INDONESIA: Medan & Lake Toba (Sumatera Island)

Medan, Sumatera

March 2013

I could have never imagined I'll be travelling to Sumatera. I heard a lot of nice thing about Sumatera especially Lake Toba (In Indonesian - Danau Toba). My ancestors are originally from Sumatera but in Bukit Tinggi, Padang which is a little bit far from Medan. 

There's few routes or ways to get to  Lake Toba from Malaysia.

1. By direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Medan. Then from Medan, you need to take the mini bus or van to Parapat, that is a small town where you can take the boat to Tuktuk in Samosir Island, Lake Toba.
2. By boat crossing from Malacca to Dumai. This is the longest route and will take you a lot of time.

Lake Toba

According to Wikipedia, Lake Toba is a lake and a supervolcano. The lake is 100 kilometers long, 30 kilometers wide and up to 505 meters (1666ft.) deep. Lake Toba is the site of a massive supervolcanic eruption that occurred 69,000 to 77,000 years ago. This is how massive Lake Toba is!

My new adventure

This time I am not travelling alone. I have a travel partner and his name is Johannes. I met him when he was in Kuala Lumpur attending one of my friend's event. Back then, I hardly spoke to him. We become close friends ever since these one incident. I met Joseph too through Johannes. The three of us hang out a lot in the city until one day, Johannes and I have to say goodbye to Joseph. It was hard a little bit as we wouldn't be seeing him again in Kuala Lumpur once we are back in town. He will be in Thailand by the time we comes back. As a token of friendship,I gave both of them a 'friendship wrist band'. 

Couchsurfing and Medan
I was so lucky that my host, Diah and her husband Yudi agreed to host me and Johannes even for a night. They have waited for us at the airport. The airport in Medan is call Polonia International Airport. Although it is an international airport, this airport has only one departure and arrival hall. This is how small the airport was!.

There's one funny moment I had at the immigration counter in Polonia. He asked me in Indonesian and was amazed that I replied back in Indonesian language with Jakarta slang!

IG: Ngapain masih belum menikah?? (Why you are not married yet?)
ME:Ngak mau lagi pak...tapi udah punya pacarnya. (Not at the moment but I have my 
     boyfriend with me)
IG: Yang mana?? (Which one?)
ME: Yang bule itu pak...rambutnya kerinting.(The white guy with curly hair-> Johannes)
IG: OK...! 

Gosh!I was surprised.Is it a sin I travel alone and I am still single? Thank god, Johannes is with me at least I feel safe. We walked out from the airport walking towards the petrol station as instructed earlier by my host, Diah as our meet up point. 

She was super nice and so does her husband. They brought us to one of the restaurant in the city to meet up  few CS from Medan. I was a little bit tired and exhausted from the long journey. After a while, we left and went back home.

The next morning, Diah left us at the bus station and negotiate price for our journey to Lake Toba.

Lake Toba,Parapat,Samosir,Tuktuk
We left Medan and get the minibus for Rp50,000 per person. We passed some small city on our way towards Parapat, where we were supposed to take the ferry to cross and go to Tuktuk, Samosir Island.

Once we were in Parapat, we head to some local restaurant. There's a lot of Halal restaurant in Parapat especially Padang Restaurant. The local was a bit surprised that I communicate with them in Indonesian and disbelief when I told them that I am from Malaysia!

After we had our food, we walk a little bit to get tuk tuk to the jetty in Parapat. The ride cost us around Rp1000 per person. The jetty is really small surrounded by some big hotels which seems to be unoccupied.We hop on the boat and get the best view of the lake.
It was breathtaking view!.The ride to cross from one side to the other is Rp10,000 per person.

After an hour ride, we got off the boat and go to the guesthouse call The Reggae Guesthouse. We are lucky enough to get the last room which is 5 meters away from where the boat left us. I was there for 3 night before I head back to Medan and left Johannes at Samosir. No words can describe the beautiful and tranquil of Lake Toba.

