Medan In A Day

Medan reminds me about what I've done in the past. I had to visit Medan every month before head off to Nagan Raya. For the city for transit for a night, I just remembered Medan just as another big city in Indonesia. The traffic is not as crowded as Jakarta, there's so many big trees in some areas. But, the most memorable thing I've remembered about Medan is the people always said out loud. I remembered for the first time I arrived in Polonia Medan, the porter offer me his service in out loud voice, like people who get angry, and it were scary me. The another scary thing is when I've looking for the taxi. There's no enqueue for taxi. The driver compete to ask louder to me. Then I got my driver, his taxi didn't ready yet and I had to wait while he look for the way how to make his taxi arrive in front of me. And there's no argo. We have to bargain first. Ah,,, crazy.

It was little memories from my previous trip about Medan. I expect something different on my trip this time. Yeah,, because it's my backpacking trip. Medan, what you offer me?

The traffic in Medan is so crazy.

In A Rush

After long debate, share thoughts, and belief that good will bring good result, we decide to move to Medan through Brastagi. We wished for Menara Pandang Tele, Air Terjun Sipiso-Piso, and Taman Alam Lumbini.

Travelling in Indonesia is Challenging

Become backpacker in my own country, Indonesia, is much more challenging than in other country that I've been visited. In Indonesia everything can happen and unpredictable. There's no fix schedule for public transportation. There's no ATM machine everywhere. And sometimes, that people tricked you because you are traveller.

At ferry, on our way to cross Lake Toba

We had debate about our route today. The plan is back to Medan from Samosir. We wish to reach Medan before night. I wish to cross Brastagi to go to Medan instead use our previous route yesterday. Retta worried about the time.

Swimming in Lake Toba

The plan was: move at 7 am then move to Medan. On the way to Medan,, we looked for opportunity to visit some nice places - if we had time. They said, we'll not get enough time because we use public transportation. But, some friends have done that. So, let's do it!

Our alarm had chimed at 5.30. We still have thirty minutes to just lay down on the bed before had to move to the bathroom, take a bath, than take our backpack to hit the road again.

Warm Greetings From Samosir

"How long will you stay in Medan?" "Four nights including tonight." "What is your plan?" "No specific plan. Just want to meet Lake Toba." "Actually, three days is too short time to explore Medan. North Sumatra has so many attractive nature to explore. You'll only get so little in three days in North Sumatra." "Ouwh,,, maybe I need to be back here again next time. Wish for more opportunities to be back to Medan someday."

We depart at 7 am that morning. Our purpose today is meet Lake Toba. We took Sejahtera bus from Medan to Tigaraja harbour. The ferry that will take us to Samosir waited there.

#1st Night, Another Impression

It was late night when we arrived in Polonia Airport, Medan. After all the drama all day [ask me for the drama if you want to know] and two hours hungry sleepless in the plane,, finally we reached Sumatra land. *sujud sukur

I was go to Medan before for some project reason. I had bad experience in the airport. Actually, I don't like the way people offer us the transportation. Those people just like yell to us and compete to force us to use their service. So, I ask friend how to deal with my worries when I know that I will be depart in the evening,, or maybe late night if we have any delay. I can't believe that my new friends in Medan is very helpful. They offered to pick us in the airport. Who can say no?

Our first night in Medan was very nice. No yell from taxi driver. No coercion from service people in the airport. All we have that night was big smile, friendly ride, and new family. Big thanks to backpacker medan.

Lesson learn:

• working trip and backpacking trip is so much different :p
• never judge something before you feel it #selfnote
• accept every possibilities and enjoy the progress *still learning

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What is the best thing to cure a broken hearted? They said, move on baby!! Is it really true? Just do it and enjoy the road. So, I choose to move my body. Maybe some journey can make my body move. I wish that my heart can move either.

I have a week to move. I choose to take my backpack prefer than my luggage. I will backpacking. Yeay!

Medan, Pekanbaru, Padang. I've got ticket for those three cities. What will happen to me. I wish for the best. Will my heart fix? How about my journey? How is the road? 

Too many questions. Just take a breath, and enjoy the road.