I
have just been kicked out of my current job by myself and
was wondering whether I should just take 1 week leave to
visit Yogjakarta and BoroBordur. My rommie (my travel partner
in the end, WB) was suggesting why not we go chill out in
Malacca for the weekend. I said to him "Are you out
of your mind? I would rather spend my weekend watching Man
Utd vs. Swansea on telly on Saturday." He suggested
"Why not Medan or Danau Toba? It’s quite near
Singapore and we can have cheap tickets." Well, I said
it sounds like a good idea. I'm out of a job mentally and
couldn’t spare much time to visit Java, so I found
myself in Changi and eating a cold sandwich from my fat
and cute air-stewardess on Garuda Airlines.
When
we reach Medan, jams on a Friday afternoon stared at us
like an eagle who saw her pray. We board a taxi (Rp. 30,000)
to Tobali tours (a tour agent) for the trip to Danau Toba.
I reminded of raw poverty in this place when I saw young
beggars knocking on the taxi window asking me for money.
It took 4 hours by minivan but we reached anyway. Amazed
by its sheer beauty, we were harassed by bloody touts asking
us to patronize their guest house. I felt sad. Sad because
the lack of tourists in Indonesia has caused them to even
bother Asian-looking Farangs like us. I had an uneventful
ferry trip from Parapat to Tuk Tuk.
We
checked in into Caroline Hotel at a "I screwed him"
rate. A good room and bed was what I really need. I went out immediately
to check the beer act and was slightly relieved. One beer
costs Rp15,000 (S$2.63). Not the cheapest though, but still
acceptable.
What
else can I ask for!!!!! |
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On
flight to Medan. Beer on board. Captain Wang speaking. Please
enjoy your beer and have a good flight. Full steam ahead
to Polonia (Medan Airport)! Fucking cold sandwich pissed
me sick. The only food that should be cold in this world
is beer and Cornetto (Walls Ice Cream). |
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In the
streets of Medan, heavily polluted. Everywhere is filled
with images of Super Mi. This is the power of advertising.
I realised immediately that the major part (porsi besar)
of my diet will include lots of instant mee and beer. |
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Bintang
flies high. Traces of beer behind a typical indonesia kitchen.
A mee goreng and mee kua (all super mi), coke and teh manis
(sweet) cost Sepuluh Ribu Rupiah (Rp10,000). |
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Parapat
as we are leaving for Tuk Tuk on the ferry. Was bothered
by stupid poor touts. I told them I was Bibi Megawati. They
were making a living afterall. |
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Danau
Toba from Caroline Hotel on a late afternoon. The near-empty
occupancy rate denotes the stark nakedness of this once
"laden with bus-loads of tourists" location. The
scenery was wonderful, the lack of tourists (from views
of hotel owners) was not. |
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The evening
sun of Danau Toba. Amazing. |
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Don't
know why I felt sick after only my first Bintang. Ok, I
was just playing afool. Glad that they serve cold beer with
a frosty mug, Farang style. Satu beer besar at Rp15,500
including 10% tax. |
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Introducing
my roomie "WB". Dinner at an empty restuarnt.
God knows how many people has walked in for the past 3 months.
We had nasi, ikan with tomato sauce and chay chye. I had
a another Bintang. My 3rd bottle. Anyone counting? You may
just get a prize if you try. |
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Day 2
at Tuk Tuk.Well, I woke up in the morning and got myself
a BEER!!!!! |
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Students
returning from school, walking on a small path. Paddy fields
and the sun. |
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