58) The centre of the Batak culture at Lake Toba

Asia » Indonesia » Sumatra » Lake Toba
August 18th 2005

Published: September 12th 2005

Our sightseeing trip from Bukit Lawang to Lake Toba was undertaken in a minibus, which by itself was not really uncomfortable but we felt the bad road conditions (potholes etc.) much more strongly. The first part of the trip led us back to Medan, crossing wide plantations of oil palms whose fruits were just being picked and transported to oil mills, and huge plantations of gum trees. The crossing ... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 36, Displayed: 21

Batak houses on Samosir Island

On our walk around the Tuk Tuk peninsula we had the chance to discover a lot of traditional houses that were mentioned in no guidebook

Tuk Tuk Peninsula landscape

Beautiful Batak house surrounded by rice paddies and local people walking by

Ambarita

Entrance to the historic site at Ambarita near the jetty at Siallagan village

Ambarita overview

Batak houses and a group of 300 years old stone chairs

Is she guilty or innocent?

Such questions were debated at the village council represented by the stone chairs

Batak museum in Ambarita

A Batak house was transformed into a small but nevertheless instructive museum

Batak house decoration

Closeup of a decorative wooden element on the Batak museum in Ambarita

Stone ladder up to a Batak house

Since the living space of a Batak house is always on the first floor, ladders are logically needed to enter the house. This one was special due to its material, normally they are made of wood

Gang of Ambarita

Local kids posturing on a balcony

Happy kids in Tuk Tuk

We came across these kids who were singing when we passed them, and were very happy about our applause

Old and new

Some old Batak houses have been extended by modern concrete buildings which have however kept the typical roof

Decrepit but still standing

Here the fenced off area below the living space is clearly visible

Stephan and the jackfruit

Together with the stinky durian the jackfruit is one of the most impressive fruit of South-East Asia

Klaudia and the flowers

These beautiful exotic flowers reminded her of mini Christmas trees

Hiding in the tree

This tree was so huge that Stephan could easily have hidden inside it

24th October 2005

Mimi, Bernard THOYER
non-member comment

Souvenirs ...
Chers Stephan et Claudia, nous suivons votre passionnant voyage qui nous rappelle nos voyages passés, et tout particulièrement cette région d'Indonésie que nous avions beaucoup aimée. Bonne continuation et gros bisous.

27th September 2007

Angelique Nasution
non-member comment

Thank you....
Hi I just wanted to thank you for sharing your experience at Lake Toba. To see your amazing photos is wonderful Thank you so much for this. I hope one day I can travel over there and see how my Batak Ancestors lived and what my people are all about. Take care, Angelique

8th September 2008

aldi nainggolan
non-member comment

Stephan and Klaudia, this is a great job you have been doing especially to report whatever you have seen during your travelling. I visited several times that island but never reached many places like you did. Good jobs and hope foreigners or tourist do not forget this Island forever in their hard.

31st October 2008

Darwin Marpaung
non-member comment

Great pictures and notes
Thnks so much for visiting Batak heritage, our village and home. This can be a valuable story telling to share with our children who are now living far away from that place.

9th June 2009

ZInajda
non-member comment

I do have one word for all this
- FANTASTIC

2nd December 2009

mitchelle tobing
non-member comment

verry good
wah, informasinya sangat membantu saya dalam menyampaikan info budaya melalui media elektronika. sbg penulis naskah, kadang saya bingung nyari info kebudayaan. tapi dengan adanya info ini, jadi tau deh tentang kampung sendiri. Kueren abiezzz

2nd January 2010

sawizar
non-member comment

house of batak
I know house batak gorga house, consist of tree level 1. level one, in the ground where animal such as pig, chicken, duck etc stai 2 Level two where family life, no room there, open at all 3 level tree, exist at level twom part of level two where material be saved such as rice, tool need by family, in this part biologis need husband and wife can be done. in house gorga part of front higher than part of back, this is simbol of his son and daughter must better than his or her parent. in front of house have lizard picture, this lizard can stick or live at wall, this is ilustrated batak people can life somewhere and can asapted another etnis and culture. and front of house also dila dila picture(women mamae) this is simbol of fertility. the last batak people want to much children, Idont know now.

21st January 2010

Leo Sihombing
non-member comment

Tutur Parmargaon
Horas Tulang

7th April 2010

sanfransisco
non-member comment

i love toba lake

11th December 2010

yoelsen juntak
non-member comment

culture ofbataks excellent bro

4th April 2011

bima jhon roy westerm pangaribuan
non-member comment

aq datng untuk nya.
smangt tuk menjaga dan melestarikan nya, slalu ada dalam hatiku dan mengalir dalam darah ku

18th August 2012

rionald situmorang
non-member comment

amazing journey
nice trip...but, there are more every village...hahahha... thanks for sharing my batak people to the world... jahbless u

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58) The centre of the Batak culture at Lake Toba

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