Tourist Destinations

Mancing Ikan Silli di Sungai Silau

2009-10-09T02:56:00.000-07:00

Mancing di alam mempunyai keasyikan dan tantangan tersendiri dibandingkan dengan mancing di kolam. Mancing di sungai bisa dilakukan dengan biaya yang lebih irit karena ngak perlu bayar tempat, umpan gak perlu beli bisa dicari dilokasi mancing dan bisa memakai peralatan mancing seadanya. Keuntungan lain mancing di sungai, bisa menikmati keindahan alam dan bisa pilih tempat yang gak terlalu panas sehingga gak perlu pake sun block kaya mancing di kolam atau di laut.

Berhubung ikan di sungai bermacam jenis biasanya sebelum mancing ke sungai pemancing akan menentukan target ikannya dulu supaya bisa dipersiapkan peralatan dan umpan yang sesuai dengan target. Umumnya untuk mancing di sungai tidak diperlukan pelampung dan karena air sungai mengalir tentunya pemberatnya disesuaikan dengan arus sungai. Semakin deras arusnya maka tentunya pemberatnya lebih berat supaya tidak terhempas ke permukaan. Untuk mancing ikan baung dan jenis ikan yang besar kailnya juga lebih besar bekisar ukuran 8 atau lebih dan senar juga harus kuat supaya bisa melawan kekuatan ikan dan arus sungai.

Senar halus juga bisa dipakai untuk memancing ikan kecil dan ikan Silli. Umpan bisa memakai cacing tanah atau udang sungai. Cacing bisa didapat di pinggiran sungai, lebih baik cacing air yang hidup di pinggir sungai yang basah. Ikan Silli biasanya hidup di pinggir sungai di bawah sampah-sampah sungai.

Ikan Silli bentuknya seperti belut hanya lebih pipih, berwarna coklat bermotiv batik di tengah badannya dan bersirip seperti ikan. Siripnya tajam, maka perlu hati-hati untuk memengangnya, gunakan kain atau alas tangan lain agar tidak terluka. Rasanya pun hampir sama seperti belut hanya aromanya sedikit berbeda. Kalau digoreng aromanya mirip ikan lele yang disale.

Madani Hotel

2009-01-14T02:50:00.000-08:00

In the mid of hard hotel business competition, Madani Hotel existed to compete the market. The three star hotel which located on Jalan Sisingamangaraja in the centre of Medan, diagonally opposite to the Mesjid Raya and across the road from Yuki Simpang Raya shopping centre, has a specific characteristic in comparison with other hotels. The Hotel run on the basis of Sharia system. I think this is the only hotel which has religious nuance.The architecture of the hotel is fully the style of Melayu, adopting the architecture of Maimoon palace and Mesjid Raya.

The hotel has 172 rooms with various types. The room rate starts from Rp. 410.000 for Superior upto Rp. 3.750.000 for Royal Suite Room.
The facilities of the hotel as follow:
- Vast lobby
- Gelora Ballroom with the capacity of 1.500 persons
- 5 meeting rooms with capacity of 200 persons each hall(Istanbul Hall, Jordan Hall, Doha Hall, Dubai Hall and Bahrain Hall)
- Wi-fi internet access
- Travel agencies
- Barber Shop
- Restaurant
- lounge
- Spa
- Shuttle bus from hotel to Airport
- ect

Room rates:

Superior room Rp. 410,000

Deluxe room Rp. 475,000

Executive Deluxe Rp. 635,000

Executive Suite Rp. 1,200,000

Family Suite Rp. 1,700,000

Madani Suite Rp. 2,400,000

Royal Suite Rp. 3,750,000

Tangkahan, The Hidden Paradise

2008-12-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

You could enjoy a range of adventures in the hidden paradise, Tangkahan, the ancient rainforest of North Sumatera in the mount Leuser where you will discover Indonesia's best kept secret. You will be amazed with the views of canopies and incredible wildlife, rivers with pure and clear water and various tropical flowers.

Tangkahan is located next to Gunung Leuser National Park about 105 km from Medan City or it takes time about 3 to 4 hours by vehicle. You can go to Tangkahan by renting a car or by public buses (Pembangunan Semesta) from Pinang Baris Bus Terminus directly to Tangkahan. Buses run three times a day, started at 08.00 am, 01.00 pm, 03.00 pm or with the following route; Pinang Baris-Simpang Robert and then two wheelers from Simpang Robert to Tangkahan.

The followings are what you'll get in the hidden paradise.

Forest Trekking
You could learn more about flora and fauna in the rainforest while enjoying your trekking inside the heart of the paradise. You could hike over mountains and across rivers to encounter the natural wonders of the rainforest. There are some fasilities that are provided for full day trek+caving+tubing.

