|
Lake Toba, sumatra, is one of the island's spectacular sights
- a remarkable volcanic crater set in the middle of northern
Sumatra, 176 km from Medan. The lake is huge (the largest in
South-East Asia), occupying the caldera of a giant volcano that
collapsed on itself after a massive eruption some 100,000 years
ago.
 |
Sumatra is an island with a wealth of natural
resources and wildlife, massive rivers like muddy facsimiles of the
Amazon, and some interesting architecture. It is almost four times
the size of neighboring Java, but supports less than a quarter of
the population. During Dutch rule, it provided the world with large
quantities of oil, rubber, pepper and coffee, and these seemingly
inexhaustible resources continue to prop up the Indonesian economy
today. Sumatra is home to a number of differing races and people:
the former head-hunters and cannibals of the Batak regions; the
matrilineal Muslim Minangkabau and the primitive groups of the
Mentawai Islands.
Sumatra was the scene of numerous riots and
political protests during early 1998. Despite the return of relative
calm, the political situation remains uncertain and the economic
situation dire. If you are considering travelling to to Sumatra in
the near future, you are advised to contact your embassy and avail
yourself of the latest update on the security situation.
Medan (pop 1.5 million) is the capital of north
Sumatra and the third largest city in Indonesia. It is a huge,
sprawling city and a popular entry/exit point for travellers. The
solid Dutch buildings of the affluent older suburbs inspire images
of bloated bureaucrats and burghers from the colonial era, while
jerry-built lean-tos house the bulk of its population.
The
city's two finest buildings are the Istana Maimoon (Maimoun Palace)
and the magnificent black-domed Mesjid Raya. There are some fine
examples of European architecture along Jalan Sukarno-Hatta, such as
Bank Indonesia and the High Court. There are a number of museums,
including the Museum of North Sumatra, which has excellent coverage
of the region's culture and history, and the
weaponry-and-warfare-influenced Bukit Barisan Military Museum.
Cultural performances can be seen at Taman Budaya.
Much of
the budget accommodation is close to the city center. Jalan
Semarang, a small street between Jalan Pandu and Jalan Bandung, has
great food stalls offering Indonesian and Chinese meals late into
the night.
Berastagi
This picturesque hill town in the Karo
Highlands, 70km from Medan, is dominated by two volcanoes: Gunung
Sinabung and Gunung Sibayak. At 1300m above sea level, the climate
is pleasantly cool and the atmosphere refreshingly relaxed.
Travelers come to Berastagi to experience the culture of the Karo
Batak people and to go trekking. There are guided treks into the
Gunung Leuser National Park and to surrounding volcanoes and
attractions.
Bukittinggi
This easy-going mountain town has long
been one of Sumatra's most popular tourist destinations. Many
travellers heading north make Bukittinggi their first stop. The town
is sometimes referred to as Kota Jam Gadang (the 'Big Clock Town'),
after its best known landmark - the Minangkabau-style clock tower -
that overlooks the market square. A Dutch stronghold during the
Padri rebellion (1821-37), Bukittinggi is a center for Minangkabau
culture. It has a small university and is surrounded by three
mountains: Merapi, Singgalang and Sago.
Lake Toba
Lake Toba is another of the island's
spectacular sights - a remarkable volcanic crater set in the middle
of northern Sumatra, 176km from Medan. The lake is huge (the largest
in South-East Asia), occupying the caldera of a giant volcano that
collapsed on itself after a massive eruption some 100,000 years ago.
In comparison, Krakatau's 1883 effort was little more than a belch.
The lake is surrounded by steep mountains, ridges and sandy,
pine-sheltered beaches.
Samosir, the wedge-shaped island in the middle of the lake,
is thought to have been created by subsequent upheavals between
30,000 and 75,000 years ago.
Samosir has long been northern
Sumatra's premier attraction for travelers and has an abundant
supply of accommodation and eateries ringing the shoreline. The main
town in the area is Parapat, on the eastern shore of Lake
Toba.
 |
Aceh
Few travelers make it to Sumatra's
northernmost province. A pity, because it's a relaxed and friendly
place with a rich history. Aceh's population is a melding of
Indonesian, Arab, Tamil, Chinese and indigenous groups and,
curiously, some of
the tallest people in Indonesia live here. The
state is the most staunchly Muslim in the country and is run under
Islamic law. However, the Achenese also embrace animism, and
offerings and rituals continue to play an important part in their
lives.
Aceh's attractions range from the laid-back lifestyle of
the island Pulau We, the deserted beaches of the rugged west coast
and the jungle wilderness of Gunung Leuser National Park. The
national park, which is one of the largest in the world, includes
the Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, an area containing
orang-utans, gibbons, monkeys, elephants, tigers and the elusive
Sumatran rhinoceros. Getting There & Away
You can fly from
Jakarta to a number of places in Sumatra, and from Singapore, Penang
and Kuala Lumpur to Medan. There are ships/ferries between Java and
various ports in Sumatra. The Merak-Bakauheni ferry is probably the
most popular, but you can also go from Padang to Jakarta. There are
also ferriesbetween Penang and Medan; Melaka and Dumai; and
Singapore and Pakanburi via the Indonesian island of Tanjung
Pinang.
Music from Sumatra.
From all the Indonesian islands
Sumatra has a richest musical history. Their are uncountable songs,
performancers coming from different parts of Sumatra. Each part of
Sumatra has it own songs who have their rich history and
culture.
A
small selection of wellknown Sumatra songs are:
North Sumatra songs:
Aceh, Melayu Deli, Tapanuli (Batak), Karo,
Simalungun, Mandailing,
West and South Sumatra songs:
Palembang, Padang, Bengkulu, Lampung, Riau,
Nias.
Their are hundreds more to much to list
here.
|
The
world's smallest living tiger is down to fewer than 500
animals. Is there time to save it from
extinction?
Keeping Vigil
Crouched in
the lush rain forest of Indonesia's Kerinci-Sublat National
Park, a Sumatran tiger stalks its prey. This subspecies is one
of the last "island tigers," smaller and darker than its
cousins on mainland Asia. Tigers disappeared on the islands of
Java and Bali in the past 50 years due to human overcrowding
and habitat destruction. The same fate could befall the cats
on neighboring Sumatra, where fewer than 500 tigers remain in
the wild.
Cool Cat
During the island's hot season, Sumatran tigers spend
much of their daytime wading in streams to keep cool. Like
their mainland counterparts, these cats don't mind getting
wet, but they do differ from their kin in other ways. The
average Sumatran tiger weighs 125 kilograms (275 lbs.), about
half that of the Siberian or Indian versions. Longer cheek
hair and closer-set, narrower stripes on a more vivid orange
background also make the cat unique.
High Hopes
The Sumatran
tiger's large, squarish head may seem out of proportion with
its compact body, but the predator's build is ideal for
preying on such small species as mouse deer. An upcoming
survey of the Sumatran tiger and its prey, conducted by
Minnesota Zoo biologist Ron Tilson, should reveal the cat's
survival prospects. There is hope: Sumatra has 21 national
parks, some spanning 30,000 square kilometers (11,580 sq.mi.)
or more, and poaching is limited. "With better management of
the smaller reserves and education programs to engender local
support," Tilson says, "the tigers may have a fighting
chance." |
|
