My Travels - Medan, Sumatra - Brastagi, Lake Toba - Indonesia
Current mood: awake
Category: Travel and Places
My travel to Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia was unplanned. It was due to some technicalities and documentations pertaining to my Indonesian helper that I had to resolve, thus I had to undertake the journey. And since I had to make the trip, I reckoned, why not make it a trip of business cum pleasure.
I arrived with my 'entourage' in Medan around noon. At the small airport, there was a hive of activities with touts and travellers alike, haggling. Friendly men rushed to you to help you with your bags but not without a price. Tipping was expected and one must be ready with some cash as not to be caught by surprise.
Our guide cum driver welcomed us with a big warm smile and helped us dispensed all our luggages in the back of the van. He drove us to a nice restaurant for lunch before dropping us at our hotel. Throughout our drive in the streets of Medan, motorists honked and honked their way and that reminded me so much of Cairo.
GS couldnt come with us earlier as he was caught up in a meeting and only arrived on later flight after 5 pm.
The next day after a nice breakfast, we were taken for a tour to the old palace. It was a traditional indonesian palace with so much of yellow hue in most of the decors. We also went shopping at the shoppers market place where varieties of clothings, souvenirs, household items and many knick knacks were sold at very very reasonable prices. It was a haven for tourists.
We finished our business at the Malaysian Consulate as per our helper and it was time to move on for a real holiday and adventure. We checked out of the hotel and started our journey to Brastagi. It was a wet day, raining all the way. We travelled through rough narrow roads and stopped along the way at small bazzars to buy more souvenirs and items. The scenery was filled with mountains, small quiet mysterious kinda villages, muddy terrains, greens.. jungles.. volcanic sort of landscape..Sometimes the atmosphere felt kind of mournful and eerie with the rain, dark skies and quiet stretches ..
We passed stretch of houses along the way and was very stunned to see graves in their compounds. Our guide told us the law was laxed before and out of tradition and culture, the people buried their dead in their houses' compound. So it was a common sight to see graves with crosses and monuments infront of the houses.
As we proceeded further we saw what we thought was a hugh waterfall cascading. By this time the rain had stopped. It was a lovely sight to behold but when we were nearer we realised that it was actually fog coming out from a deep ravine. We were amazed at the spectacular sight..it was a sight money could not buy..so to speak.
At one of our stops, a small village, we were so much in need to relieve ourselves. Unfortunately, the only toilet was in a real deplorable state. I had no choice but to go to one of the small thatched houses. I gave my salams (islamic greetings) a few times before I heard footsteps walking towards the door. As the door creaked opened, my eyes met..what I should say... the naturest of natural beauties I have ever laid my eyes on. The lady was about twenty. She had dark flowing hair and flawless porcelain skin..(SKII eat ur hearts out...lol!!) Although she had Javanese features but they were very nice, well balanced and in place!! Her row of white teeth could be seen in between her lovely pouting lips. Her eyes were a bit of almond shaped but they were framed by natural dark long lashes. And there was not a dot of make-up on her face and she already looked like young Elizabeth Taylor...Javanese version...hehe!!
And the best part was... she was clad only in a sarong up to her chest...lol. Then I suddenly realised I was staring at her and suddenly we were both embarrased. I asked her in Malay if she could kindly let me use her bathroom.
She bowed her head and as beautiful as her face was, so were her manners and hospitality. Like a trained hostess, with smiles on her lips, she ushered me with so much politeness and humbleness to her house bathroom. After I finished my business, I was about to leave the bathroom when I noticed the beautiful 'naturalist' busy trying to start some fire using woods to boil water. I casually remarked if she was boiling water and she enthusiastically replied that she was boiling water to make tea for me. I was pleasantly surprised but of course I would not trouble this beautiful lady and furthermore the others would be waiting for me and there I was, sipping herbal tea!!!
I thanked her most profusely for her hospitality and declined graciously because of the time constraint. She seemed disappointed and I assured her I would have tea, if I did not have other people out there waiting. I shook her hand to thank her again and left some token in form of money in her palms. She looked horrified and said "No madam, I am sincere in letting you used the bathroom, you dun have to give me this". "Please... I am most sincere too to let u have this... juz as a token of remembrance" I said. She shook her lovely head and declined to take the money.. " As I did not have much time to engage in a "slanging match" over RM10 (USD3), I decided to give her my brooch instead which I was wearing. Her face lighted up as she opened her palms to receive it with delighted sincere appreciation. "Its not easy to get this thing here.. u know mam.. she said with sparkles in her eyes and a very nice smile. Now that was another thing money couldnt buy!! So I thought!!
That was a very nice encounter. What a lovely woman she was. Though just a village lady, living in a remote area with very basic facilities, she had dignity, charisma and class, which can put some city lass to shame...hmmmm
We arrived at the resort and a change of atmosphere had taken over. There were loads of buses, tourists... activities going around. Our sobre mood changed as we unwind at the hotel lobby. Everything was so lively. The children were so excited .. and off they went with the maid to have some whatever fun. I decided to check out what facilities and activities the resort had.
