'Fuck' was in fact the first thought I had after seeing this pseudo hurricane about 50 m from where I sat on the bike and right where I had stood/swam 15 min earlier. That immediate reaction subsided when the kids standing next to me informed us that we were safe. Thanks kids! I did although have somewhat of a skeptical undertone to my following thoughts considering the past damages of unexpected natural happenings. Ah well, buy the ticket, take the ride.
Sarah and I rented a motor bike to see more of the island on which we are staying.
This may get complicated, I still haven't got it all figures out myself but I am staying on an island which is on an island which is part of a bigger island - Samosir Island on Sumatra Island in Indonesia, which is, you guessed it, an Island.
The Island of Samorsi is located on Lake Toba which is the worlds largest crater lake. Do you know what a crater lake is? Good, me neither. I've got an idea though so I 'll try to share. A crater lake is, shit wikipedia won't load. I'll have to wing it like I did most of my university papers. A lake formed by a Volcano years ago blah blah blah somehow becomes a 450 m deep crater lake you figure it out and then let me know. Here is a picture.
When we arrived to Samorsi via ferry after a 2 hours slow ferry from Palua Weh, a long 5 hour mini-bus from Medan and a 12 hour night bus from Banda Ache. No problem there though, this bus had a smoking section and a toilet. I was thinking about moving in. The travel here has been so easy, everyone is so nice. I cannot enter a store or cross a street with out, "hi mister," being said aloud by some cute giggly Indonesia girls. So cute I can't tell whether I want to pinch their cheeks or their ass. Both may very well be offensive, I am still looking into that. The culture is a nice change from India when it comes to that. India was great don't get me wrong but the people of Indonesia seem, as lonely planet put it "happy to see anyone with a backpack after the devastating natural disasters and civil war that has struck there country the past few decades."
Banda Ache was hardest hit by the 2004 boxing day Tsunami, over 60 000 killed.
Back to the beginning of that last paragraph and a more chipper note; we arrived via ferry and were greeted by these kids swimming in the water near by.
Now although I might like take credit for this photo I cannot, thanks Zelda. Below is another shot of Lake Toba.
Basics here, that is what I am looking for, right? I won't bore you with details of my day to day but, where the hell am I? Where is this Lake Toba? History 101 here we come. Indonesia is made of thousands of island but about 5-6 main ones. Lake Toba is in the middle of Sumatra, Banda Ache is on the northern tip but to the west. I fly out of Jakarta which is on a separate island and the capital of Indonesia.
Sumatra the northern most Island has a humongous jungle. The jungle is home to some of the last wild Orang-Utans or rather Arangutans as I once called them. They are only found in Sumatra, Indonesia and Borneo, Malaysia. They are so Cute and cool. Definitely an next life contender choice for me. Scratching and sniffing, climbing and sitting. A two day jungle trek in Bukuit Lawang brought me within mere feet of them. I know this Blog post is all over the place, well guess where I have been, all over the place. Bukit Lawang was my first stop after a brief night's stay in Medan where I landed.
This trek in the jungle was some of the most sweat infested times of my life. Jungle heat in the jungle, Jesus! If anyone is into sweaty backs get ready for some PG13. Moist, and I am not talking about the 90's band. Do you want some more bad jokes? I have plenty!
The trek was great filled with Flora and fauna, insects, reptiles and apes. The trek ended with a 50 min rapid ride on a makeshift raft. Five tubes tied together with eleven sitting people down rapids that would be impossible to swim against and rocks that wouldn't help the cause. The Lizard you see below was BIG. It was about 5 m from where we slept the night we dozed under the stars and trees. I just ssssslipes into a deep ssssleep. Man, all these bad jokes must be a result of all that jungle juice.
After Bukit Lawang, say it five times it is fun, Bukit Lawang, Bukit Lawang, okay maybe two is enough, we headed to Palua Weh. A beautiful island 60 km off the north west coast of mainland Sumatra. It is home of some of the best scuba diving I have ever seen. Oh yeah, it was the first time I have ever dived but honestly it is some of the best in the world according to reputable sources which I cannot name (National Geo, divers anonymous). It is here where I became certified as a Padi open water diver. In total I did 6 dives and saw magical coral growing from all sides, a black tip reef shark, a massive sea turtle, a ship wreck, some squid, many giant giant fish, Nemo, and an underwater volcano spewing warm bubbles. Diving was one of the most fulfilling events I have experienced. I went to about 20m/66 ft a whole lot of inches. Below the surface has wildlife that is unimaginable and such silence. All you can here is the deep exhaling thud of your breathes. If you ever really need tranquility tie some rocks to your feet and jump in the deep end. Or go to Indonesia, flight 1300$, somehow get to Palua Weh 50$, go to a dive store for an open water padi course 400$, take 56 min at 18m underwater with all this coral, plant life, fish and sharks; Priceless, for everything else.... Below is the Island of Palua Weh.
Indonesia is filled with warm heart, people who welcome you like they've known you for years and beautiful serene landscape. Everywhere there are people strumming guitars, more than anywhere I have seen including North America. There is more to discover that than eye can see and I am sure glad to be a part of it, at least for 30 days.
