Toba Lake - North Sumatera

Toba Lake

World famous is the crater Toba Lake in the Batak highlands; approximately five hours drive from Medan. Toba Lake is the largest lake in South East Asia and also one of the most spectacular, surrounded by tall mountains and with the large island of Samosir in the middle. If we descend from the mountain we see the lake glittering in all its beauty. The Dutch writer Rudy Kousbroek even called Toba Lake, 'the most beautiful place on earth'. Most visitors stay on the peninsula of Tuk Tuk on Samosir, named after the linguist Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk. In general people stay several days on Samosir to discover the island, to visit traditional Batak villages, to swim in the lake and go to the hot springs in Pangururan.

The centerpiece of North Sumatra, Lake Toba's bracing climate and magnificent panoramas clear the mind and soothe the soul. For decades a magnet from regional and foreign visitors alike, Toba has developed into a full-featured highland resort while retaining the rustic charm and relaxed ambiance that define Toba's attraction. Formed by a stupendous prehistoric volcanic explosion, the 100 km long lake is the largest in Southeast Asia and one of the deepest and the highest in the world. The drama of that cataclysmic birth persist in 500 meter cliffs dropping into the blue-green waters, surrounded by steep, pine covered sloped, the climate is fresh and pleasant, with just enough rain to support the lush vegetation.

Toba Lake is a 100kms x 30kms volcanic lake in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Toba Lake has become one of the main tourist attractions for a long time in North Sumatra apart from Bukit Lawang and Nias, visited by both domestic and foreign tourist.

The Origin of Toba Lake

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It is estimated that Toba Lake was formed during a volcanic eruption about 73.000-75.000 years ago and which was the most recent super volcano eruption. Bill Rose and Craig Chesner from Michigan Technological University estimated that volcanic materials that were spewed out the mountain totaling 2800km3, with 800km3 ignimbrites rock and 2000km3 volcanic ash that is estimated was blown (wind) to the west for 2 weeks. This incident caused mass death (destruction) and to several species also causes extinction. According to some DNA proof, this eruption also shrinks the humankind population to around thousands back then.

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After this eruption, a caldera was formed that was filled by water afterwards and now known as Toba Lake. The pressure from the dormant magma, which has not yet erupted, caused Samosir Island to emerge. The region that now known as Samosir Island originally was a peninsula that attached to the Sumatran mainland. In this peninsula the Netherlands built the water canal 10 m width.

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For the first time visitors, going through Medan-Parapat route seeing a lake as big as that made Samosir appear like an amazing grand island. However, the island perspective will certainly faded with the increase in Toba plateau visitor, Nias and the other places in the south, through Medan-Berastagi route. Samosir occupied a central geographical position in the Toba plateau region. With the declaration of the Toba Samosir Regency (the inhabitants 302.000 lives, the area with wide of 3.440 km including the lake) it finally ascend from only a shadow into a Regency. Moreover, the width of Samosir Island exceed Singapore (647 km), in fact Toba Lake almost twice bigger than Singapore. The Samosir image in tourism books as the backpackers location must be changed because this historic place must restore the greatness of its past.

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Legend of Toba Lake
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Once upon a time, lived a young orphan farmer in the northern part of the Sumatran Island. This area was very dry. The young man lived from farming and fishing. One day he went fishing, he already fishing for half of the day but still not getting any fish yet. So he returned home for the day turns to night, but when he nearly left he saw a big beautiful golden fish, he then caught the fish and brought it home. He intended to cook the fish right away but watched the beauty of this fish he then cancelled his intention. He chose to keep it as pet, and then he placed it in a big pond and feed it. On the next day, like usual, he went to his farm, and on the noon he comeback home, to have lunch. But when he arrived in his house he was very startled for the meal had prepared to be eaten. He then fears that the fish might be stolen, and then hastily he ran to the back of his house.

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However, the fish was still in place, for a long time he thinks, "Who cooks those meals", but because his is very hungry, he ate those meals. But this incident continued to occur again repeatedly, every time he came home for lunch, the meals are prepared on the table. Then one day this young man made a strategy to find out who cooks those meals, the next day he then began to commence his strategy, he then hide around the trees close to his house. He was waiting for a long time, but the smoke in his kitchen still has not been seen, and when he then intended to return home, he began to see the smoke in the kitchen.

