[Journey] Medan Toba 2013 - 2 decades friendship

Sesuai plan 2 tahun lalu waktu kita ke Jogja, our next trip will be North Sumatra. As always, the fix schedule is confirm after Mira, miss expat, arrives from her current base, Germany. Secara waktu jalan-jalannya cuma sebentar jadi kita focus on lake Toba and Medan. A bit curious to see the new airport Kuala Namu, since many people said it is the most modern airport in Indonesia.

And here we go :) ..  leaving Kuala Namu (similar to Terminal 3 - GGK laah, but they have train to the city) at 10.30 am, our first destination is Taman Simalem Resort, at Merek Hills nearby Tongging village, an hour from Brastagi. Its about 4 hours from the airport and we only stop by for lunch at RM Garuda at Sibolangit city. Make sure you have some drink water and snack before you leave Medan, coz its a long ride with many curves, tanjakan turunan kelokan gitu lah.

But its worthy. See the beautiful scenery we have from the balcony of our lodge.

We booked family lodge costs Rp.1.8million per night for a room with 4 beds, its inclusive dinner-breakfast and tour program (i.e. jungle trekking, farmers tour, coffee roasting, labirin etc). The room is clean and spacious, there are 2 mini tv inside, however the toilet and shower is outside the room (4 toilets & 4 showers in each floor).

 -- the family room, mind the messy bed cover please :p --

 -- shower & toilet --

 -- the homy sitting room--

We check in at 15.30, upon had the fresh orange juice as welcome drink, the guest relation, Ms. Pinta, offers if we want to have tour around the orange farms and walk to the small waterfall nearby the tree house. Sure, we can't say no :)

We also visited the honeymoon suite, eucalyptus, its nice with the open air jacuzzi close to the river.

Buffet Dinner was also nice, they have an expat chef with a good knowledge of Indonesian food. I enjoy the green pineapple drink and the clear soup, it was perfect for a cold night. 
Back to the lodge, we spend sometime for chats and laughs, testing new breathable nail enamel, and sleep at 01.00 am.
Wake up again around 4.30, huaa we almost late for the sunrise hunting, fortunately our neighbour inform, yesterday they fail to see sunrise, too cloudy, seems like it will be the same for today, hmm blessing in disguise, we don't feel guilty for wake up late hahaha. But still we go to the view point, and just take a picture of its surrounding.

Miss Pinta, as discussed before, take us to the twin waterfall, to get there we need to walk 1.5 hours through the jungle.. the track is slippery but clear enough, so i guess no one will get lost here.. we meet some monkeys and couple of orang utan, playing happily above the trees, some birds flying and singing, so lively and lovely..

 

 

finally we get there... its not too big, surely nothing compare to the Sipiso Piso waterfall, but it looks good with some layers.

 

 

Back to the lodge, we clean up and be ready for breakfast, they offer Indonesian style (nasi goreng) and American style (toast and omelete), as usual i choose toast and two boiled egg. At 10.00 we leave the Taman Simalem Resort, heading to Samosir Island. 

It takes 3 hours from Taman Simalem to Samosir Island via Tongging, we stop a while at Tongging for taking pictures, the view from Penatapan Tower is so breathtaking, beautiful, too bad, the tower is not managed well. 

Reach the Samosir island, we try to find some meals, it almost 2pm, starved to the max. It's difficult to find halal food in Samosir island, Thank God there is one moslem restaurant, small but fine lah, better than nothing. Feel enough, we go to Tomok port, to catch Ferry to Parapat. Along the way we see many traditional house, where the pets lives below the house.

Aaahhh we missed the 4pm Ferry, have to wait for the next which is 7pm, hiks have to forget my plan to stop by at Roti Ganda, Pematang Siantar. Mau kemana lagi juga bingung, akhirnya nunggu aja di mobil. Sampe Parapat langsung makan malam di deket kantor pos, enak dan puas dan murah hahaha. Reach Medan at 1pm, we stay at Hermes Palace Hotel. 

Day 3, yippiee our culinary day. Start with breakfast, we planned to skip BF at hotel, but we think we need a cup of coffee or tea and some fruits for starter, then we stop by at their rooftop restaurant, no regret, their coffee is very nice.

Our first target today is Bihun Bebek Asie at Jl. Kumango, I went there once, it was so delicious and have read some reference in internet mentioning that it is halal, so, a must to visit again. We take Bentor (becak motor) in front of the hotel, cost Rp.15.000 one way. deal. Mira and Lani enjoyed it very much.

Takes only 7 minutes, and we arrived at Bihun Bebek Asie, all table is occupied, except the one close to the stove, huaaa panasss. Waited for 15 minutes. Good decision to order 2 only instead of 4 portion, it is a big portion. Two years ago it cost Rp.35.000, now Rp.50.000 per portion, but its worthed. The bihun aka rice noodle is so delicate, thick duck meat, and the fried garlic make it so yummy.

Overeating, we decided to go walking back to the hotel, through Jl. Kesawan, we stop by at the historical building Cong Afie Mansion, it reminds me to Blue Mansion at Penang island Malaysia, they are similar, also belongs to the powerful and richest Chinese taipan in the past, but i think this one is slightly bigger.

Our hotel is located in a very strategic area (at least for our culinary purpose), within 15mins walk from the Bihun Bebek, we reach the hotel. And just realize there are some food stall in its surrounding, including the Wajir Seafood, one of our target for this evening.

It is just a starter, we will have some more destination to go, Bika Ati, Bolu Meranti, Manisan Jambu, Soto Sinar Pagi, Duren Ucok, Jala-jala (pancake durian), Sate Kerang, Mie Titi Bobrok, Roti Tissu, Seafood Wajir... to be continued.. hahhaha