Sumatra – Day Out

We had a day out to visit the other side of the island. Hery hired a driver for us and Efrida, Tatjana and I set off.

We visited another Batak living history village, and tried the local coffee (thick and black) which was surprisingly mild.

Views of the lake from here were wonderful. I don’t think I said this before but, lake Toba is the largest in a volcanic crater lake in the world 62 miles long by 19 miles wide.

We moved towards the town of Pangururan, it’s a bit af strange place as it’s far from any other towns anywhere else in Sumatra but, it is accessible by road and I guess that’s why it is where it is on the west side of the Island. Samosir was not originally an Island, the Dutch in 1913 made it into one when they dug a canal across a thin strip of marsh land that joined it to the rest of Sumatra. Sadly the locals thought thier island would sink if the land was broken by the canal.

We then headed inland to The-Lake-Within-a-lake (Lake Sidihoni).

This side of the island is deforested for farming and buffalo grazing, people have told Ibu that it reminds them of New Zealand and I agree.

The small lake is not even on Google maps and I read that it was originally a swampy area that became a lake after deforestation.

We visited a rather lonely looking church on top of a hill.

Here we got a lesson in how to talk to farm animals by Ibu promoted by the presence of buffalo.

Back to Pangururan for lunch and a wander.

It began to rain, and boy does it rain!

Presently we wandered along the lake front and watched some boys having the best time in the water.

Then on our way back we stopped at hot springs, very sulphurous and very hot! We were in the women only section where bizarrely a man was getting changed when we arrived.

I couldn’t stand the heated water for long and I doubt I will get the smell out of my costume ever?

As we headed back in the dark Ibu became car sick, I did feel sorry for her and a bit concerned as Tatjana and I wanted to take her on a long trip at the end of our stay, I needed to check out my supply of Quells.

After this day out we took the family for dinner at a fairly smart restaurant run by a German woman. Our driver said the owner looked just like Tatjana, so we were curious. Clearly Europeans all look the same to the people of Samosir because she looked nothing like her.

I don’t think it was quite the success we had hoped but, it catered for all our varying tastes and we knew her parents would probably want what they know but, they seemed a bit uncomfortable! Hery and Tristan, (Ibu’s son) joined us.

Now sadly we are nearly at the end of our stay…..