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This is will be my first post in English, I wanna improve my writing skill. so I decided to make some journal with English. Please kindly let me know if there is something incorrect.
First I would like to thank my friend, Vita for helping me to edit this post.
Medan is one of the big city in Indonesia and the biggest city in Sumatera.
When I was a child, if someone asked me about Sumatera, the only one I known was Danau Toba which is the biggest lake in Indonesia.
Wikipedia says Lake Toba is the site of massive supervolcanic eruption estimated at VEI 8 occurred 69,000 to 77,000 years ago.
and Samosir is the island located in the middle of the lake. My destination is to enjoy the Danau Toba from Samosir island.
I have never been travelling in North Sumatra before but I have been visited another city in Sumatera called Lampung, I went there to visit my friend’s hometown and Pahawang island. Lampung is a city just nearby Jakarta. Going to Lampung is easy. you can drive a car from Jakarta just take 6 hours away and continue the journey by take the boat/ferry.
Or you also able take flight from Jakarta to Lampung for only less than 500K IDR. With flight, the duration would be around 25-30 minutes.
There are some island you could visit when you are travelling around Lampung, you definitely can googling it. but for now I’m going to tell you about my last trip in Danau Toba.
Early morning Jakarta time, I actually hate flight early in the morning. I have to wake up early, have to prepare everything with just half consciousness. That day Jakarta was a bit raining so the only I want was just sleep more. Phone alarm rang on as scheduled and my friend callled me a few time in the same time. They did it just to make sure I have had awaken. No need to take shower, you can only use a little bit perfume will make you smell better. And of course do not forget brushing your teeth! Just in case you meet a single-young girl... LOL
I want to give some information about accommodation cost including transportation and some tips if you are planning to do travelling in Danau Toba.
1. Take the flight from Jakarta to Silangit airport.
Silangit airport is the nearest airport from Danau Toba. From Silangit (DTB) you can rent a car with cost IDR 400K per one way. It is typically like a taxi, for the fare you can see on the board-prices information . So the driver will not cheat on you. The first stop will be Parapat and if you wanna go to Tuktuk (which is a name of the area in Samosir) you can stop in Tigaraja port, take the boat for only IDR 20K each. And the best thing if you take the boat from here is your boat will directly take you to the hotel that you have been booked before (In case you have already booked a hotel there).
When I did googling transportation from Silangit to Parapat or Danau Toba, I found an information that they have a public bus called Damri. The fact is just a BULSHIT and BIG liar. They are only have the big LCD and “queue-monitor”. But after I did check with the officers, they said that the bus is not operated. Once I ask when the bus will be operating, he told me that he doesn’t know about it and just gave me a dull expression just like “ what the f**k are you concern about, man?” LOL. So I was wondering, for what they have a big LCD screen that has information about the bus schedule? and the queue monitor? Those are just big useless.
They better just turn off the LCD information so it doesn’t make people confuse and hopeless like me...
The other way, if your flight via Kualanamu international airport you can go with a local bus also to Parapat. The fare is just IDR 85K and take 6 hours from Kualanamu to Parapat. it takes longer but cheaper? why? because they have many choices of transportation. Economic rules said that if they have a lot of competitors, the price also will be more competitive.
2. HOTEL, you need to take note of this. It’s better to book your hotel early through Agoda or Traveloka. It will make easier. So what you need just only show the address to the Shipman on the boat, and they will bring you directly to the hotel.
I met someone offering me a hotel when I was in the boat and the rate is almost double compared to the one I have booked.
In my opinion, the best area you can stay is in Tuk-Tuk. They have a lot of restaurants on the main road. Halal food also available here. so don't worry.
3. Transportation around Samosir island; you can just rent a motorbike, bike, or car.
actually, you can rent it in your hotel. Almost all hotel provide vehicles to be rented for you, but fare will be more expensive. For example you can find a motorbike only IDR 120K included fuel out there. If you wanna get cheaper just go to the main road, you can get IDR 100K for 24 hour. In case your arriving time is in the afternoon, you still able to negotiate the price rate could be 80K from noon until 10 PM. It means you could save your money for snacks ;).
If you like do cycling, rent a bike is the best choice for you. The cost will be 70-80K if you rent via your hotel also for 24 hours,
If you like to drive a car, my suggestion is rent a car in Silangit (DTB) airport the fare is only 350K for 24 hours. If you rent at your hotel, the cost could be 500K for 24 hours.
But make sure you have a good driving skill because the road is quite extreme for us as a non-locals.
4. Food,
For you are nonmuslim, non-vegetarian, or possible to eat anything LOL you must try Saksang. It’s recommended by my friend. Saksang is contained pork. It is a originally Batak cuisine. And don't forget to try "mie gomak" (noodle) the best thing about Medan is the food. I did able to eat 5-7 times within a day. And for sure, I get fat after that, I don’t care tho LOL. Mostly foods in Samosir is quite normal around 15-25K.
5. The attraction,
You can find a lot of attraction here, if you not sure, can ask your people around your hotel for direction. Or some hotel also provide a city tour. You directly can check "TripAdvisor" for the places you want to visit. You can just check it out via TripAdvisor!
Finally in my opinion, Danau Toba is an awesome destination, but my advice is the local government should do more invest in tourism places around Danau Toba, especially for the transportation from Silangit (DTB) to Parapat, and local transportation around Samosir island. overall, the lake is beautiful. I feel peaceful during my stay here. I like the local people, their languages especially their accent. it's so nice to hear. For me, as Javanese, Batak has a lot of differences culture. Don’t afraid about the way they speak loudly because trust me their heart is kind acually looooo...
hahaha
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