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The people of the region can be divided into five main ethnic groups and Languages: The coastal Malays, living along the Malaka Straits, the Bataks, consisting of the sub-tribes around Lake Toba and Samosir Island, are Karo, Toba, Dairi, Simalungun, the Angkola or Mandailing of the southern Tapanuli, and Nias Islanders off the western coast of the province. These groups each have their own dialects, religious beliefs, arts, custom and cultures. Several ethnic groups live in Medan and other towns of North Sumatra, the largest |
of these being Chinese and Indian.
GETTING THERE
Regular bus is available via Trans Sumatra. Bus station Jl. Sisingamangaraja Medan. Regular flight from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Amsterdam, Vienna, and Jakarta to Polonia Airport Medan, Sumatra. Belawan seaport is the sea link to Penang,Malaysia.
PELNI Lines Jl. Krakatau 17A
Phone. (061) 6622526
Train station PERUMKA
Jl. Stasiun 1 Medan
Phone. (061) 514114.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Lake Toba-Parapat is the largest lake in Southeast Asia with a surface area about 1,145 sq. kilometers, and the deepest lake in the world, over 450 meters deep. 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. 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. Parapat is 176 km from Medan and can be reached in 4 hours by bus.
Samosir Island situated at the middle of Lake Toba, is accesible by regular ferries from Parapat. The original home of the fierce Toba Bataks, the island has many sites of stone tombs and traditional villa ges. The villages of Tomok, Tuk-tuk, Siallagan and Ambarita are noteworthy. Transportation
can be arranged through your Hotel or rent a motorcycle for day’s adventure on the island. Accomodation of various styles and standards are readily available.
Nias Island lies only 125 Km of Sumatra’s west coast. Passed by the Indian, Islamic and European influences which swept through most of the archipelago, the people of Nias have lived for centuries in virtual isolation
from the outside world. Now Nias is a host to the Indonesian Open surfing Championship. Despite a growing infrastructure and tourist industry, the traditional culture of Nias has remained quite intact. Villages are laid around a central plaza and are still primarily made up of traditional houses.
The famous ‘stone jumping’ are still part of daily life. There are daily flights serving Medan and Nias Island.
Bukit Lawang is about 3 hours by car from Medan. Its main attraction are the Orang Utan rehabilitation center, crossing the Bahorok river and climbing steep, jungle-clad hills it is located at the South of the Mount Leuser National Park.
For more places of interest, please visit
http://www.my-indonesia.info/page.php?ic=1122&prov=2
http://www.sumutprov.go.id
TOURIST OFFICE
Jl. Jend. A. Yani No.107, Medan. 20111
Phone. (061) 4538101, 4520559,
4524908 Fax. (061) 4528436
http://www.sumutprov.go.id |
