On the way to Lake Toba, Indonesia

 an appreciation to all the staff, my partner and I decided to treat them with a trip to Lake Toba. Its and excellent beauty of Indonesia, located in Medan.
My family went  a day earlier, as many advised that all company directors should not travel in the same plane. My partner and the other staff arrived at 9:30. I could tell everyone arrived with a happy looks, greeted by our jolly looking Tour Guide, Lisan. 
 
Our tour started with a short stop at Maimoen Palace. The local representative did well in his explanation about the Sultan and the descendants. The current Sultan is only 12 years old of age. For the second time within 2 months I sat on the 100yrs old chair of the earliest queen, Queen Maimoonah.
   
Next, we went to ‘Pasar Ikan’ (means Fish Market). Its is just a name. Not a single fish is sold there. We did our ladies shopping, while the men were just standing by the road side, waiting, but could not run away from those approaching sellers. RP60K-80K for (USD20-USD30) a leather belt. They will chase you all the way until you buy, just to shut them off. That happened to my husband.
   
It was hot and humid noon. We rested for a good lunch at Angkasa Hotel. One of the 5-star hotel in town. While my son stood straight, wide awake and eage, others' sons fell asleep on the lunch table. Poor guys.

Right after lunch we shoot off to our destination. 3.5 hours on the road was quite a torture for the others who just disembarked a plane. But not to me. I stayed wide awake and played with my camera along the way.
           
We made a quick stop at Permatang Siantar, at a shop selling dried food, which locally called’ Tang-Tang, Ting-Ting,Teng-Teng’. Sounds interesting.
 
next, we had our tea-time at a restaurant, famous of its family recipe, ‘Sup Kambing’ (Mutton Soup) and ‘Tomat Sumbat’ (Stuffed Tomato). I was too busy enjoying the food that I forgot to take pictures of my long-time-thought soup. The Priangan Restaurant belongs to a close relative of my husband. Siantar is a nostagic place for him.
 
Off we continued to our destination. Supposed to be 1.3 hours bus journey took us almost about 3 hours, having heavilly need-repaired bus, which could hardly climb the mountain. Anyway, that was a great experience. At Parapat town, worried of our ailing bus, Lisan transferred us to an open-concept transport. The whether was cooling. We reached safely at Niagara Hotel, at 8pm, seeing darkness, no lake.
 
Our tiresome replaced by happiness during dinner, entertained by a group of musician and singers. This ‘Batak’ (Race originally from Indonesia) place is full of singers. Batak people are well known of their singing ability. Lisan sings very well too.

 

Our morning was full of Wow.!!, Oh my God..!!, so nice..!!, so beautiful..!!. I could not elaborate further. Just look for yourself through these pictures.

Next posting I will tell about our trip to Samosir Island, located in the middle of the lake, built through Toba Mount volcano eruption happened many-many years ago.