We journeyed to Sumatra today and it has to be one of the longest days since we arrived from the UK.
It was a dizzying mix of flights, timezone changes, restricted eating options, long car transfers, boat rides, financial worries and mosquitoes to boot.
We have made it however to Samosir Cottages on the small Samosir Island at the centre of Lake Toba, formed in a huge caldera.
It began simply enough, we had arranged a car to the airport but there was no time for breakfast before check in. We had a western breakfast at the only place open. You will be familiar with Ronald McDonald and his happy crew!
It was disconcerting as there was major renovation work going on meaning conversations had to happen round jackhammers. Still it was simple enough and we waited in departures for our plane. We didnt know what sort of aircraft we would have for a 1 hour flight. It was a surprise to discover our
11:00 flight did not arrive from its prior journey until
10:35 and I thought everything was going to be late. But no frills flying means no food to turn round so just fuel and a quick check over and we were in the air
at 11:07.
We arrived in Medan, I spent the entire flight filling in immigration forms, and were waved towards Westerner corner. Essentially everyone who looks like a backpacker has a $25 visa to purchase. This was news and since all the children also needed one it cost nearly all of our emergency £100 we had in the local currency. Next was customs. I carry a pen knife and scissors in my main backpack so had to declare this and go through the red channel. On the declaration form the sharp objects tick box is the same one as narcotics, psycotropic agents, firearms, explosives and drugs. I was expecting fun and games but was waved through without a word.
We were met by Mr Sam a tour operator who had driven the 5 hours to meet us from Parapet and also hustled by just about everyone else in the airport. This included 3 money changers, 4 carry your bags sir etc. We xplaines we needed the loo and to get some money and we agreed to put our bags in the car. Not more than 10m from the car a nice chap I supposed was with Mr Sam helped me put my bag in the car and showed me where the toilet was, even though I knew perfectly well. He then pointed out the ATM I had spotted and waited by the car. As it turns out he was another”helper” and wanted 1100 rupiah. This is about 10 pence but having just given all the smaller notes to Visa man I had nothing but 100,000 notes. Mr Sam paid him for me and I knew it would be covered by the transfer fee. It was never going to have been possible to get to our destination on public transport. It would surely have taken 2 days and the kids were already struggling so tough as it was we made the right decision.
The car journey was frightening, there is no other way of putting it. We very nearly had 2 serious incidents, one where we undertook a lorry that was turning left and another where we began overtaking on a blind right hand turn on the brow of a hill into a motorcycle. Quite relieved to have made it. We stopped for a coffee over looking the lake. Being locally made and costing 40 pence it was joyous.
On the way we saw cocoa trees and beans drying in the sun, coffee trees, mango trees and rubber trees. One big plantation belonged to Bridgestone tyres and we drove through it for 10km with trees as far as the eye could see on both sides.
At 18:00 local time so an hour behind Malaysia we boarded the last boat to Samosir and were last to be dropped off as the sun set over the mountains. There must have been 50 shades of blue on the horizon it was spectacular.
We had a meal at our hotel where someone had accidentally tipped the salt container over it (or so it tasted) washed down with a couple of litres of water! Finally we retired
at 20:00 and here we are with the kids awake
at 07:30 pondering how we will approach the day to tour the island, swim in the lake and work out how long we want to stay.
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