Updated: July 30, 2022 – The Spectacular Lake Toba
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
The Flight
Flying for 2 hours from Jakarta, squeezed into an economy-class seat between an apprentice sumo wrestler and a man whose personal beliefs forbid bathing—I am so lucky to be below 60 kg and have my mask on, finally the plane landed in Medan. And I am still alive as ever.
Hooray, for the first time, the local government has simplified the travelling protocol at the airport after almost two years of running since the pandemic. No more redundant long queues on arrival, as long as you have a complete covid-19 vaccination details with you. I am free as a bird now.
We headed to the Headquarters in Medan city to start our monthly offline vet meeting after so many months through virtual Google Meet. It was absolutely concentration draining and overwhelming. Face-to-face meeting has so many benefits, such as trust building, inspiration, goal and vision setting, conflict handling, appreciation giving, evaluation, coordination, performance review, idea exchange, and decision making. All these contribute to effective ways of communication in our society. We still need that, as we are earthlings. I still miss all those things.
Morning Adventure
Next morning, we headed to our five long hours’ journey passing Berastagi, Kabanjahe and Merek; before checking in at Debang Resort Hotel, Silalahi Nabolak overlooking the spectacular Lake Toba. Location of waters at the northern end of Lake Toba was indeed charming. The extension of the waters was like an open ocean. Beside the charming resort is the Silahisabungan Monument containing the story of the King Silahisabungan who built his kingdom here.
We unpacked and went off to the breathtaking mountains. And along the mountain climb, six of the climbers from different tribes in North Sumatra oohed and ashed at the scenery, and Instagram and TikTok addicts preened as we waited in a queue. The Lake Toba has its charming spell to lure us into falling in love over again and again with this place. We were detoxifying ourselves as we hiked higher up, leaving all the bad chi below. Such energy booster to our mind and soul.
Second Day
On our second day here, we explore the Lake Toba further. I went to the rock where it drew my attention, set my backpack down, took off my sneakers, wiggled my toes in the luxurious Lake Toba water, and settled in with a from-the-bottom-of-my-soul sigh.
I’m concentrating on appreciating the little things that I’m normally too busy to notice: the way the sun bright-stipples the warm-green pine trees sprouting out from the green hump on the captivating Silalahi mountain, the soul-inspiring world’s largest volcanic lake and aroma of a good cup of local Mandailing Coffee that surround me.
Sipiso Piso Waterfall
When we saw the 390 feet Sipiso Piso Waterfall in the Batak highlands running down into the Pajanabolon River far below, it looked about as big as the period at the end of this sentence. I wrote into my phone’s email draft: ‘This is a landscape for gods, not men.’ I quickly switched my phone into the video mode to capture the lovely scenery of the sparkling Sipiso Piso Waterfall. Dang. Why didn’t the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy promote this magnificent place?
An Amazing Life
More unspoken tribes’ language will shrink or disappear, sadly. Global warming will continue to get the world’s attention. Society will develop. One thing, thankfully, won’t change: a good travel story will always be a good travel story.
I enjoy traveling because I want to look back in 20 or 30 years on an amazing life lived.
Key Take Away
Then the harmonies flowed anew, and suddenly I felt released. It was time to move on; I had a train to catch, a plane to board. Now the spectacular Lake Toba had answered my need, giving one last lesson that would allow me to leave. So I didn’t need to be in Lake Toba to have Lake Toba in me. Because it will be always in my memories.
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There are so many places I have never heard of so thank you for sharing them. This is such a beautiful lake.
This is such a beautiful area and the lake and waterfall look amazing…I hope that the world slow down to retain these cultures… but it is the young ones I think that have that ability also
SO many beautiful places! I hope I get to visit Lake Toba one day!
You must Jenn.
You really get to see the nicest places in the world. I envy your ability to find these off-the beaten path locations.
The locals will definitely know all those hidden gems. You have to visit this place once in your life time.
This is such a beautiful place to visit! Amazing views, amazing food, amazing photos.
looks like a fun adventure and very windy!
I am living vicariously thru you until I can be back in the air and traveling. Love all the places you are taking us.
Thank you for sharing such beauty and cultures that surround you
You are most welcome. I’m humbly honored to take you on a joy ride exploring what Indonesia could offer to the world. Today, Indonesia has finally lift the traveling ban after 2 years of crazy health protocols imposed to all international travelers. We are finally free! Yeh!
It is always amazing how many memories we make on short trips! It is worth enduring smelly flights, LOL! You are fortunate to have so much incredible variety around you. I have never visited Indonesia, except vicariously, through your beautiful descriptions and images, for which I am grateful!
Thanks Mihaela. When I travel around, my inspiration some how or rather developed and formed into massive narrative words pouring out from my mind. Sometimes I just got to type it out and saved into my email draf incase I lost them in my memory.
It sounds amazing!
lovely place!
Amazing Pics! I would really like to travel here one day too.
Thank you. It’s one of the recommended places to visit in Indonesia besides Bali.