Horaaas! :D
Mulak tu huta in Mandailing language has a meaning of going back to kampong. ;)
Rather be late than not at all, it’s been a past story actually, but I love to make a post about Gembil’s trip and family last year Lebaran holiday when we went to North Sumatera. This is a hometown of Gembil’s mother.
This trip had become Gembil’s chance of getting closer to know the origin of my mother. Fun! We had a chance to visit Danau Toba, one of the biggest lakes in Indonesia with its uniqueness, the island of Samosir in the middle of it. Also, a chance to go to the real kampong where my great grandfather came from, since my mom grew up in Medan, and she seldom went back to her truly kampong so she also knew only a little about her kampong. My mom is Siregar, because my grandfather is Siregar, unfortunately, I don’t have this clan name, I can’t inherit it cause my father is not a Bataknese. That’s why I lost this clan name, because clan name in Batak people is received through patrilineal line. Hohohoo… ^^v
There are so many interesting things when you go to some places which are not usual like you live every day.
Medan, this capital city of North Sumatera is very famous with its traffic, hell yeah same with Jakarta! However, it’s not that hectic like Jakarta, not every day, not every hour, but when it comes to traffic, it will surely do the worst traffic ever than you can imagine. In addition, humidity in this city is also high, so don’t hesitate if you easily get sweat, thus the heat may make your skin sun burnt too. Therefore prepare your sun block, every time you want to go out, you should apply it. Very recommended! Unless you want your skin has a different colour, especially skin-face for you who wear hijab, between those covered with hijab and those which was not covered.
 |
| Pose before check-in :p what I wore: unbranded brown ninja inner, thamrin city red brick hoodie t's, ITC batik pashmina, Tods red brick handbag |
So, our adventure this time started by taking Citilink from Jakarta to Medan. This airline, like the other low cost carrier airlines has a very narrow space between its seats. However, I feel comfortable inside its cabin, the air-con worked very well, can be said too well until it made me chilled. Arriving there, Gembil and family had already welcomed with the loud echo sound of takbir, subhanallah! You know what interesting, having malam takbiran by getting around Medan city without taking off our luggage first in my aunt’s house, directly from Polonia airport, car full of packs and luggage, we enjoyed every moment of malam takbiran that night! Alhamdulillah…
 |
| Visiting one of my relatives' house in Medan |
The street was very crowded with people in their vehicle, car, bike, tricycle motorbike alias becak motor, yaap this unique ride can only be found if you visit Medan. We passed through the Kampung Keling, and there are so many firework street-vendors. Why is it called Kampung Keling? Based on my mom’s story, the people who love in Kampung Keling came from India, that’s why Medan people love to call it Kampung Keling. :D
 |
| Betor a.k.a Becak Motor |
Hari Raya in Medan is not so different with any other cities in Indonesia. You visit your relatives, chit chat, have a big time eating, eating, and eating again… Until you feel fed up of food and your tummy may not receive any more food (baca: kekenyangan)! Hahaha… :)))
That’s also what I feel in Medan, what made it different is the kind of food. Yeay! This is my favourite part when it comes to food.
1. Roti Jala
This food originally comes from India and was adopted by Indonesia. You may also find this food in Aceh. In Aceh, this food is famous served with goat curry and accompanied by pineapple. Well this time, I got my roti jala served with chicken curry, yuuuuuum! ^^
Roti jala is actually a pancake but shaped like nets. The main ingredients are only flour, eggs and water. I will write on another post about how to make roti jala based on my aunt’s recipe... ;)
 |
| 1 |
 |
| 2 |
2. Pulut Ketan
This is still a part of ketupat’s family, but the main ingredient is different, ketupat use rice as the basic source, on the other hand pulut use sticky rice. Pulut usually served with tape (fermented sticky rice) or, again, curry/rendang. You may find pulut served in West Sumatera too.
