Tangkuban Perahu volcano, West Java

Journey to Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Hanya sekedar iseng bikin combo foto pakai adobe photoshop. Di kumpulan potret ini tergambar sebagian dari tempat yang keluarga M Silaban kunjungi di Samosir. Menyaksikan sejarah tanah Batak dan keindahannya.. Saya sendiri sudah 23 tahun lamanya, baru pulang kampung lagi hehe

View 2

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Although this beach still under development visitor still be able to relax and enjoy the beautiful view, this is the best lake view in this area. This place is very quite, you can enjoy the day without distraction and you can enjoy the hot spring that been favorite to many visitor to this area.

At this time only beverages, snacks and cigarettes available to the visitor. Small food can be ordered on special request.

In the near future we will develop bar and canteen that will provide food and more complete beverages for visitors. Rooms for rent are also in the plan, we will have volley ball yard very soon.

We plan to have several pool table and  poker table for visitor who enjoy this game. If you interest for more relaxation we can arrange for traditional massage with affordable price.

If you come to Samosir Toba Lake this is a must visit place. Please call us if you need more information or special arrangement. We can be reached at +62 81210008687 or our email marrviin@yahoo.com.

Warm Greetings to fellow Indonesian travelers and Welcome to the World!

I’m an Indonesian who is very passionate with travelling. I dream to spend the rest of my life exploring every inch of the earth’s surface. I wouldn’t mind a few trips to the moon and a trip around the milky way as well

Unfortunately, my big dream is limited to my second world’s citizenship.

I’m not like the Australians or the Americans or the Europeans, I can’t work for a few months and afford A Round the World Ticket, I can’t get Visa on Arrival except in the ASEAN countries, I can’t get Work Permit when I travel to developed countries because their immigration department fear that i’ll enjoy so much of their developed luxuries and become an illegal immigrant.

The realities are: I live in a country where money and social status are the only success indicator, I live in a country where people spend more time being each other’s social judge, I live in a country where intellectuality is undermined by dullness, I live in a country where corruption is a trend, I live in a country where majority of the population is living in poverty, I live in a country where many children have no access to education, I live in a country where basic health service is a luxury, I live in a country where people i know earn $50 a month, I live in a country where those people have a wife and more than 1 children (even 7!), and the worst of all, I live in a country where dreams don’t become reality.

Well, it’s a quiet depressing thought, don’t you think? But honestly, I don’t care about all of those problems. I love being Indonesian and I enjoy problems as much as I enjoy a bargaining session in a souvenir market in Phuket.

I am thankful that my life’s philosophy is inspired by travelling. I learned that some have the facility to travel  first class, many, just have enough luxury to afford the economy class, and most, could barely afford anything at all, so they backpack. Whatever ways, people who are passionate with travelling (read: life), enjoy it, no matter how hard, or how tough it is. Because these people see the most beautiful Indian Ocean sunset, right behind every single one of their life obstacles.

I consider myself lucky because I had the opportunity to live in a developed country over 5 years. It opened my sunset eyes. I know my travel dream may never come, but at least, I can help other people with their travel plan, and you never know, i may even open their sunset eyes as well, and if i’m lucky, i might earn enough $Rp$ to make my dream come true

My goal is simple: I want to accommodate all your travel needs ~ anywhere, anytime, anyhow ~

I will help you with travel advise, reservations, and making other travel arrangements. I will charge local fee, starting from $4 (IDR 40,000) for a travel consultation or any domestic reservations (in Indonesia). On the platter, I hope I will meet many new sunset eyes from around the globe.

So, what are you waiting for? Get me to take care of you travel arrangements!

Contact: Anna +62 813 4055 7788 (call or text), or email anna.world.travel@gmail.com

I’m looking forward to good exchange and partnership.

