Indonesia -- Day 6 Leaving Tabo Cottage, Samosir Island

Another incredibly early start to the say with breakfast at 7am and departure at 730am :)  Because of my nap the night before I had ended up getting up quite early and had time to take some photos of the sunrise over Tabo Cottages before we left.  Here are some of those photos:

The inland entrance to Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

more local flowers, Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia
If you can identify -- please leave a comment.  Thank You

Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

This a fourplex at the Tabo Cottages.  So beautiful.  The rooms were great (NOTE : no TV's) and the bathroom was huge as well.  I had a fridge to keep my beer cold so that was fantastic !! Go Bintang !!
Trailing along the upper balcony was a passionfruit vine.

The grounds at Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

More cottages, Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

Really I can't say enough how beautiful this place is.  If you want some downtown and to get away from the ratrace.. or want to write the book that has always been in your head, then this is the place.  So serene...

the lilly pond, Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

Isn't that most gorgeous view? the mountains and the clouds and the sun warming everything ...

Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Morning boat, 630am, Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia




Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Beautiful seating,Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Tabo Cottages, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

Indonesia -- Day 5 Afternoon walk around Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island

After we finished with Tomok and the King's tomb we took the bus back toward the Tabo Cottage.  With about a kilometer or two to go, most of our group decided to stop and walk the rest of the way back to the hotel.  It was an absolutely fantastic walk and Morris gave us great insite into the local flora.  We saw all sorts of lovely plants and herbs etc ..

We passed by a wedding taking place. 

This is was quite the site with an impromptu wedding "picnic" set up on the side for the road.  Everyone looked lovely and as we kept driving we saw all the villagers walking to the wedding, dressed in their best finerery.

A water buffalo taking a cooling mud bath
Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

Wandering off after taking his mud bath
Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

The landscape of Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island
Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Our gang taking a little walk through the countryside of Tuk Tuk.
Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia




Wongai Plum / Wongi Plum / Sawo Kecik / Sapodilla / Chiku or Chikoo Fruit Tree ,
Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Hibiscus Flower
Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

orange blossum
Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

Pagoda Flower (CLERODENDRUM PANICULATUM), Samosir Island, Sumatra 

Rose apple,  Samosir Island, Sumatra 

Cocoa Plant, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Soursop Tree,  Samosir Island, Sumatra 

Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Candlenut, Samosir Island, Sumatra

a little store in Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island

Samosir Island (a nutmeg tree on the right?? )

Jackfruit, Samosir Island, Sumatra

Candlenut, Samosir Island, Sumatra

The locals drying their clothes on the bushes, Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island



Smooth Avocado, Samosir Island, Indonesia




Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Local crops including corn, Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

Coconut Palm Tree, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Local eggplant, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia



Rice Seedlings, Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Indonesia



This is Bella's Beauty Shop right next to the rice seedlings and across the street from the school.
Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia

Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia
If anyone can identify this -- please let me know by leaving a comment. Thank You

After our walk we returned to Toba Cottages and I had a few beers while catching up on email by using the free wifi at the Toba Cottages.  Afterwards I went back to my room and had a little nap before dinner.  In fact I slept in for dinner.  That was too bad because it was incredibly tasty, chicken curry and rice with corn soup.

After dinner Aili and I took a walk through the upper village of actual Tuk Tuk but there was no real action other than a lot of magic mushrooms for sale and most of the shops were closed.  I wish I had of gone for a walk earlier in the day.  We then grabbed a couple of large bottles of Bintang beer and went to the pavilion and sat overlooking the lake before turning in.

If you would like to visit Tuk Tuk or Lake Toba and/or Indonesia then

contact Adventures Abroad at 1800 665 3998

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.