Indonesia -- Day 5 Touring Tomok on Samosir Island, Sumatra

After our exciting mid morning dance recital in Simanindo we proceeded back toward Ambarita to Barbara's Hotel for lunch.  We all had the special Babi Panggang.  This is a traditional version of grilled pork. It was delicious.  Morris, mindful of us westerners subsituted ketchip for blood in the dipping sauce. Lunch was 60 000 IDR and large bintang bottle was 30 000 IDR.

From Wikipedia:

Babi panggang refers to a variety of recipes for Indonesian grilled pork recipes, 'babi' meaning pig or pork, and 'panggang' meaning grilled or roasted in the Malay and Indonesian language. 

Babi panggang Karo and Babi panggang Toba are two similar dishes made by the Christian Batak Toba and Batak Karo of North Sumatra. Pigs are slaughtered and used in their entirety to make babi panggang - bones for a clear soup, meat (including offal) to be grilled, and blood for a dipping sauce. The three dishes are served with plain rice and a sambal andaliman, made from fresh sichuan peppers

Barbara's Hotel, Ambarita, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Barbara's Hotel, Ambarita, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Watching a local fisherman catch fish by clumping, Samosir Island/Lake Toba, Sumatra

Watching a local fisherman catch fish , Samosir Island/Lake Toba, Sumatra

Watching a local fisherman catch fish, Samosir Island/Lake Toba, Sumatra

Does anyone know what this method of fishing is called?  The man was plunging a plunger type tool into the water and then backtracked pulling up a net?

Koi/Fish pond at Barbara's Hotel, Ambarita, Samosir Island

After lunch we headed to Tomok.  We were going to see King Sidabutar's Tomb.  Once in Tomok you turn up a narrow alley, where both sides are jam packed with market stalls.  It's a bit of a steep climb.  Just take your time and meander up while looking at all the goodies on display.

King Sidabutar was one of the last Batak animist kings.  Once you arrival at the tomb site you climb up a steep staircase to a large yard area.  There are several tombs here.  The king, his bodyguard and apparently a women he loved (without return) for many years.  The King's tomb has his likeness carved into it.



King Sidabutar's Tomb, Tomok, Samosir Island, Sumatra



King Sidabutar's Tomb, Tomor, Samosir Island, Sumatra

King Sidabutar's Tomb, Tomok, Samosir Island, Sumatra

I have to say, while we were listening and watching Morris give his talk I couldn't really concentrate.  It was ridiculously hot and all I wanted was to sit and have a couple of large ice-cold Bintang's !!!



King Sidabutar's Tomb



The main road of Tomok, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Tomok, Samosir Island, Sumatra

the narrow alley to the King's tomb, Tomok, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Tomok, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Tomok, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Tomok, Samosir Island, Sumatra

If you are interested in seeing Tomok, Samosir Island or Indonesia,

please contact Adventures Abroad at 1 800 665 3998

Please quote code AANK for a special discount.

Indonesia -- Day 5 Touring Simanindo on Samosir Island, Sumatra

We continued on from the Stone Chair of King Siallagan in Ambarita to the village of Simanindo to see a Traditional Batak Spiritual Dance.  Simanindo is approx 15 km from Tuk Tuk. 

While this dance was lovely and calm in its delivery, I am not sure if its the most riveting dance performance I have ever seen.  It is quite slow and delicate.  There is audience participation promoted near the end and of course the requiste "donation" box.

A quote from Footprint Travel Guides describes it perfectly:

Close by is a well-preserved fortified Batak community, with fine examples of richly carved Batak houses. This is the best maintained of the various 'preserved' communities on Samosir. Visitors sit through a lengthy sequence of 12 dances, performed by a rather lacklustre crew - many of the dances seem more like loosening up exercises prior to a workout. Requisite audience participation number and the final dance gives an opportunity for guests to add a donation to their entrance fee



Traditional tortor dance, Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra



Traditional tortor dance, Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra



Traditional tortor dance, Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra



Traditional tortor dance, Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra



Traditional tortor dance, Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra



Traditional tortor dance, Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra

me at the Kings Boathouse, Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra

me at the Kings Boathouse, Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra

 The museum at Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra

the harbour at Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Water Buffalo, Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Simanindo, Samosir Island, Sumatra

If you would like to visit Simanindo, Samosir Island or Indonesia

Contact Adventures Abroad at 1 800 665 3998

Quote code AANK for a special discount

Even though this isn't the most exciting dance ever, I wouldn't recommend to miss it.  It does show  the Batak people.  The village itself is very interesting to wander through although it didn't seem that busy to me and I certainly couldn't find a "busy" market area.