River Cruising
Experience the River safari by tubing along the Batang Serangan River while taking pleasure in watching around, see the long tailed monkeys, wonderful rainforest vegetation, various birds, and if lucky you will meet Kedih (Presbytis Thomasi) an endemic primate in Gunung Leuser National Park. You can also swim in the clear blue water and then drift yourself away back to Tangkahan shore.

Camping
If you want to experience staying at the camp, there also available a camping ground area between the jungle and the river, sufficient for 30 tents. Feel the rare occasion living in harmony with nature.

Caving
This is a kind of adventure trek and you must be fit and healthy enough to walk through the ancient rainforest and crossing a lot of rivers, streams and hilly areas. You need 3 hours to reach the Bat Cave. A skillful guide will accompany you. To return back, you have a choice of tubing down the fast flowing river, or walking through the fruit trees in the Orange and Durian groves.
(Pathway through the jungle)
Elephant Trekking
It is an exciting package as you could experience the sensation of riding over an elephant's back for an exploration by using the Conservation Response Unit's patrol elephants. These elephants help to monitor the forest from any crimes and at the same time could accompany you to explore the forest.

Accommodation
Visitors could choose four comfortable accommodations next to the park, namely Jungle Lodge, Bamboo River, Mega Inn and Green Lodge, designed for family, standard and deluxe. The restaurants provide Traditional Karonese food & beverage, Indonesian food and western food and beverage.
(Restaurant)

Berastagi City

2008-11-14T21:00:00.000-08:00

Berastagi is a small town in the Karo highland of Nort Sumatera. The name of Berastagi means 'rice store' since the area is highly fertile and produces fruits and vegetables besides rice and sugar can. Berastagi is wellknown for its fruit and vegetable markets as the main economic activities. This hilly areas is quite cold in climate compares to Medan and other cities in North Sumatera.

This one of the attractive tourist destination not because it's fruits production but more for the two active volcanos, Sibayak and Sinabung, with its hot spring. Tourists were attracted to climb Sibayak that is 2100 meters high because it is most accessible and easy to climb specially for one who already used to it. There is no requirement to do the trek. After climbing we can enjoy the warm water at the hot spring.

At Gundaling you may watch the beautiful panorama of the valley from the top.

Bukit Lawang and Orang Utan

2008-05-22T03:29:00.000-07:00

If the wild is well and truly calling you then make sure you put Bukit Lawang on your itinerary. This once sleepy town in Northern Sumatra is now home to the famous Orangg Utan Centre that was created to aid primates in their readjustment back into the wild. As a visitor you are allowed to witness the amazing creatures at feeding time. Once the milk and bananas are out you can see them swing into action from limb to limb to get their grub. It is a truly privileged place to be. The only hours visitors are welcome are between 8 and 9 am and 3-4 p.m., otherwise the orangatanngs home is off limits. Remember you have to get a permit if you wish to visit the centre.

Bukit Lewang is a charming tourist town on the edge of the huge Gungung Leuser National Park. Many people to visit Sungai Bohorok tube to go to the river. Other visit to go on hikes in the lush jungle of primary rainforest. Most visitors come to Bukit Lawang, however, see the orange men of the forest - the Orang-utan!

Spend some days in Bukit Lawang, and enjoy the orang-utans, the river and the rainforest.

Orang-utan is Indonesian for "Men of the Forest". These fascinating creatures belong to the Great Apes family (along with the chimpanzee and the gorilla), which is man's closest relative. They evolved from the same evolutionary tree as man, and studying them helps us to understand our own origin.

Mirror Beach

2007-11-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

Mirror beach or in local language Pantai Cermin is located in Serdang Bedagai Regency.
It's a nice place to swim, sun bathing and fishing. It's one of eastern beaches in Indonesia. Unlike the western beaches, Mirror beach has a calm wave so it's not an appropriate place to surf. The local government has developed the beach to contribute another good object tourism of North Sumatera. The sand of the beach is white like a glass, therefore they called the beach by the name "cermin" means Mirror.

Medan Grand Mosque

2007-07-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

Beside the Maimoon Palace, The Medan Grand Mosque was another architectural heritage of Deli Sultanate. the mosque is still utilized by the local community for daily prayers. Like The Maimoon Palace, the building materials of the mosque were taken from Italy. The Grand Mosque which was built in 1906 by Sultan Makmun Al-Rasyid is the most beautiful and magnificence mosques in North Sumatera. It is situated about 200 m from The Maimoon Palace.

The specific architecture of the mosque was inspired by the Moorish style.The dome of the Al Ma'sum Mosque that had flat and quadrangle shape also in the peak of the roof has the usual crescent moon decoration was also found in other Islamic buildings like the Mosque and the tower that according to the experts often were connected as the symbol of peacefulness, where Islam was broadcasted without violence.