Warm Regards, ANNA @ Indonesia

Main Islands: Java, Sumatera, Borneo, Sulawesi

Provinces: Aceh, Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Barat, Jambi, Pekan Baru, Bengkulu, Lampung, Palembang, Jakarta, Banten, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, DI Jogjakarta, Bali, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Sulawesi Utara, Sulawesi Selatan,

Cities: Jakarta, Banda Aceh, Calang, Meulaboh, Tapak Tuan, Takengon, Lhokseumawe, Bireun, Langsa, Blang Pidie, Sigli, Medan, Parapat, Pematang Siantar, Brastagi, Tarutung, Jambi, Bengkulu, Padang, Palembang, Lampung, Batam, Riau, Jakarta, Bandung, Jogja, Surabaya, Tangerang, Depok, Denpasar, Semarang, Magelang, Salatiga, Malang, Jombang, Balikpapan, Berau, Samarinda, Manado, Ujung Pandang, Makassar, Tomohon, Kema,

Major attractions:  Sikuai Island, Bali Island, Derawan Island, Karimun Jawa Island, Sabang, Weh Island, Iboih Beach, Gapang Beach, Pulo Aceh Island, Orang Utan at Bukit Lawang, Tangkahan, Toba Lake, Samosir, Mt. Bromo, Mt. Merapi, Dieng Plateu, Lake Maninjau, Lake Singkarak, Ngarai Sianuk, Bukit Tinggi, Tarutung, Nusa Dua Beach, Kuta Beach, Legian Beach, Sanur Beach, Lake Batur, Bedugul, Kintamani, Batu

WORLD TRAVEL EXPERIENCE:

Country: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, Philippine,

Cities/Major Attractions: Langkawi Island, Penang Island, Butterworth, Kuala Lumpur, Port Dickson, Bangkok, Phuket, Hong Kong, Sydney, Blue Mountains, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Canberra, Snowy Mountains, Tagaytay City, Manilla,

The town of Parapat is the main tourist resort and lies on the shores of the lake. The Batak Toba and Batak Simalungun peoples of Parapat are happy, easygoing people, known for their lively and sentimental love songs.

While Samosir Island is situated in the middle of Lake Toba. It’s accessible by regular ferries from Parapat. The original home of the Toba Bataks, this island has many sites of stone tombs and traditional villages. The village of Tomok, Tuk-tuk, Siallagan and Ambarita are noteworthy.

Getting There

Parapat is 176 km from Medan and can be reached in 4 hours by bus via two routes: Medan-Parapat or via Medan-Berastagi. If you wish, Travel agents in Medan can provide you with a rental car plus a chaffeur.

Medan is an international gateway, so some airlines provide flights directly to Medan.

To Do

The Lake is surrounded with range of hills. The weather is cool and pleasant, and if you’re used to hot temperature you might need to bring a jacket here. Visitors can spend their time by swimming or hiring motor-boat sailing the Lake around. Watching sunset in Lake Toba is a wonderful time to spend your time with your loved ones.

This lake also has both magical and cosmology values, since it is believed to be the dwelling place of Namborru (seven ancestor goddesses of Batak Tribe). When Batak tribe intends to perform tradition ceremony around the Lake, they must first pray to apply for permit to the Namborru. As in the Toba Lake Folk Party ceremony held every year, number of rituals is firstly performed as a respect to their ancestors.

Amid the Toba Lake, namely in Samosir Island, you can find of popular tourism objects, like two smaller lakes (Sidihoni and Aek Natonang Lake), historical tourism objects in the cemetery complex of Sidabutar  King in Tomok village, and architecture tour of Batak Toba Samosir traditional house compounds. You can also rent a motorcycle and enjoy a few days of adventure on the island.

Visitors willing to travel to Samosir Island can go by ferry that takes to Tomok Village Samosir every hour. Tomok village has unique stone etchings on the cemeteries. Samosir Island also sells unique wares and souvenirs, some antique items might also catch your interest.

Another traditional village you can visit is Jangga, about 24 km from Parapat.

(The image on the upper right is of King Sidabutar’s Grave on Samosir Island. Credit: travelblog.org)

To Stay

In Parapat, there area facilities for swimming, water skiing, motor boating, canoeing, fishing and golf. The climate is cool and dry, and ideal place to relax. There is a plethora of hotels, bungalows, villas and guesthouses.