The last night in Medan
I reached Medan from Lake Toba at 10pm and was hoping that I could just stay at the airport and wait for my early flight in the airport. But my plan failed. The airport closed at 9pm and the only place I could go was to my previous host place. Diah was kind enough to host me for that night and send me off early in the morning. I am lucky to have her and her husband as my friend together with the rest of CS from Medan that I've met earlier that night. Thank you very much! I really appreciate your kindness.

I left Medan with the thought that I would be going  there someday to visit Medan city which I didn't do during my trip.I had a lot of good memories in Medan. Thanks to you too Johannes for being there for me and the adventure we had. I am looking forward with you.

Sampai ketemu lagi Medan!(Until we meet up again, Medan!)

In the memory of Taufik, Thank you for being a good friend when we were in Medan. Your cheerful smile,your funny jokes and your kindness would be in our heart for ever. Rest in Peace my dear friend. May ALLAH bless your soul.

MALAYSIA - Chinese New Year Celebration, My Way!

Feb 2013

Chinese New Year - My way

Kuala Lumpur - Penang

Where it begins

I've never thought that an unplanned weekend become a really enjoyable moments spend with really good friends on this auspicious day of Chinese New Year. It all began when me and my friends decided to skip the hustle bustle city of Kuala Lumpur and head up north to Penang Island. As some of you might know, Penang is famous for it's food and beaches (which I prefer beached on the East Coast Island!). On the way to Penang Island, we passed through some historical city such as Ipoh. Ipoh is also famous for it's 'pau' (steamed bun with some red beans/kaya/and etc in it), the 'white coffee' and also the famous Chicken rice shop.

We are unlucky that day as all off the chicken rice shop were full of patron and some of them standing more then 5 minutes just to get the seat.We left the restaurant and went to other shop as all off us are pretty much hungry. We wait no more and ordered. The food wasn't what I've expected but it is just fine for me to stay full and not complaining.

The journey then continues.

Penang Island - Celebrating Chinese New Year

We reached Penang after 5 long hours of driving.We directly went to the apartment(one of us lives in Penang and he have his family apartment for rent during holiday).The place located near to the Gurney Drive.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurney_Drive)

The main attraction in Penang during Chinese New Year is the Kek Lok Si Temple in Ayer Itam. This is the biggest Buddhist temple/pagoda in South East Asia. The best to visit this temple during Chinese New Year is at night time. This is where they light up the temple for 14 days of the Chinese New Year and only during this time of the year. They even have the fireworks on the first day of Chinese New Year here.

Our trip doesn't end with the visit to Kek Lok Si Temple. We went to Tanjung Bungah and went for a day trip to 'Monkey Beach'. We had the chance to try out fishing on the boat and BBQ by the beach. It is all in the package offered by local travel agent along Ferringhi beach.Some tip, please ask them the rate before you agreed to take the package. Make sure that they list what is in the package. If not, you can always go to the other travel agent.

Food,food,food....and all about food

Nothing can compare to our full fill our gastronomy pleasure rather then going out and look for good food in Penang. This is what we've been doing since we started the trip from Kuala Lumpur. Nothing can describe the food the way my photos did. All I can say is the food is yummy!From Georgetown to Ferringhi and then to Gurney Drive....

The celebration is not complete if no one plays any firework. Although it is illegal here but  some people did sell some of the fireworks. What is more important, we celebrate the Chinese New Year together without differentiate who we are, where we come from and what is our religion. I am proud of my friends and I am proud of us. May this Chinese New Year bring us more prosperity, peace and harmony.Happy Chinese New Year!

