Insurmountable Sumatra

By boldly approaching mere strangers, I made my first friends in Medan, Indonesia's third largest city. Flustered after the trip from hell, see previous blog entry, I asked two girls eating at a restaurant about cheap accommodations. The Women were most helpful and one of them even led me to a nearby guest house. After checking into the Blue Angel, I joined the new acquaintances for dinner and as sole female travelers, we shared stories and bonded over the difficulties of traveling alone. I also picked up some insightful information about traveling in Sumatra, an island almost the size of France, as well as a traveling partner. Kate and I would make our way to Lake Toba, four hours south of Medan. The following day, a private seven person taxi took us on a wild, opposite lane changing ride as the road raged driver dared other cars and buses on a seemingly never ending game of chicken. Concerned for our safety and for the car sick woman sitting on the back seat, we asked numerous times for the driver to slow down but to no avail. Dizzy but in awe, we scaled the winding road that snaked around the volcano to see the still blue waters at its mouth. Danau Toba, is the largest lake in southeast Asia. At the Lake's center, floats Samosir island, where the Batak people welcome backpackers in Tuk-Tuk with their smiling round faces, tantalizing Tuak, palm tree liquor, and their extremity coordinating dances. Once at our desired destination, we spent a relaxed four days swimming in the sulfuric water, breathless from the panoramic vistas. In Tuk-Tuk, I made more friend to share Bintang beers with and even learned to drive a motor bike as the local children laughed at the staling engine. It was with a heavy heart that I parted ways not only with my new friends but with enormous Lake Toba. But on to new destinations I went where fury orange friends awaited me in Bukit Lawang.

From curious orangutans to the relaxing shores of Pulau Weh, a tiny island where hilly beach bungalows sigh for the return of the convivial tourists that were driven off by the 2004 tsunami and political unrest, Sumatra has much to offer. But given its sheer size, my time limitations, and the many other exotic corners of Indonesia waiting to be explored by yours truly, I must say adieu to north Sumatra after only two weeks. So goodbye insurmountable Sumatra or perhaps until next time.