To Buy

Prapat offers modern merchandising, like T-shirts and keychains. You can get more unique wares (even antiques) in Samosir. And if you’re interested in buying some ulos cloths, which are known for their beautiful motifs and smooth weaving, you can visit the center in the traditional village of Jangga. You can even witness some ulos in the making.

A quite big gas station after Padang Sidempuan. They sold Pertamax here. To be safe, each time we filled in the gas full tank every about 150 km ride.


We arrived at about 12.30 a.m. in Sipirok city and stoped at “Rumah Makan Siang Malam” which is the best restautant in town.

The restaurant is simple, but see how delecious the food is.. This is the yummy “Sayur Pucuk Ubi”…

I “start” my lunch with only with Nasi+Rendang+Sayur Pucuk Ubi…

See this yummy and spicy “Dendeng Batokok”

Or this BIG “Sumsum” Beef Foot Soup..?

I better keep silent on who is eating what. Lets the pictures tell themselve. Hahaha…

Back to the day just after fire known to human. Huahahaha…

The desert was a very nice Banana and this “Alamai”

This is how they store and sell that delicious Alamai.. So unique..

Actually the “Kripik Singkong + Sambal” on the left or Kripik Pedas like these are the best “nyemilan”… But I have no more space, too full..

It was rain when we had our lunch. So, Bona and Samuel prepared themselve for a wet ride after lunch. In fact the rest of us did not use our rain coat and wait until it was really the case that we have to ride in the rain. Otherwise it will be quite hot to wear the rain coat.

This is a new “Abang Becak” in Sipirok

Ok, guys… That is more than enough for lunch. We better move or fallen in sleep here… Sipirok is only half way to go to Prapat. Still far away to go..

Ups.. the rain was serious.. We better stop and prepared for a wet ride..

Watching us using our rain coat; I like to see their smile..

But I was not so sure how could Yuke think that he could take a nap for a few minutes like this… Hahaha…

Ok. Let enjoy the rain and ride…

Here we are.. Not too far from Sipirok we met the road that should be classified as off road. We have to be extra careful here.. And, I wait until one by one rider passing and slowly rode down hill, then I followed them from the back.

My Multistrada has no problem at all with the road and I soon be in the midle of the convoy. But then.. I saw Rizal stopped and pull a side his bike. I stoped at the hill’s top and wait for him. Oh.. please don’t get any trouble in the midle of slipery mud road and fogy jungle like this… So I tried to find a safe place to park my bike and check him out.. I was worry..

But wait a minute, Hm.. what is he doing…?

Let me see… I zoom in my camera. Damn…!! Why should he choose the place like this to pee..?? Hahaha..

Finally Rizal came to get closer and continued the ride. I can only laugh and get on my bike…

We still enjoyed the off road for a while.. But like us, it was not to wet and slipery. If we got rain here, well I’m not sure any of us could ride and smile..

This is Samuel..

This is Beny

Bona enjoyed his off road style on his Multistrada..

This is Danang

Iwan Rialdy was quite relax on his ST3

Didi and Jade, the President and the Vice President of the Club.

Jade on his style..

Yuke on his Multistrada

The whether was quite friendly and the rain has stoped. We increase the speed to be able to be in Prapat before te dark, if possible. Last short break and refuel, we filled in the gas on the hilly road after Siborongborong.

From Balige, we could see Toba Lake already.. Hm, we should be close..

In the midle of Porsea small city, we have to stop after a small accident due the Samuel’s GSX brake blocking problem.

But we were all ok and contine the ride and finally finished safely at Niagara Hotel, Prapat just after sunset.

Well.. although not the longest I know this is the hardest part of our ride. So I was so happy that we are all manage to be in Prapat safely. Having dinner and a chat at the hotel’s restaurant. I took a deep sleep thereafter…

Tomorrow we will have a relaxing ride, not too far to Medan. See the report in Part 5.

Ngapain di Medan? Aaaadaaa deeh… cerita perjalanannya belum selesai, tapi sebagian kecil foto sudah saya upload di blog yang ini. Lihat-lihatlah dulu, nanti ceritanya saya upload segera ya….

Ini salah satu foto yang saya upload (biar kalian penasaran niiih…hahahahaha)

Toba Lake

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.