Apart from the plan, dome, curves (arcade), the crescent moon decoration on its peak, the influence of Islamic art is clearly visible in its Ornamentation, whether on the wall, the ceiling, the poles, and the curved surface (face Arcade) that was rich in the decoration of flowers and winding plants painted with oil paint. This floralistic decoration apart from being styled reminds to the Tumpal and mekara motive, also painted with Naturalistic style. Except the floral motive and geometric motive, the combination between Polygonal, Octagonal and circle decorations was also appealing. The motive of this kind especially very much found in walls, the curved surface, the ceiling etc. This motive was also found in the iron curtain form of the quadrangle windows and the shape of the curve that reminded us to motive the Indian style wall carving. In Indonesia, this kind of decoration was often acknowledged as the Terawangan or Kerawangan decoration,apart as being a decoration, this decoration also unction as ventilation.

The Maimoon Palace

2007-07-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

The palace was built by Sultan Makmun Al-Rasyid Perkasa Alamsyah.
It was constructed by the design of an Italian architect in 1888 AD.
As a legacy of Melayu-Deli Sultanate,it is dominated with yellow color, the Melayu typical color.The Maimoon Palace was built on a land of 2.772 m2 wide in the centre of the Deli kingdom, now Brigjen Katamso street, Medan.

This palace consisted of two floors that were divided into three parts, which are the main building, the left wing, and the right wing. In the front, around 100 meters, stood the Al-Maksum mosque that are well known as the Masjid Raya Medan. In the guest room (balairung) you will encounter the throne that was dominated by the yellow color. Crystal lights lighted the throne, a form of influence of European culture. The same influences are appeared in the palace furnishings like the seat, the table, toilet and the cupboard and the door, headed to balairung. The room measuring 412 m2 was used for the coronation agenda of Sultan Deli or the other traditional agenda. Balairung was also used as the place where the Sultan received praise from his relatives and family in Islamic holidays.

Further more, the number of the rooms was 40, 20 rooms in the upper floor, the Sultan's throne and 20 rooms underneath, not including 4 bathrooms, the warehouse, the kitchen, and the prison in the basement.
Interesting if we observe this palace architectural design. The blend between the Islam tradition and European culture was boldly implemented. Apart from the balairung, the building base also showed Europe influence. Some of the building material was imported from Europe, like floor tiles, marble, and terrazzo.

The pattern of Dutch architecture with the door and wide and tall windows, as well as Spanish stylish doors became a part of the Maimoon Palace. The Dutch influence was also seen in the marble inscription in front of the marble ladder that was written with the Latin letter in Netherlands language.

The Islam influence was seen in the form of the curve or arcade in several parts of the palace roof. The curve that had the shape of the overturn boat that was known with the Persian Curve, often was met on the buildings in the Middle East, Turkey, and India region.

The Maimoon palace was one of the most beautiful buildings in Medan. His location is easy to be reach, both from the Polonia Airport (around 10 km) and the Belawan Port (around 28 km). This historic building was open the public every day from struck 08.00 until 17.00.

Lake Toba

2007-07-08T02:04:00.000-07:00

Lake Toba is the most interesting tourist object in the Province of North Sumatera, Indonesia. It is as the largest inland lake in South-East Asia and one of the deepest in the world [ more than 500 metres]. Lake Toba has a length that spans 100 kilometres from Northwest to South and a width of 30 kilometres. Water surface of Lake Toba is around 900 meter of sea level. It’s surrounded by Mount Piso-Piso on the north and Mount Pusuk Bukit on the west.

Parapat, the town in the coast of the lake has many hotels and restaurants which provide good food. But the last five years the number of the tourist decreases which caused some of the hotels closed down, either temporary or for good. Most tourists are local or from neighboring countries. The tourists normally pass through on their way to Samosir Island in Lake Toba. The town offers scenic surroundings, good eating, and souvenir shopping.

Parapat can be reached within 4 hours ride from Medan, the capital city of North Sumatra. There are many souvenir shops along the road down to the market.You can find T-shirts, ceramics, cheap clothes and various souvenirs, the most popular is local made woven blankets called ‘Ulos’.

Samosir Island is accessible by ferry from Ajibata or Parapat. One of the main inhabited areas in the island is Tuktuk. This popular destination offers scenic views at very low prices. People come here to relax, enjoy the sceneries, eat well and cool down from tougher in other areas.
The culture of the local can be seen in the daily life of the villages in Samosir. Western tunes have replaced the harmonic popular songs of the wrll-singing Bataks. In Tomok 200- year old stone sarcophogus of King Sidabutar built in the shape of ship is its most famous sight. It is located a short walk away from the lake. Tomok is also known for Sigale-gale dance.