Vancouver Banshee: traditional house

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Indonesia -- Day 6 I got engaged today but don't tell my husband ! (the road continues to Berastagi)

After catching the wonderful views of the Sipiso Piso Waterfall we continued on until we reached a village named Doka. We stopped here and I got engaged. I know it's unusual for a married women to get engaged to a different man, probably even illegal somewhere.

The Village Leader's House, Doka, Sumatra, Indonesia

The Village Leader's House, Doka,, Sumatra, Indonesia

We took a walk through the village, with it's mix of traditional and modern housing. We were invited to enter a traditional house. It was amazing!!! 8 families sharing one floor with separate bedrooms. Four bedrooms on each side of the house with a window each. Before entering Morris described the outside of the house and all the traditional features. There is no electricity here -- so no TV, lights.

Morris explaining how women give birth on the stoop of their houses.

The houses don't have insulation and drywall etc. The bedroom I saw had a wall covered in newspaper instead.

The inside of the traditional Batak house -- a bedroom. Sumatra, Indonesia

We were invited to sit down while Morris described the living and cooking process. Then we were invited to try some of the tangerines that the woman grew in her field. It was fantastic ! Very fragrant and super juicy. Really one of the best citrus' I've ever had.

The family Elder and his grandson. Doka,, Sumatra, Indonesia

1 of the 2 "kitchens" in a traditional batak house, Doka,, Sumatra, Indonesia

The woman that had offered us a tangerine also had "lipstick" on her lips. It turns out this is the sign of a married woman. The red staining of the lip is from the juices of chewing Betel Nut. Only engaged or married women can chew Betel Nut. The Betel nut has a natural red dye that stains the lips.

The woman of the house on the right and her 18 yr old daughter centre.
Doka,, Sumatra, Indonesia

The woman takes a betel nut leave and sprinkles in some sugar and broken betel nut pieces. Then she folds it up into a square. She then chews on this "package" with the dye staining her lips. She can choose to swallow the juice or spit it out. She disposes of the "package" when done and starts again.

The woman of the house making a "betel nut package". Doka,, Sumatra, Indonesia

Betel nut is also used by the Batak boys to ask a girl to marry you. If a boy likes a girl then he gives her betel nut. If she accepts the nut and starts chewing it on a regular basis, then her parents will notice and ask where she got the betel nut from. She will tell them and then the two families will arrange the wedding. If the girl does not want to get married or accept the proposal betel nut then she must kindly decline and give it back.

One of the bedrooms in the traditional batak house.

Me and the daughter of the house.

While we were in the traditional house The woman of the house also showed us how to wrap and chew the betel nut. Morris then offered the betel nut package to me, and I accepted. So I guess if we follow tradition, we are engaged.

After marriage of course, the next step is children. For the Batak people to make babies, they go out into the rice field and use the "honeymoon suite". Since sex is considered taboo, they go out into the field. People do not copulate I'm the house. The honeymoon suite is a shed like structure in the rice field.

The General store in the Doka, Village, Sumatra, Indonesia

The local children taking care of their younger siblings
Doka Village, Sumatra, Indonesia .

Doka Village, Sumatra, Indonesia

Some of the new houses in the village
Doka Village, Sumatra, Indonesia

The men weaving baskets

The view of Doka Village as we were leaving ...

Upon leaving the village and continuing our journey to Berastagi, we stopped at a cinnamon tree. Morris showed us how they take a piece of the bark and dry it in the sun. As it dries it naturally curls into what we know as cinnamon stick.

Morris cutting a strip from the cinnamon tree. Sumatra, Indonesia

The cut in the cinnamon tree. SO Fragrant !! Sumatra, Indonesia

The cinnamon tree, Sumatra, Indonesia

It started to rain again and continued to rain heavy the rest of the way into Berastagi. By the time we arrived the rains had caused all the gutters/ sewers to overflow and water to gush down the curbs and sidewalks. It was 530pm by the time we got to the Grand Mutiara Hotel, Berastagi.

a closeup of the cinnamon tree. Sumatra, Indonesia

Grand Mutiara Hotel, Berastagi, Sumatra, Indonesia

If you would like to get engaged Betel Nut style, visit Dako Village

or stay in the Grand Mutiara Hotel, Berastagi, Sumatra, Indonesia

then contact Adventures Abroad at 1 800 665 3998

Quote code AANK for a special discount.

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Indonesia -- Day 6 The Long and Winding Road to Berastagi ...

After leaving Tabo Cottages we headed on the road to Berastagi.