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"Hey woman, who are you, and where are you came from?" the woman began to drop tears, and then the young man saw his fish was no longer in the pond. He asked the woman, "hey woman, where is the fish in that pond?" the Woman cried intensely, but this young man continued to ask
and finally the woman answers, "I was the fish that was caught by you". The young man then startled, but because he felt that he had hurt the feelings this woman, then he said, "Hey woman, did you want to become my wife??" the Woman then startled, he stay quiet, then the young man said "Why are you silent??" Then the woman said, "I wanted to become your wife. But with one condition." "What is the condition?" the young man quickly asked, the woman then said, "In the future if our child was born and grew, never even once you said that he/she was anakni Dekke (child of a fish) ". The young man then agreed to that condition and swore he will never say it.
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Then they were married and granted a child. When the child was 6 years old, this child turn to be very naughty. Then one day the mother told her child to deliver meals to his father field, the child then went to deliver rice to his father. But in the middle of the trip, this child was felt hungry, then the child opened food package for his father, and ate the food. After finished eating, the child then wrapped it back and continued the trip to his father's field. On arrival the child gave the food package to the father, the father was very happy, the father then sat and immediately opened the food package that was sent by his wife to be carried by his child. But he was very startled when he opened the package there is only bones remained. The father then asked his child "Hay my child, why there are only bones left in this package??" And the child answers," In my trip I felt hungry, so I ate the food." Listened to that the father was very angry, he then slap his child and said, "Botul maho anakni dekke (Why you child of a fish),". The child is then ran home crying and ask to his mother "Mak, Olo do na in dokkon amangi, botul do au anakni dekke? (Mother, is it true what father said, that I am a child from a fish?) " Heard his child's words his mother was startled. While dropping tears and saying in her heart, "My husband has violated his swore, and now I must return to my place." Then the sky was suddenly become dark followed with lightning, thunder, storm, and rain. The child and the mother disappeared, from their footprint emerged a spring that flowed water as swiftly as possible. Until this area was turned into a lake, that was named as "Tuba Lake" the lake without mercy, but because of the bataks was difficult to say "Tuba", then this lake was mentioned as TOBA LAKE.

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According to the local Citizen, the mother return as a huge fish (the lake guardian), and until today no one is able to measure the depth of this lake. Many tourists that tried to dive into the lake but never return. The lake depth in the book is only estimation not as a fact.

Jalan Jaksa- Jakarta Backpacker's Tourist Place

As all backpacker districts, Jalan Jaksa is home to many bars and cafes where travellers can let their uncombed hair down. There are about 5 places that serve as restaurants during daytime and turn into cafes at night.

Jalan Jaksa on a Saturday night attracts a lively crowd of backpackers, locals and expats, intermingling in every possible way. Locals mostly see Jalan Jaksa as their way out of the somewhat restricted environment of Indonesian society and as a perfect place to spot foreign girls. Expats seem to have the same agenda, but their target being Indonesian girls.

On the south side we have the Romance café, a dark tinted small place where indeed romance is the last thing one would expect to happen. Ya Udah, the popular bistro is a quieter place for a beer, opened til 02.00 on weekends and charging 16.000 for a large Bintang Further down the road on the right side a dodgy dark place that goes by the name of Ali's bar is mostly frequented by Africans in town for 'business'.

Next to that the Memories café is a boisterous two storey bar with life music and a crowd to match. There's a lot of dancing and screaming going on til late so people seem to enjoy hemselves here.

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On the opposite of the street BFC café and bar is one of the best options, spurring an outside terrace with nice lighting. Beers are around 15.000 Rp. And simple meals are served all night long. Inside there's a pool table and some less cozy seating arrangements.

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At the end of Jalan Jaksa there's a popular café called Absolut Bar, with a more neutral atmosphere, a mixed crowd and a large collection of booze behind the bar. It actually consists of two small storeys, and on the top floor they squeezed a pool table in, so the place fills up fast, and the temperature increases with every visitor.

Jalan Jaksa's nightlife is neither classy nor very special. By day it already has a slightly seedy atmosphere and by night, this only seems to get worse. It is however the perfect opportunity to meet up with other travelers and locals so put on your dancing shoes and trot off to one of the fine establishments this area has to offer.

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Apart from hotels Jalan Jaksa has several places to get some decent grub for small cash. Although most places serve standard backpackers fare and Europeanized Indonesian food, portions are big and have more comfortable sitting arrangements than the street side warungs.
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Ya Udah on Jalan Jaksa No. 49 is a Swiss run bistro with an interesting menu offering both Indonesian dishes as Swiss rosti and a section called 'sausage eldorado' with a list of, you guessed it, sausages ranging from French merguez to German frankfurters . It also has a small bakery near the entrance with homemade pies and whole wheat bread. A light and airy place with friendly service and moderate prices.(breakfasts at Rp. 20.000-30.000 and mains at Rp. 30.000-40.000)
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Pappa's on Jalan Jaksa No. 41a is a dark and scruffy establishment that features loud music, uninterested staff and watery curries. The atmosphere is further enlightened by the loitering Indonesian girls and their middle-aged foreign 'friends'. (curries from Rp. 16.000-25.000)
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Memories on No. 17a has a similar menu, but has a slightly better décor. It has two floors and at night transforms into a popular café, with a rough raunchy ambiance. Expect the same clientele as Pappa's, prices are slightly higher.
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Next door's Margot Café is part of the hotel of the same name. It is one of the most popular digs in the neighbourhood and is good enough for simple breakfasts and snacks. This place as well serves as a crowded bar at night.
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Jasa Bundo is a padang restaurant with the typical décor of plates displayed in the front window and white tiles with simple tables and chairs. The food however is excellent, especially the spicy shrimps and terong (aubergine). Too bad prices are steep, even for padang food standards, which usually is more expensive than regular Indonesian food.
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If you want the real thing and think your stomach can handle it, there's an excellent warung called Miraos at Jalan HA Salim, parallel to Jalan Jaksa on the way to Sarinah mall. It is packed during lunchtime with office workers lining up for a quick bite before returning to work. You choose the dishes by pointing them out and have to remember what you got on your plate because payment is afterwards and they rely on your memory to create the bill. Prices are cheap; expect to have a full plate for around Rp. 10.000
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Finally, for those who are tired of the Jalan Jaksa ambiance (how could you ever?) there's a recently opened restaurant on Jalan KH Wahid Hasyim No. 87 with a gado gado to die for. It is called Gado Gado Boplo and both the smart interior as the food is excellent.
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Prices are comparable or even cheaper to those in Jalan Jaksa, but the food is way better and the change of environment is refreshing to say the least. (mains Rp. 11.000-20.000)
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Enjoy Jalan Jaksa!

