My Top 3 Beach Recommendations In North Sumatra Province

When you hear about North Sumatra Province, most of you will refer to Batak tribe or Lake Toba. Indeed, Batak tribe and Lake Toba are trademark for North Sumatra tourism. However, North Sumatra is bigger and more beautiful than you think. Especially, natural tourism.

After exploring Lake Toba, I'd like to explore where is beautiful beach in North Sumatra. Eventually, there are two beach location, first one in Serdang Bedagai district and second one in Sibolga district. Since Sibolga district is so far from Medan city, so I went to the nearest beach location which is Serdang Bedagai, 45 km from Medan city.

I found there are at least 3 beautiful beaches in Serdang Bedagai district which I'd like to recommend to you. This three beaches are in the same regency which very accessible and comfortable for tourists. 

Here they are, 3 beautiful beaches in Serdang Bedagai district, North Sumatra:

1. Pantai Cermin

In English, the word "cermin" means "mirror" and "pantai" is "beach". So, it means Mirror Beach. Why Mirror? Because the sand's color is very white like a real mirror and it's very soft.

Pantai Cermin also known as "Water Theme Park Beach" because there's water theme park inside Pantai Cermin that becomes favorite destination for local tourists especially for family trip. So, the collaboration between natural beach and modern recreation makes Pantai Cermin unique.

The water theme park attraction include:

- Slide and Pool

- Watersport

- Water Castle

- Horse Riding

- Mini Zoo

- Bird Park

- Splash Pool

- Lazy Pool

The enter cost is super cheap, it only takes Rp 5000,- / person = $0.37! Wow, you can enjoy the beauty of "mirror" sand in Pantai Cermin with very cheap price! Include Pantai Cermin in your holiday's destination, especially, if you plan to visit North Sumatra province.

2. Pantai Pondok Permai

In Indonesia vocabulary, "pondok" means "cottage" and "permai" means "pleasant". So from the name, you can have an image about what kind of place Pantai Pondok Permai is.

Yup, it's a beach where there are so many cottages in the edge of the beach which so pleasant to have picnic with your family or loved one. Moreover, there are also cottage for event venue, that's why Pantai Pondok Permai is often being univesity or high school reunion or family gathering venue.

Talking about family gathering, Pantai Pondok Permai is the best place for family trip, especially who really like picnic, Pantai Pondok Permai can provide the memorable family trip. Like I mentioned before, there are a lot of cottages that prepared for family who'd like to bring their own food and have picnic in the beach. It's really good feeling to have a lunch together with our lovely family with beach as a view.

In addition, you can ride banana boat, speadboat, and small boat for going around the sea in Pantai Pondok Permai. You can rent the boat and life jacket in the store.

If you are looking for where is the best place for picnic with beach view or unique gathering place, Pantai Pondok Permai is my recommendation.

3. Pantai Bali Lestari

Last but not least, North Sumatra's popular beach, which is Pantai Bali Lestari. Why it's so popular among North Sumatra society? From the name, you can guess right? 

Well, you can feel like you are in Bali's beach in Pantai Bali Lestari. The beach atmosphere, Bali decoration, hanging umbrella, and Hindu temple gate makes tourists feel like they are in Bali. So, North Sumatra society don't need to spend a lot of money to go to Bali. Just visit Pantai Bali Lestari and they can feel the atmosphere of Bali's beach. 

"Why there's "Bali" in North Sumatra?" that's my first reaction when I hear Pantai Bali Lestari. I never hear there's place called Pantai Bali Lestari. Of course I never hear, Pantai Bali Lestari is new tourist object. In 2011, the regent of Serdang Bedagai district inaugurated Pantai Bali Lestari as new tourist site in Serdang Bedagai district.

Pantai Bali Lestari provide fun attractions such as:

- Banan Boat

- Jet Ski

- Small Ferry for going around the sea

Moreover, you can enjoy sea food meal in sea food restaurant with outdoor style. 

Most of tourists like to take a picture in front of Hindu temple gate and in front of "Pantai Bali Lestari" banner in the wall.

It's so unique right? North Sumatra have their own Bali. So, if you are looking for exotic beach in North Sumatra, Pantai Bali Lestari is the right place.

Actually, there's another beach area in Sibolga district. However, since Sibolga district is so far from Medan city, so I recommend you to visit Serdang Bedagai's beach area which is Pantai Cermin. Those 3 beaches that I shared, are my top recommendation.