I found that we could request for massage service at our room. And boy... I really needed a good one after the long journey! So an arrangement was made for the lady masseur to come. She was professionally dressed in white blouse and pants. She was small built and kind of thin with long fingers. I was thinking...I would have a really relaxing massage and looking at the lady, I did not anticipate any problem. So with imagined bliss, I closed my eyes and waited for the feel..... and boy!!! was I in for a shock... her long fingers just needed to touch my skin, already sent me screaming ... goodness she had the most powerful touch!! I gasped in between screams... pls pls its painful..." She looked at me in total disbelief.... "I havent even massaged u yet mam...I have only touched u" ...haha!!
But that night, I had the most blissful sleep in years. The massage really did good to my twisted veins and limbs...:PPP. So do not underestimate small skinny woman ...
We saw traditional Indonesian houses (batak house) of long ago. It was very unusual because they did not seemed to have any window.(Maybe there were windows
but we could not see...) Only doors. So made us wonder how those people of long ago breath in the house??? Also the roof curved upwards at both end and looked kind of sharp. We went to the marketplace and the children had fun time on horses and playing with rabbits. There were thousand and one thing we could have bought because things were pretty cheap there. Throughout my visit, I have noticed that most of the souvenirs were made of wood , and gothically carved. I was not so keen on the gothic designs.
The enchanting Lake Toba (crater lake) lived up to its name. Or rather to me it was hauntingly enchanting. As we cruised the lake, we could feel an air of mystery. A feeling of uneasiness, a feeling of fear??? Or perhaps it was the rather dark day when we cruised the lake! We went to the Batak Village (the bataks were cannibals - not anymore of course!!). The natives tried their best to make us feel at ease because they knew of our apprehension. We toured the village, and we were brought to see the old bataks graves. There were many souvenirs and as I was skeptical about the gothic designs, I hardly bought any. We were about to leave, when GS remarked that he was surprised to see that I did not buy any wood carvings sourvenirs. He teased that I did not know how to appreciate art..:P. However just before we boarded the boat, my eyes caught a black wooden carving of old traditional indonesian batak house with curved sharp roof at both end ... house with no windows :PP. Remembering GS's words, I thought...what the heck!! and bought the black wooden house without anyone's knowledge. I quickly asked the man to wrap it up because I did not want anyone to see my black magic wooden house!!!lol. I hurriedly pushed the whole thing inside my big sling bag and covered it with other items.
Off we went on board the boat and cruised back to our resort. My daughter Farah had a very bad fever that night. Her eyes rolled and I was so scared and recited the quran verses. She was actually playing on the Bataks old graves when we were touring them. GS had to get assistance from our guide to drive Farah to a clinic. Oh well.. luckily she was fine after the doctor gave her some medication. Like they say... "dun mess around with old graves" especially if they were Bataks!! The next day we also went to some hills to see volcanic mountains and landscape from afar. We walked around. The air here was fresh and cool and it was quite nice. Most of the locals were really nice and humble people.
It was time to leave wonderful Brastagi. On our way back, we took a different route, I believe, because I felt it was not that far compared when we first came. Or was it my imagination ?:)).
This time we passed several small villages where tourists stopped to have one last fiesta. Durians!! (durians are fruits great in taste but strong in smell) We seated ourselves on stools and also on floor mats and were served with fresh flesh tangy nice tasty durians. We ate to our hearts content! The ladies attending to us chatted and told us stories and legends and we had a great sociable durian lunch and this was bliss too! (Ask any Malaysian, he can tell it is bliss to eat durians in open air environment without a care to the world..heheh
After the feast, we travelled back to the airport and on one of the roads, we saw a big crude building with hugh writings across the wall in red "Restauran Babi" (Pig's Restaurant)!!! Wasnt there a more refined way for a signage or an advertisement?
At the airport departure area, I was startled to hear someone calling me...Kakak (big sister..). Did I know any Indon?? apart from my maid?? I turned around and was pleasantly surprised to see my male Indonesian tailor grinning at me. Of all the place and time, my male Indonesian tailor (he sewed my Baju Kurung (traditional malay dress) had to travel the same time as me! Place? Well Medan was his birthplace. "Kakak... have you been eating durians??" He inquired. We both burst out laughing. Indeed the smell of the durians had reached him and I wondered how the passengers on board the plane could had stand the aromatic smell of six durian eating passengers! He was very pleased indeed to know that I had been to Medan, his birthplace and to Lake Toba and was proud too.
When we arrived in Kuala Lumpur, it was back to good old Kuala Lumpur with no air of mystery, not much 'naturals' and...hmmm .. humbleness?
A few years ago, I was moving house and was going through some old bags when I chanced upon a hard item wrapped in old newspaper (surat kabar lame). I was scared and curious. Why would a mysterious looking wrapped up item be in my bag? Who could have put it there? I recited the quran verses and gingerly unwrapped the mystery package and ... opocot! (hey presto!) staring at me in my hands was none other than my black magic wooden sourvenir!!! lol. I rolled on the floor laughing my head off. In my haste to hide the souvenir, I had totally forgotten to take it out of the bag all these years.
Looking at it then, well it looked kinda..hmm...ugly, grotesque.. but on second look... it did seem tough and strong..and with its roof's sharp ends..would make a good defence weapon, especially if you are out alone on your early morning walks..hehe
Oh well... anyway I left it somewhere for some antique enthusiast to pick up...:).
Medan, Brastagi, Lake Toba... hey you are not far from me... we are almost alike yet we are not the same...
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