The Spectacular Lake Toba

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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@danielhyng

#medan #trip #waterfall #lake #silalahi #sipisopisotongging

♬ original sound – Jhuvy Bergante – ✨𝒥𝒽𝓊𝓋𝓎

@danielhyng

#laketoba #danautoba #danautobasumut #danautobapunyacerita #laketobaview #laketoba🥰 #indonesia

♬ original sound – Oni Hoironi – Oni Hoironi