THAILAND - Phuket by land

Feb 2013
From Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia - Hatyai,Thailand

The post-holiday swing mood
I've made a quick gate away from the big city to a small little place call paradise island name PHUKET. My plan was not having a plan at all. I've bought only a one way train ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Hatyai and the train leaves Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm. I was lazy enough to buy the train ticket by myself that I just booked it through a travel agency. The cost for one ticket (Upper berth) for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) is MYR90.
This is the website for Malaysian rail http://www.ktmb.com.my/

At first, I was hoping that the train is as good as the train from Straits Railway of Thailand(SRT). As usual, the timing is not always punctual.I get on the train at about 8.40pm. I had the upper sleeping berth near the doorway. I was unlucky this time. The space was small and the seats on the lower berth can't be change to the seating position! How are we supposed to sit when we woke up the next day? On the bed?? The journey took us almost 20 hours of train ride.

Train adventure
In the same train, there were 7 families, with 8 small kids and 3 infants from Malaysia who were heading to Langkawi Island for a holiday. The train stopped at Arau Station. The kids were running around, the moms were chatting loudly on the aisle, the babies were crying while the dads,smoking near the entrance door. And where I am at that time was like in a circus. I couldn't sleep no more as the compartment was too small and the noise that they made. I was wondering what if some of my European friend would feel like as they are way more taller and bigger size then myself. That would be a different stories.
Finally I felt asleep once the hop off the train. It was a total silence. At that time, it was almost 6.30am. 

Border Malaysia - Thailand Padang Besar station is no too far away from Arau Station. This is the border station between Malaysia-Thailand,where you have to bring along all your baggage and prepared your passport for the immigration stamped from both Malaysia and Thailand side.

At this point, the train will change it's 'head' from the KTMB's(Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad) to the Straits Thai Railway (SRT). I've spend almost an hour in the border. I had the chance to buy myself a simple Malaysian breakfast that is Nasi Lemak and Teh 'O' Ais. Price wise is a bit expensive then the normal 'warong' or the street stall.

We board the train once they have change the head. The journey continues to Hatyai.
From Padang Besar, the train took almost 4 hours to reach Hatyai Junction. As soon as I arrived in Hatyai, the first thing I did was to have myself clean and fresh. I knew that I'll be having a long day to Phuket via minivan.

Across Hatyai Train station, there's a lot of travel agency that offers minivan service, bus services and also tour services to the islands. Price differ from one place to another. I had booked mine at one of the agency, minivan to Phuket. From my understanding, the journey will take me around 9 hours to reach Phuket. My minivan leaves Hatyai at 2pm.

Journey to paradise
After a 8 agonizing hours in the minivan and a car, finally I reached Phuket town. At this moment, my phone battery went out and I have no access to call my host in Phuket.
Didn't I tell you that I am using Couchsurfing (www,couchsurfing.org) for me to stay in Phuket? 
My luck, finally my host found me in the middle of the junction towards KAMALA BEACH.
Yes, that is the place that I stayed for few days in Phuket before I left for Malaysia by flight to Kuala Lumpur. There's a lot of beautiful beaches around Phuket but you need to go there by motorbike as part of Phuket are hilly and curves. 

For those who loves to party, I would recommend to stay at Patong Beach area. There's a street call Banglamphu which you can find a stretch of pubs, discotheque and bars that offers you cheap alcohol. Not to mention that this street looks like the 'Red light district'. Prostitutes and 'Lady boy' anywhere and everywhere looking for their customers. Patong beach is not all about them. There's so much more! 

If you are up to good Thai food, Indian food and some western food, head up to more quite place such as Kamala Beach. It's 15 minutes motorbike ride from Patong beach.
There's a restaurant at a junction (I forgot the name, but very famous for westerner who lives in Kamala Beach). They serve good 'Pad Thai' and Mushroom Omelette.

Kamala Beach
This place is one of the place affected by the tsunami. It is more quite and lay back small fishing village. Majority of the resident are Muslim. For those who are particular regarding 'HALAL' food in Phuket, need no worries no more. You can come to Kamala Beach and get your yummy Thai food without having worries. Here's the link on all about Kamala beach.
http://www.phuket.com/island/beaches_kamala.htm

This is my adventure in Phuket...which I think it is still so touristic.

Till next time...