouney 9.00am after taking our breakfast at Hotel Horison, I strongly recommend don't choose this hotel since its near to highway, noisy sound with vehicle cross by and mosquito disturbance. Our tour guide bring us to Bukit Gundaling, its about 15 minutes from our hotel.
Gundaling hill is one of the attractions in Berastagi , which is approximately 3 km from the city center Berastagi.Hill which has a height of 1575 above sea level , this is very convenient as a family recreation.From the top of this hill we can also enjoy the panoramic view of the volcano Sibayak and Sinabung.To achieve this hill can be done on foot or using sado. On this hill there is a beautiful garden, a place for recreation and sports facilities for the footpath around the hilltop Gundaling.
Local shop street
Horse riding
Mount Sinabung is the name of a mountain plateau in Karo,Karo District,of North Sumatra.Along Sinabung, Sibayak nearby are two active volcanoes in North Sumatra.With an altitude of 2,460 meters, the mountain becomes the highest peak in North Sumatra.
Mt Sinabungan
Mt Sibayak
Taman Alam Lumbini is located in the village of Tongkoh , District Dolatrayat , at the foot of Mount Sibayak with air comfortable, cool and quiet atmosphere . The name " Lumbini " itself is the name of a place at the foot of the Himalayas ( Nepal region ) where Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born and will become Buddha.The main attraction Taman Alam Lumbini is a replica of Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar
We continue our journey to Medan town, we took our lunch in one of the medan restaurant.Once done with our lunch, our tour guide bring us to Maimun Palace.Its Built in 1888, Istana Maimun Palace is one of the two Medan landmarks considered to be part of the legacy of Deli Sultan Makmun Al Rasyid Perkasa Alamsyah, with the other building known as the Great Mosque. Commonly known as Maimoon or Maimun Palace, it has become a top tourist destination not only for its age but also because of the remarkable ancient architecture and interior design, combining the styles of Islam, Italian, Indian and Spanish with an added Malayan cultural element.
New King and Queen?
Our next destination visiting to Vihara Gunung Timur.This monastery was founded jointly and mutual cooperation by Buddhists in Medan.Besides being a place of worship for Buddhists , the temple is also famous as a place visiting in Medan.At the entrance to the monastery,looked ornate statues of lions and dragons that characterizes Chinese ethnic.When entered into the temple,there is a place for worship, decorated with incense and candles.
While predominantly occupied by Muslim's, Chinese and Indians, one unique place of worship in Medan, Indonesia is the catholic shrine of Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni. Built in 2005 in the district of Sunggal, it is dedicated to this specific Saint, who was made popular by an apparition in India in the 17th Century. Also known as the Temple of Our Lady of Good Health, it is a unique church, a replica of the church found in Tamil Nadu, India that is a well-known spot for Medan pilgrimage among Catholics.The construction of the church was led by Father James Bharataputra S.J, an Indian priest, which explains its remarkable Indo-Mogul architecture. Built with an Indonesian touch, it appears more like a Hindu temple than a church. The tower already attracts lots of attention when viewed from the main road. The church of Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni is currently the second most significant pilgrimage in entire Asia.
The view as you enter the gates
This carving flanking the entrance
Our final destination, Maha Vihara Maitreya a huge Buddhist temple.Its began to be established in 1991 on a land of 4.5 hectares at the complex Cemara Asri , Jalan Boulevard North , Medan , but only inaugurated in August 2008. Maha Vihara Maitreya still relatively young age Maha Vihara is using the name Maitreya , Buddha Maitreya were elevated because of the teachings of universal love that is taught to the Buddhists.This place also visited countless crowded as the main special place of worship . However , the atmosphere there was very quiet and peaceful so as to make the atmosphere becomes more solemn worship.
With completing all medan visiting place and battling the terrific jam in Medan, finally we reached Hotel Tiara around 8.00pm local time.
In summary, if I were to do this again, will stay an extra day in Berastagi to walk around the town which looked quite interesting as it whizzed past the van window and definitely stay a couple of days in Lake Toba and explore the island a bit more.