The beauty of North Sumatra's natural tourism is REAL. So, let's explore it!

Also visit:

Let's Have A Look Inside Indonesia Biggest Lake, Lake Toba

Medan City Shows Bhineka Tunggal Ika "The Unity Diversity" Philosophy

Jalan Jalan Medan 2: Danau Toba // Lake Toba (Eng and Japanese Sub) 

Jalan - Jalan Medan 1 Edisi: 'Explore The City Of Unity In Diversity' 

       

Let's Have A Look Inside Indonesia Biggest Lake, Lake Toba

Lake Toba

Indonesia tourism never fail to impress travel lovers around the world. Not only the beauty of the nature and colorful society with tribes diversity, but the history behind it is really amazing.

Lake Toba, the biggest lake in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, has unique and mysterious story behind its beauty. Moreover, around Lake Toba, there are so many unique and awesome places that makes you really love to travelling in North Sumatra province.

In previous article, I showed you 5 great places in Medan city, the capital city of North Sumatra province which makes Medan city is "Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity In Diversity)" represent city. However, Medan city is only small part of the greatest of North Sumatra province. Lake Toba is trademark and icon of North Sumatra and Indonesia tourism.

Why Lake Toba is always be favorite place for people to enjoy their holiday? What kind of story and mystery behind Lake Toba? And are there any great places around Lake Toba that you must visit?

Let me share my travel story in Lake Toba in the beginning of 2017. 

I'd like to guide you by this article, to have a look inside Lake Toba and the great places around Lake Toba.

Lake Toba, Or I Have To Say 'Mt. Toba'

Lake Toba is the largest and biggest lake in Indonesia as well as Southeast Asia with over 1145 square km with depth around 450 m. Even Lake Toba is one of the deepest lake in the world 

You must be amazed when you see Lake Toba by seeing photos above or photos in Indonesia travel website. You'll be more impressed when you see by your own eyes because even me as Indonesian, I don't know that Lake Toba is very beautiful, the lake and "Bukit Barisan" hills around the lake. 

However, behind Lake Toba's beauty, there's long story and mystery how this Lake was made.

I made research about Lake Toba history from several website. The story behind Lake Toba makes me scary but at the same time, it makes me proud to be Indonesian.

Lake Toba, or I'd like to say 'Mt. Toba'. Yes, it's 'Mt. Toba' not 'Lake Toba'. Before being a lake, Lake Toba was very high mountain. Until now, there are many speculations about the height of Mt. Toba. Around 75,000 years ago, Mt. Toba extremely exploded. It was considered as the most terrible explosion in earth history, that kill almost all humans in the earth and 6 years without sun. The effect of this explosion was Mt. Toba totally destroyed and create very big caldera with one island stayed in the middle. That big caldera for 75,000 years filled by rain and it turns to be a lake. The island in the middle we known as "Samosir Island". Yesss, that's the story behind Lake Toba.

Actually, if we discuss about Lake Toba, it won't be end because there's still so many mysteries in Lake Toba, at least that's what heard from local community who're living around Lake Toba. 

Sipiso-piso Waterfall

Sipiso-piso waterfall located in Tongging village, Karo town. Sipiso-piso waterfall one of the nature sites around Lake Toba that very famous because the beauty of this waterfall.

The name "Sipiso-piso" is from Indonesian words "Pisau or Indonesian usually said, Piso" means knife. Furthermore, the waterfall that have height 120 m / 800 mdpl, is flowing like a knife. Some people said that, if you touch the water from waterfall directly it can hurt your body like you stabbed by knife. 

Sipiso-piso waterfall is one of the tallest waterfall in Indonesia. It's only "one of the". Because the tallest waterfall in Indonesia is located in North Sumatra as well. I'll write about it later.

If you want to feel the sensation of Sipiso-piso waterfall, there's a way to go down until bottom of the waterfall. However, let me share my experience. When you arrive in Sipiso-piso waterfall, you will see the waterfall from top of the hill. So when you challenge yourself to go down into waterfall's bottom, it's same as you climb down the hill. It's okay when you go down, but when you go up, makes sure you have enough power and water because it same as you climb the hill.