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Holiday in Macau - About Macau

A Brief History

Fishermen from Fujian and farmers from Guangdong were the first known settlers in Macau, when it was known as Ou Mun, or "trading gate", because of its location at the mouth of the Pearl River downstream from Guangzhou (Canton). During ancient times port city was part of
the Silk Road with ships loading here with silk for Rome.

Even after China ceased to be a world trade centre, Guangzhou prospered from seaborne business with the countries of Southeast Asia, so the local entrepreneurs welcomed the arrival of Portuguese merchant-explorers. They followed in the wake of Jorge Alvares, who landed in southern China in 1513, and set about finding suitable trading posts.

In the early 1550s the Portuguese reached Ou Mun, which the locals also called A Ma Gao, "place of A Ma", in honour of the Goddess of Seafarers, whose temple stood at the entrance to the sheltered Inner Harbour. The Portuguese adopted the name, which gradually changes into
the name Macau, and with the permission of Guangdong's mandarins, established a city that within a short time had become a major entrepot for trade between China, Japan, India and Europe.

It also became the perfect crossroad for the meeting of East and West cultures. The Roman Catholic church sent some of its greatest missionaries to continue the work of St Francis Xavier, (who died nearby after making many converts in Japan). A Christian college was built, beside what is now today's Ruins of St Paul's, where students such as Matteo Ricci prepared for their work as Christian scholars at the Imperial Court in Beijing. Other churches were built, as well as fortresses, which gave the city an historical European appearance that distinguishes it to this day.

Portugal's golden age in Asia faded as rivals like the Dutch and British took over their trade. However the Chinese chose to continue to do business through the Portuguese in Macau, so for over a century the British East India Company and others set up shop here in rented houses like the elegant Casa Garden. As Europe's trade with China grew, the European merchants spent part of the year in Guangzhou, buying tea and Chinese luxuries at the bi-annual fairs, using Macau as a recreational retreat.

Following the Opium War in 1841, Hong Kong was established by Britain and most of the foreign merchants left Macau, which became a quaint, quiet backwater. Nevertheless it has continued to enjoy a leisurely multicultural existence and make daily, practical use of its historical buildings, in the process becoming a favourite stopover for international travellers, writers and artists.

In modern times Macau has developed industries such as textiles, electronics and toys, as well as building up an a world class tourist industry with a wide choice of hotels, resorts, sports facilities, restaurants and casinos. As in the past, Macau's economy is closely inked to that of Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, in particular the earl River Delta region, which qualifies as one of Asia's "little igers". Macau provides financial and banking services, staff raining, transport and communications support.

Macau is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of hina since 20 December 1999, and, like Hong Kong, benefits from the rinciple of "one country, two systems". The tiny SAR is growing in ize - with more buildings on reclaimed land - and in the number and iversity of its attractions. The greatest of these continues to be macau's unique society, with communities from the East and West complementing each other, and the many people who come to visit.

Location and Area

The Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) is a part of China's territory. It is located on the Southeast coast of China to the western bank of the Pearl River Delta, at latitude 22º 14' North, longitude 113º 35' East. Bordering on Guangdong Province, it locates 60km from Hong Kong and 145km from the city of Guangzhou.

The Macau Special Administrative Region has an area of 29.2 sq. km, comprised of the Macau Peninsula (with 9.3 sq. km and connected to Mainland China), the islands of Taipa (6.7 sq. km) and Coloane (7.6 sq. km) and the reclaimed area COTAI (5.6 sq. km). The three bridges connecting Macau to Taipa are Nobre de Carvalho (2.5 km long), the Friendship Bridge (4.5 km long) and Sai Van Bridge (2.2 km long). The longest one (Friendship Bridge) leads directly to Macau International Airport located on the Island of Taipa. The Sai Van Bridge, which was opened on 9 January 2005, is the first cable-stayed bridge in Macau.

The double deck bridge has six lanes in the upper deck and two in the lower, which will open under inclement weather conditions. The islands are connected by a causeway which is 2.2 km long.

Besides the Barrier Gate (Portas do Cerco), the visitor can access Mainland China through the COTAI Frontier Post. Immigration and Customs are located in the reclaimed area between the islands of Taipa and Coloane.