Don’t forget to explore the greatness taste of Durian when you come to North Sumatera, especially in August-September, because this is the time when this fruit is in harvest. Lucky me! Gembil had a durian festivity because Hari Raya last year was still on September! \^_^/
 |
| Ready for durian festivity! |
Gembil visited many tourism spot in Medan, Tjong A Fie mansion, but we didn’t have time to take picture, so sorry… :( Masjid Raya was the chosen place to have Eid shalat in 1 Syawal morning. Luckily, we saw the Sultan of Deli complete with their families and relatives, who also took Eid shalat in Masjid Raya, Medan. When we visited Maimoon Palace, we had a chance to have photoshoot using Putri Deli outfit, here you are… My little sister and me in Melayu Deli outfit. Beautiful isn’t it?! ^^v
 |
| Maimoon Palace |
 |
| In front of Masjid Raya before Eid shalat |
 |
| Had a chance to hand-shake with Sultan Deli ^^v |
 |
| Sultan Deli |
 |
| In front of Masjid Raya after Eid pray |
You can rent the outfit in the Maimoon Palace for only IDR 25,000.- and the lessor will kindly assist you to take your picture. The outfits are available for man and woman, complete with its accessories. Unfortunately, considering its condition now, it is not well-maintained :(, the local government of Medan should pay more attention to this historical site.
Now, we move on to Gembil mother’s kampong. This place is called Batang Toru, South Tapanuli, well, it’s the origin of Gembil’s great grandfather, on the other hand, for Gembil’s great grandmother origin, the kampong’s name is Napa. Batang Toru and Napa is only ±3 KMs away, by BeTor (tricycle motorbike a.k.a becak motor) you can reach Napa from Batang Toru with less than 15 minutes. But from Medan… wooooooohoooooooo it’s such a long journey! X_X
 |
| My grandmother's house in Napa village |
You can take 2 route to reach Batang Toru, via Sipirok or Sibolga, nothing’s better! Even if you choose Sipirok, it is worse than worst. FYI, a couple months before Lebaran, there was a bus accident, after the machine broke down, this bus fell into the abyss because of slippery and worst asphalt road. 15 of the passengers died, most of them are women and children. Tragic! See the detail of this tragic accident in here, here, and here.
 |
| Mimosa Pudica alias Putri Malu plant which I captured behind my grandmother house |
12 hours on road by easy and comfortable driving (read: if you use personal driver with based on request speed), 10 hours on road by rock n roll driving (read: if you use public transport), hahaha! It does! So Medan-Batang Toru will feel like Jakarta-Yogyakarta by car but not through tollway, it’s more off-road by the way… what makes the trip worse is the condition of the road. You know, you drive along the Sumatera forest in your left and right, the road itself should pass the mountain cliff, and the asphalt condition of the road is the most pathetic evaaaa!!! Nobody feel responsible for the safety of others who have the trip using this route. Knock, knock, what is the local government do? Work? No I don’t think so!
Trip back to Medan, we tried to spend a little time visiting Lake Toba, this was also the first time I got here! Poor me! Hahaha… :))
 |
| On the boat, getting ready to cross to Samosir Island with my mom, aunts, and uncle |
 |
| Scenery captured from my boat |
 |
| The famous hanging-stone |
 |
| Samosir Island from the middle of Lake Toba |
I suggested you not to go to Lake Toba during big day like I did, because if you got access on public holiday, you will surely hard to find car-park, another thing is comfy reason, crowded, too many people inside, and when you want to get across to Samosir Island, you have to fight with other passengers to get on your boat. For notes, inang-inang soul in North Sumatera can’t hardly fight! Everyone wanted to be the first who get into the boat. Push and pull is inevitable! X_X
 |
| Beautiful isn't it?! The scenery I mean... xoxo |
 |
| Si Gale Gale Menari |
 |
| Rumah Bolon in Tomok, Samosir Island |
Ah, I almost forgot to write about how rich our country in fact is! Nowadays, in Batang Toru, there is a gold mining project which is currently in production. Gembil got a chance to take a look at this mining place even only see the gate. The mining spot takes place right behind my great grandmother house in Napa village, South Tapanuli, here these pictures of mining which I tried to capture…
 |
| Access to mining site from behind my grandmother's house |
My kampong is also famous for its latex production, and this picture I took from one of my relative’s house, his job is to cultivate latex from its trees, this is the form of latex after getting collected together before selling.
 |
| Don't get too close... the smell oh no can make you collapse! :p |
Well then, that’s a long story about my exciting North Sumatera journey, I hope you could have a chance to visit my hometown and to see the beautiful of Sumatera, and of course the richness of Indonesia. My grandmother once told me, that so long ago, there was a song in Mandailing language, and this song told us that in the land of South Tapanuli contained richness will never run out, in the form of gold. This is an evidence that our great great great grandmother so long ago had found out that our land is very rich actually, Indonesia has so many natural resources that can be used to enrich our nation, now, it’s coming back to us, as Indonesia young generation, on how to preserve the abundant wealth of our country so that it will not go to other countries' hands.
Thank you for reading… Salaaam! :)
Comments