However, your hard work will be paid off once you arrive in the bottom of Sipiso-piso waterfall. You can feel the sensation, joy, and good feeling from torrent of waterfall. If you lucky, you can see a rainbow from Sipiso-piso waterfall that gives you the best travel experience in Sipiso-piso waterfall. 

Silalahisinabungan Monument, Jakarta's Monas Looks Like Monument

Yeah, it looks like Jakarta's Monumen Nasional (Monas) because the gold on the top of the monument looks similar with Monas, but it's different monument and have no relation with Monas.

Silalahi Sinabungan Monument was built in 1967 and officiated in 1981. Silalahisinabungan Monument is located in Silalahi Nabolak, in the edge of the Lake Toba.

Beside the monument, there's Batak tribe traditional house, Ruma Balon Silalahisabungan King. So, if you love photography, you can get two objects in the same place and time.

In monument, you can see the paints that described life in Silalahisabungan Kingdom and how Silalahisabungan King's government work. There's also description about Silalahisabungan King in the monument. All of these are written by Batak language, the language of Batak tribe, you I can't translate it for you.

Moreover, you can getting close with Lake Toba and enjoy the air and peaceful atmosphere. I suggest you to come Silalahisabungan Monument in afternoon time, because the scenery is really beautiful. Unfortunately, when I went there, it's rainy day so I couldn't enjoy sunset here. But still, it's worth to visit.

Tarutung Town, The Cleanest City  Only One Soda Bathing Place In The World

Let's go to the city that takes 2 hours from Lake Toba, the cleanest city in North Sumatra that I ever see, Tarutung town, North Tapanuli.

No offense, but everytime I pass market district in every town in North Sumatra, there's always trashes on the street. It doesn't look nice and it's quite dirty! However, in Tarutung town, I didn't see any trashes on the street even when I passed the market district. The river is also clean, although the color is brown, but there's no trashes passing on the river's flow. That's really really shocking me and the rest of my big family who have trip with me. I never see such a clean town in Indonesia like Tarutung town. The other city especially bigger city must follow Tarutung town cleanliness because clean city is better place to live.

Moreover, Tarutung town has more than its cleanliness. Tarutung town has soda water resource that use for public bath and it's the only one place in Indonesia. Even in the world, there are only two soda water resource, one in Venezuela and one in Tarutung town. However, soda water in Venezuela, I heard rumor that it won't use for public bath, which means Tarutung town's soda water resouorce is the only one soda water bathing place IN THE WORLD!

Woooowwww, that's why I'm so proud to be Indonesian 😁😁😁

Tarutung town's Soda water was found by Minar Sihite in 1973. At first, local community feel the place where soda water belong was scary place because the paddy that was planted near soda water were died. Furthermore, the red color around soda water give 'mystical' impression for local Batak community. That's why they call soda water as Aek Rara, "Aek" means water and "Rara" means red.

Even though there's mystical impression from this soda water, Minar Sihite build bathing place in this soda water and in 1990 Tarutung town Soda Water Public Bath was officially opened.

So, North Sumatra has nature resources that never fail to impress tourist and make Indonesian proud to be Indonesian. The only one soda water public bath in the world is exist in Tarutung town, North Tapanuli. Don't miss the opportunity to clean your body with natural soda water. Visit Tarutung town Soda Water Public Bath 😁😁








Actually, there are more nature sites around Lake Toba that makes you falling in love with Lake Toba, unfortunately I wasn't able to explore all of them because I had trip with my big family who bring many little kids, the fathers must work in the next day and the traffic is too crowded because I went here when 2017 new year holiday period.

There are more places that I should visit such as exotic beach in Sibolga, coffee garden in Sidikalang and Siantar, Lake Lau Kawar in Mt. Sinabung, and many more. Next trip, definitely will visit more places and of course I'll share to you.

North Sumatra tourism is more than amazing. You will surprise that you can find this kind of beautiful natural tourist site in Indonesia. We should explore more North Sumatra tourist sites and share to people around the world so that North Sumatra's tourism can developed in the future.

Don't just read and see the pictures of North Sumatra tourism, save your money and book a ticket to North Sumatra 👍👍

Also read:

Medan City Shows Bhineka Tunggal Ika "The Unity Diversity" Philosophy

Travelling In Toba Lake With Big Family

5 Great Tourist Cite In Solo City That Must Include In Your Trip List

5 Great Tourist Cite In Solo City That Must Include In Your Trip List

Surakarta city, or you might be more familiar with Solo city, is located in Central Java Province, beside Yogyakarta. Famously, Solo city is called as “the city of culture” or some people said that “If you want to feel Javanese traditional culture, come to Solo city! You can find everything about Java”.

