LAKE TOBA AND SAMOSIR ISLAND: THE BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF SUMATRA

Batak Samosir clan lives at Samosir Island, Lake Toba, Sumatra

World famous is the crater Toba Lake in the Batak highlands; approximately five hours drive from Medan. Toba Lake is the largest lake in South East Asia and also one of the most spectacular, surrounded by tall mountains and with the large island of Samosir in the middle. If we descend from the mountain we see the lake glittering in all its beauty. The Dutch writer Rudy Kousbroek even called Toba Lake, 'the most beautiful place on earth'. Most visitors stay on the peninsula of Tuk Tuk on Samosir, named after the linguist Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk. In general people stay several days on Samosir to discover the island, to visit traditional Batak villages, to swim in the lake and go to the hot springs in Pangururan.
The centerpiece of North Sumatra, Lake Toba's bracing climate and magnificent panoramas clear the mind and soothe the soul. For decades a magnet from regional and foreign visitors alike, Toba has developed into a full-featured highland resort while retaining the rustic charm and relaxed ambiance that define Toba's attraction. Formed by a stupendous prehistoric volcanic explosion, the 100 km long lake is the largest in Southeast Asia and one of the deepest and the highest in the world. The drama of that cataclysmic birth persist in 500 meter cliffs dropping into the blue-green waters, surrounded by steep, pine covered sloped, the climate is fresh and pleasant, with just enough rain to support the lush vegetation.

Toba Lake is a 100kms x 30kms volcanic lake in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Toba Lake has become one of the main tourist attractions for a long time in North Sumatra apart from Bukit Lawang and Nias, visited by both domestic and foreign tourist.

THE LEGEND OF SAMOSIR ISLAND AND LAKE TOBA




In first time, before Lake Toba exist, Toba area are consist of mountain and valey with small river.

In that time live young man and the name is Toba and he work as a fisherman. One day Toba go to the river, for all day fishing but not one fish he get. Desperate cause it sunset and Toba throw his fishhook to the water, he was shock when he does get one fish a big one (Cyprinus carpio). With proudly he bring the fish and wanna go home.

But Toba shock when the fish talk to him said "Don;t bring to your home to eat me, but only keep me in the house in middle of farm, and you come again after three days". Toba surprise to look the fish can talk and doing what the fish said to him.

After three days, he goes to the farm and get in to the house, Toba really shock he show a beautiful lady with long hair not a fish. Surprised Toba ask the lady "Who are you and what are you doing in this house ??", and the lady said "My name is Nauli, Princess of water, sending by God to be human.".

And Toba persuade the girl to be his wife. The girl said "I want to be your wife but you must promise. Whatever and what happen to our family in the next, that you will not said that i am a fish and if you broken i will return and back to my first time being a fish". Toba agree that he will keep promised. They have married and live in that house.

For daily needed they do farming. And they are happy family. Not for long time they have one child and give the name Samosir.

One day when Samosir bring a lunch to his father at farm, Samosir have accident, he down and the food droped, now the food already dirty. But Samosir collecting all the food back and bring to his father. After arrived, Samosir call his father to get lunch, but he affraid to tell him the he get accident before he go to farm and the food was dirty.

When his father opened, he surprise Samosir bring a dirty food. And he angry to Samosir and said "Cause your are kid from fish, you bring to me dirty food.", Samosir crying that his father angry to him, and he go back his mom and make a report. Nauli crying too when her son Samosir tell to her. Nauli sad to Toba he broken promise, and Nauli hugging her son Samosir and tell him that all is true.

Nauli order Samosir to go to highland, this is consequence if your father Samosir broken his promise, i will return back as a fish. After Samosir already in highland, Nauli pray wishes God bring she return back, and the rain coming make flood in Toba area and it become Lake. Nauli was back to her life as a fish. And the lake become Lake Toba and highland where samosir going become Samosir Island.

Source legend and Lake Toba image: http://www.samosirtourism.com

PADANG: WEST SUMATERA

Padang is the capital of West Sumatra. The town is quite nice and deserves a longer visit. The main sights in the city include Adityawarman Museum (close to the bus station) in a traditional Minangkabau house and featuring a good collection of antiques and the cultural center where we can see traditional dances on Sundays. It is an arts institute, which often stages Minang dance and pencak silat (martial arts) performance. The cultural center also offers free tours to the city. Padang has several houses built in traditional architecture, including Padang Museum, which houses objects of cultural and historical interest. Its beach on Bungus bay with its white sands is good for swimming, boating or just watching the fishing boats going out to sea in the afternoon. Small boats can be hired from here to some small islands nearby: Sirandah, Sikoai, Pagang, Parsumpahan.

Padang is a prosperous city and major ports, which has retained the atmosphere of a market town. It is the third largest city of Indonesia with a population of more than 300,000. South of Padang, the massive Kerinci-Strait, Nature Reserve is Indonesia's largest national parks sprawls across a 345 sq km stretch of Jungle Mountain dominated by the volcanic core of Mount Kerinci, which is Sumatra's highest mountain. Padang has some pretty beaches. The most popular ones are located south of Padang. The beaches are good for swimming, boating or just watching fishing boats going out in the afternoon. On Sundays, the beaches are usually crowded with families and youngsters enjoying their weekly day off. On other days, however, we will find the beaches deserted.

RENDANG: The Padang Style Food

There is plenty of food, it's all very cheap and you only pay for what you touch. The flavours are amazing and the food really filling. There are tuna, eggs, egg plant, chicken, fried beef and some other bits and pieces.

Padang-style food is everywhere in Indonesia. One of the most famous attractions in Padang is the renowned 'Nasi Padang'. Numerous restaurants serve it. One of the most famous is Simpang Raya, which has branches throughout West Sumatra and Riau, but also in other cities in Indonesia. When we sit down at a table, in no time the waiter will fill the whole table with plates, containing Kari, chicken and fish prepared in coconut curry, Rendang, meat in coconut gravy and Dendeng Balado, thin slices of dried and fried beef served with red chilies.