With its colorful and ethnically mixed population, North Sumatera is Indonesia’s most populous province outside of Java.Tourism highlights includes the scenic beauties of Lake Toba and the Karo Highlands.

CITY HIGHLIGHTS :
Medan : the provincial capital of North Sumatera, central of government, business and education.
Brastagis : a refreshing mountain resort, two hours drive from medan,center for vegetable, fruit and flower farming.
Parapat : mountain and lake resort on eastern shore af Lake Toba
Lake Toba : The biggest lake in Sumatera and entirely Indonesoa
Samosir : Tiny Island within and island in the middle of Lake Toba,central of Traditional Batak’s culture.

DAY 01 : Arrival Medan – Brastagi
DAY 02 : Brastagi – Parapat – Samosir
DAY 03 : Samosir – Parapat – Medan
DAY 04 : Medan departure

Inclusions :
• 1 Nights accommodation in Brastagi,samosir and Medan
• A spectacular sightseeing tour arrangement during the trip to each town
• Full board meals
• Profesional Guide Local

The largest island forming the western shorne of the archipelago of Indonesia which looks like California in shape, is a vast and varied region of rich geological and culture diversity.From Medan in the north with its neolitic ( stone – age ) culture and magnificent Lake Toba to matrilineal society of the Minangkabau people vibrant scenery,cultural heritages, and developed infrastructure og highways making overland jourseys more enjoyable.

Harang gaol.Begitu fasih tempat ini bagi kaum pemancing di wilayah simalungun dan karo. DTW (daerah tujuan wisata) danau toba ini banyak di kunjungi wisatawan lokal. wisatawan manca negara belum begitu terlihat di sini (kurang). memang perlu pembenahan di segala bidang, seperti promosi dan pembangunan fasilitas terutama kebersihan 7K. namun jika suatu saat daerah ini telah “siap” menjadi daerah tujuan wisata andalan bagi simalungun masyarakat juga harus siap dengan berbagai faktor perubahan yang bukan saja positif tapi negatif. tiap tahun ada pesta rondang bintang (bintang bersinar?) yang ramai menyajikan atraksi budaya.

“dalan hu haraggaol, bahat bona ni pisang…….”sebuah lirik lagu simalungun serma dengan-dengan.

After the funeral, we decided to go around, visiting my dad’s homevillage down in the north part of North Sumatera province. His village named Doloknagodang ~~means: lots of mountains~~ about 5 km from Porsea. On our way to the village, we have to pass this famous-only lake. The Lake Toba.

Way down to the lake, we could enjoy the scenery of the blue lake bordered with mountains. It is so beautiful. In the morning where the air is clean and the sky are blue, the view is breathtaking. The road goes down bit by bit by each turn. Hotels and restaurant were build in its side in Parapat. Boats service offered for those who like to cross the lake to the Samosir island.

The most famous spot in Samosir island is the Tomok. Tourist usually visit to buy souvenirs like ulos ~~the local cloth~~, enjoy the traditional culture and people, and to see the famous site of the Batak’s king tomb ~~the tomb was decorated in traditional pictures and colors~~ and to see Sigale-gale, the dancing puppet.

Last time I visit this lake is about 20 years ago. Lot of developments. More vendors are around the lake, sell souvenirs and shirts. I also saw a better developed facilities for people to sit and enjoy the lake. But, though many had changed, the beauty of the lake still.

Along the road of Parapat, people sell this local fruit. Manggo. Small and yellow. A kind that we could not find in Jakarta or other part of Java. The taste is good, sweet and juicy.

North Sumatra where the batak people lives are beautiful. I can tell. I was grow up in West Java, also a beauty, and were around to some part of Indonesia. I never doubt that Lake Toba is among the best of all.

I quote this famous song of the how the Batak people desire their beautiful village ~~ I agree~~

O Tano Batak haholonganku
sai na mangulun do au tu ho
dang olo modom dang nok matakku
sai namasihol do ausai naeng tu ho
O Tano Batak sai naeng hutatap dapathononku Tano hagodanganki
O Tano Batak andigan sahatau on naeng mian di ho.. sambulokki