That’s right! Solo city is one of the “ancient city” in Indonesia that still have strong Javanese culture among community’s daily life. That’s why most of travelers, either from domestic or overseas, they’d like to visit Solo city to “feel Javanese culture” and find out why Solo city is special.

Meanwhile, Solo city might don't have symbolic place like Candi Borobudur in their neighbor city, Yogyakarta, but I think you should visit Solo city because Solo city have unique and cool places that worth to visit.

Here’s 5 places in Solo that I recommend to you to include in your trip list or travel wish list:

1.Keraton Kasunan Surakarta Hadiningrat

Keraton Kasunan Surakarta Hadiningrat is actually a palace for Surakarta Sunanate (Javanese monarchy) which located in the middle of Surakarta / Solo city. Surakarta Sunanate is successor of Mataram Kingdom which divided into two side, another one is Yogyakarta Sunanate. Keraton Kasunan Surakarta established by Pakubuwono II in 1744. Actually, until today Keraton Kasunan Surakarta is the home of Sri Sunan (Kingdom family) but also considered as historical place in Solo city. There’s Keraton Surakarta museum inside there, which described society’s life in the past, the history of Keraton Surakarta, inscriptions, and classic transportation during Holland colonial. If you have a trip in Solo city, you shouldn’t miss Keraton Kasunan as your travel destination.

2. Klewer Market

Klewer market is the market where you can buy many kind of souvenirs, original from Solo city. Klewer market built in 1942, still exist until nowadays, and often being one of the destination for tourists who’d like to buy some souvenirs. In the corner of Klewer market, you can eat Solo city culinary. There are many food seller in the corner of Klewer market such as timlo, dawet ice, nasi liwet, serabi, and gethuk.

3. The Great Mosque of Surakarta / Masjid Agung Kraton Kasunan Solo

The great mosque of Surakarta, or local people more familiar with name Masjid Agung Solo. Masjid Agung is a mosque which built in 18^th century, by Sunan Paku Buwono III in 1763 in order to teach Islam to the society and also Islamic center. Masjid Agung is one of an ancient mosque that still exist in Indonesia and has been Islamic center since 18^th century until today. 

4. Jumog Waterfall

Jumog waterfall is one of the tourist cite in Berjo tour village, Kec. Ngargoyoso, Kab. Karanganyar. Talking about Karanganyar, most of travel website will refer to Grojogan Sewu waterfall. However, Karanganyar has another waterfall cite which good enough for relaxing your mind and feel the sensation of waterfall. That’s Jumog waterfall. For local tourists, you only pay for Rp 3.000,- in weekdays and Rp 5.000,- in weekend. However, for foreign tourists, you have to pay Rp 10.000,- ($0.74). It’s cheap and worth enough to enjoy the beauty of Jumog waterfall. You can also eat Solo culinary in food seller around waterfall while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. That’s why I recommend you to put Jumog waterfall in your travel wish list

5. Tea Garden Ndoro Dongker

For you who call yourself as “tea lover”, you should visit tea garden Ndoro Dongker as your travel destination in Solo city. Enjoying tea in peaceful area with tea garden as a view is the best thing. Especially, if you bring your loved one, family, or friends, you can have a quality time with a cup of tea while enjoying the beauty of tea garden. Tea garden Ndoro Dongker restaurant also provide meal and many types of tea, for example, forest tea. Forest tea is quite interesting because inside tea cup, there are a lot of forest items which the main factor why forest tea’s smell is very aromatic. That’s what makes tea garden Ndoro Dongker unique. It's so unfortunate if you don't visit tea garden Ndoro Dongker. Put tea garden Ndoro Dongker as your travel list.

Actually, there are still more great places in Solo city, but those 5 places that I mentioned above are my top recommendations for you. Yogyakarta (read: Jogjakarta) might have many kinds of tourist cite which quite popular for local and foreign tourists, but Solo city also have great places that not many people know.

So, what are you waiting for? Explore Indonesia, Explore Java, and Visit Solo City!