The Adventures Abroad itinerary for today was:

This morning we take a long, leisurely drive toward Berastagi, starting across the narrow land bridge that connects the "island" to the mainland. This region of North Sumatra is volcanic in nature and many sulfurous hot springs are to be found. At the northern end of Lake Toba we stop to see the impressive 120 m (394 ft) high Si Piso-Piso Waterfalls. From the viewpoint at the top of the falls there is a 360-degree panoramic view over Lake Toba and the surrounding countryside.

The area to the north of Lake Toba is known as Karoland, or the Karo Highlands, as it is where the Karo Batak tribal people live. The five Karo Batak clans and 83 subclans inhabit a high, lush plateau of mountain slopes and rich volcanic valleys in the area between Lake Toba and Medan. There are many volcanoes in the area, some of them still steaming. Gunung Sibayak at 2070 m (6,790 ft) and Gunung Sinabung at 2417 m (7,930 ft) are the highest and can be seen from many locations as we explore the area. We will have the opportunity to stop in Lingga, a Karo Batak village.

Overnight in Berastagi. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

Bonehouse or Tugu or Tambak, Samosir Island

Bonehouse or tugu or tambak, Samosir Island

a local church, Samosir Island

Another bonehouse, Samosir Island

This bonehouse has over 100 people in it .. Samosir Island

local house, Samosir Island

Water Buffalo grazing

a local woman making cloth

dyed thread drying, Samosir Island

a traditional village, Samosir Island

local boar/pig just hanging out looking for lunch, Samosir Island

tugu or tambak bonehouse .. amazing blue tile and detail, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

Crossing back onto the mainland Sumatra

Local transportation, Sumatra

View of farmed fishing and Lake Toba, Sumatra

After we crossed over the narrow piece of land that connects Samosir Island to the mainland we continued climbing up into the mountains. We were making pretty good pace and my ears were popping due to the climb. We were headed to Sidikalang for lunch and Sipiso Piso to see the waterfall.

Sumatra, Indonesia

Following the :Rapture" up the mountain in Sumatra, Indonesia

a lookout point to see all of Lake Toba, Sumatra

a Rooster, Sumatra, Indonesia

Along the way Morris pointed out more great sights along the way. We stopped at a tobacco field and Morris showed us the drying sheds and also taro root.

Morris showing us a tobacco field.

The tobacco drying shed.

little local girl wondering what these tourists where doing checking out her families' tobacco shed/

taro root, Sumatra, Indonesia

rice drying on tarps in a front yard, Sumatra, Indonesia

children walking home from school, Sumatra

As per Wikipedia:

Primary schools or Sekolah Dasar (SD) students wear a white short-sleeve shirt with red shorts for male students, and below-knee skirts for females.

Lower Secondary schools or SMP: Sekolah Menengah Pertama require navy shorts with a short-sleeve white shirt for male students. Females wear a below-knee-length navy skirt, and short-sleeve white shirt.

Upper Secondary schools SMA: Sekolah Menengah Atas require blue-grey trousers with a short-sleeve white shirt. Females wear a below-knee-length blue-grey skirt, and wear short-sleeve white shirts.

Public schools in Indonesia tolerate religious freedoms. For example, Muslim girls may opt to wear long-sleeve shirts, longer skirts, and jilbab to cover their heads. Most schools in Indonesia also have a batik uniform which are usually worn on Thursday or Friday. This kind of uniform consists of a batik short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirt, with shorts or trousers for SMA, and below-knee skirts or longer for females. The motives and colors of batik depend on the school. Most schools in richer area tends to issue neckties for their students. This necktie vary from school to school in terms of color and sewing pattern, even among public schools.

The scouts uniform is also used in many schools in Indonesia at least once a week. The uniform consists of light-brown short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirts, with dark-brown shorts or trousers, and below-knee skirts or longer for females.

waterfall runoff, Sumatra

village market, Sumatra

We stopped for lunch in Sidikalang at a Chinese restaurant and I had the nasi goreng special which was super tasty. After lunch we had a two hour journey along a tiny one lane road. It was vey cloudy/foggy with rain. Everyone had a little catnap.

Tapioca Plants?

Sumatra

We stopped at Sipiso Piso to see the waterfall but it was completely fogged in. We decided to have a cup of coffee and when we were done the rain stopped and the clouds lifted long enough for us to get a few shots of the waterfall and the north end of Lake Toba. (coffee was 10 000IDR, coke 8000, Milo 4000, and tea 3000)