A trip to my roots - Pulau Samosir

This is the second part of my trip. Following my Bukit Lawang camping trip I left with a smile and sore in lots of parts of my body (legs, thighs, calves, and biceps). But, a wide smile :)

I decided to move on because I know it's going to be along trip going to Samosir. The people at the transport office said it's 8 hours because they had to make a stop in Medan first. The transport to Medan cost Rp.75,000, while to Parapat is Rp.150,000. The ride was good, tried to sleep since it was cloudy most of the way anyway. 

We finally arrived in Parapat harbor at 4.30. Had to wait for 1.5 hour for the next boat to Tuktuk. Spent my waiting time browsing the small harbor and took plenty of pictures. It's interesting as if I was already in a different country. It's just so much different from Bali. The boats were mostly like this, while waiting they have loud music blaring from the loudspeakers. It's traditional batak music, which was interesting. They transported people, animal, motorbikes, and of course groceries.

I was picked up by the guy from the lodging, Mas Cottage in Ambarita. When I got there it was almost 7. They took me down to my room, which is facing the lake. It was already dark, but I can tell the view would be glorious. It's just a luxury to have a room facing the lake like that. 

Around 2 am I was awaken. I couldn't swallow, so I know I'm down with health. I tried to put some warm ointment, but what I needed was warm water to drink. I knew I had to go to the doctor as soon as it's day break. 

I woke up again around 6.30, thank God the kitchen was already open so I got my hot tea. I asked the closest clinic, and push bike for rent. Around 8 I started to walk toward Tomok. And it was indeed quite a walk. It took me 1 hour to Tomok and I decided to just go to a pharmacy because I knew what I needed. I got my meds, got a rented bike and I was set for the day! Yipee..

I went back to the lodging to get stuff to go around, and I was set. I started toward central Ambarita. The place is just gorgeous, as if you step into a post card. Every corner is worth photographing. I went to Batu Kursi Siallagan, checked out some souvenir shops which led to Ambarita dock. I didn't feel like shopping, in fact I don't plan to shop at all. I'll do that when I'm done with browsing and taking pictures. 

I found a small warung on the main road. I was really craving for Batak food, but strange enough they only serve not so interesting dish like pork arsik, while I prefer fish arsik or sangsang. Didn't find what I was looking for, but at least they had tasty fish. I went back to rest a bit (it was quite hot and I didn't want to exhaust myself get really sick). I went out again around 5 to have dinner in Tomok. Drat, it started to rain. I decided to go into a restaurant for dinner. They had pork sate, it was OK, unfortunately they use peanut sauce, which I found a bit strange.

The following day I went up to Sigarantung with a friend of my dad's. He's kind enough to take me there. I was so curious, I heard there's a small lake up in the mountain. Toba Lake is the biggest crater lake, and in the middle there's Pulau Samosir, and up in the island there's a smaller lake. I just had to see it. It was quite a ride, an hour up from Tomok (on a motorbike). But when we finally get there, the view is just serene. I definitely could live there. Just give me internet connection, cable and good food I will survive :).

Tomok is so busy and quite interesting. It was the next day I decided to look around the area and shop some souvenirs. The shops were set up toward the King Sidabutar tomb. I didn't go in, it's part of paganism and I don't want to take part in it. Didn't shop much when I realized the limited cash that I had in my wallet. Some key chains, fridge magnet and shirts, and of course teri (salted anchovy). Can't wait to fry them and mix them with chilli sauce.

It was a fabulous trip for me. By doing it solo I can absorb a lot of things that's going on in the area, learn about the people, free to go wherever and whenever, including dippin in the lake all by myself. So pretty much all my plans were completed. It's all because God's mercy and a recommendation from my dad. Definitely will come back some day.. Fabulous!