Sumatera Archive



  • Visit www.amazingsumatra.com Lying between the Malacca Strait to the east and the deep blue waves of the Indian Ocean to the west, North Sumatra is close to mainland Asia, just an hour flight away from Singapore. A gateway to the second largest island of Indonesia, this province features pristine tropical rainforest, the spectacular Bukit Barisan mountain range, lush paddy fields and plantations, colourful coral reefs, and world class rafting and paragliding sites. North Sumatra is also the home of the Batak people and their ancient culture, shaped by megalithic, Hindu, Christian and Islamic influences. Batak clans are proud of their elaborate wedding ceremonies, their beautiful weaving and the stunning prow-shaped roofs of their traditional houses on stilts. The natural highlight of North Sumatra is the 8600 sq.km Gunung Leuser National Park, home to Sumatran tigers, elephants, rhinoceros, and the largest flower in the world, the 1-m wide Rafflesia arnoldii. Located...

    Tangkahan North Sumatera, Tangkahan Nature Reserve

    Posted on September 10, 2011 | No Comments
    Visit www.amazingsumatra.com Lying between the Malacca Strait to the east and the deep blue waves of the Indian Ocean to the west, North Sumatra is close to mainland Asia, just an hour flight away from Singapore. A gateway to the second largest island of Indonesia, this province features pristine tropical rainforest, the spectacular Bukit Barisan mountain range, lush paddy fields and plantations, colourful coral reefs, and world class rafting and paragliding sites. North Sumatra is also the home of the Batak people and their ancient culture, shaped by megalithic, Hindu, Christian and Islamic influences. Batak clans are proud of their elaborate wedding ceremonies, their beautiful weaving and the stunning prow-shaped roofs of their traditional houses on stilts. The natural highlight of North Sumatra is the 8600 sq.km Gunung Leuser National Park, home to Sumatran tigers, elephants, rhinoceros, and the largest flower in the world, the 1-m wide Rafflesia arnoldii. Located...

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  • Merely a three hours drive from Medan, Toba is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and covers a simply enormous area of 1707 square kilometres. Sitting in the middle of this massive expanse of water sits Pulau Samosir (Samosir Island) which is almost as large as Singapore! The lake was formed by an absolutely gargantuan volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago and sits in what is the largest caldera on earth. In fact, you’d probably have to head into outer space to actually get a good view of this enormous, dormant, fire breather, such is its size. Samosir Island and the Toba area in gneeral are the spiritual and cultural homes of Indonesia’ mainly Christian Batak population, one of the country’s most vibrant and friendly ethnic groups. Toba used to be a very popular tourist destination in times past, although the number of arrivals has dwindled in more recent years....

    Magical Lake Toba

    Posted on August 9, 2011 | No Comments
    Merely a three hours drive from Medan, Toba is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and covers a simply enormous area of 1707 square kilometres. Sitting in the middle of this massive expanse of water sits Pulau Samosir (Samosir Island) which is almost as large as Singapore! The lake was formed by an absolutely gargantuan volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago and sits in what is the largest caldera on earth. In fact, you’d probably have to head into outer space to actually get a good view of this enormous, dormant, fire breather, such is its size. Samosir Island and the Toba area in gneeral are the spiritual and cultural homes of Indonesia’ mainly Christian Batak population, one of the country’s most vibrant and friendly ethnic groups. Toba used to be a very popular tourist destination in times past, although the number of arrivals has dwindled in more recent years....

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  • Jam Gadang is an icon of Bukittinggi, a city in West Sumatera, Indonesia. Jam Gadang is the Indonesian words for big clock. But it just a name, the clock is certainly big. The diameter of the clock is 80 centimeters, 26 meters tall and the dimension of the tower base is 13 meters in length and 4 meters wide. That’s why Jam Gadang which is located in the center of the city, at the edge of main market, Pasar Atas, becomes one of several famous tourist attraction in West Sumatera. Jam Gadang was built during the Dutch colonial era, 1926. It was a gift from the Queen to city’s controller. The designers are architects Yazin and Sutan Gigi Ameh. The structure of Jam Gadang itself has been renovated several times, for example the roof has been changed three times. The changes of Jam Gadang also as the reflection of  changes...

    Jam Gadang – The Big Ben of Indonesia

    Posted on June 24, 2011 | 1 Comment
    Jam Gadang is an icon of Bukittinggi, a city in West Sumatera, Indonesia. Jam Gadang is the Indonesian words for big clock. But it just a name, the clock is certainly big. The diameter of the clock is 80 centimeters, 26 meters tall and the dimension of the tower base is 13 meters in length and 4 meters wide. That’s why Jam Gadang which is located in the center of the city, at the edge of main market, Pasar Atas, becomes one of several famous tourist attraction in West Sumatera. Jam Gadang was built during the Dutch colonial era, 1926. It was a gift from the Queen to city’s controller. The designers are architects Yazin and Sutan Gigi Ameh. The structure of Jam Gadang itself has been renovated several times, for example the roof has been changed three times. The changes of Jam Gadang also as the reflection of  changes...

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  • Danau Toba, or Lake Toba which is located in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia is the largest volcanic lake in Southeast Asia (may be in the world!). Thousands of domestic and international tourist come to this place every year. There are several places of interest that I think you may not forget to visit while you are there. 1. Samosir Island Samosir Island is a popular tourist destination due to the vistas it offers. The tourist resorts are concentrated in the Tuktuk area and Ambarita. The island is the center of the Batak culture and many of this people’s artifacts remain on the island. Almost all of the tourist accommodation are concentrated on the small town of Tuktuk, which is one hour ferry ride across the lake from the town of Parapat. 2. Jangga Village Jangga is a village of native Bataks, located in the hills, on the main road to...

    Where to Visit Around Lake Toba?

    Posted on June 22, 2011 | 1 Comment
    Danau Toba, or Lake Toba which is located in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia is the largest volcanic lake in Southeast Asia (may be in the world!). Thousands of domestic and international tourist come to this place every year. There are several places of interest that I think you may not forget to visit while you are there. 1. Samosir Island Samosir Island is a popular tourist destination due to the vistas it offers. The tourist resorts are concentrated in the Tuktuk area and Ambarita. The island is the center of the Batak culture and many of this people’s artifacts remain on the island. Almost all of the tourist accommodation are concentrated on the small town of Tuktuk, which is one hour ferry ride across the lake from the town of Parapat. 2. Jangga Village Jangga is a village of native Bataks, located in the hills, on the main road to...

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