Minggu, 13 September 2015

Batak Traditional houses

Batak Traditional Houses







The Batak Toba are one of six Batak tribes that inhabit northern and central Sumatra. Each tribe has a distinctive culture and architectural style. Two Batak tribes are Muslim, while the the Toba and another tribe are Christian. The Batak Toba people are concentrated around Lake Toba, the world's largest caldera lake. Their houses are among the most distinctive in Indonesia, with their famous boat-shaped roofs and finely-decorated carvings. 




Batak Toba houses are found in groups of ten or less, constituting small villages. Because of frequent warfare among the other tribes in the past, the houses are built close together, often side-by-side (though rarely connected). Since much of the area is wet year-round, the Batak place their buildings on stilts to avoid flooding and dampness. A typical village consists of a row of houses flanking a corresponding number of small rice granaries, one for each house. Between the two rows of buildings runs a street called an "alaman", which used to serve as a workyard and as a place for drying out rice in the hot sun. Nowadays, most of the granary buildings have been converted into houses, but their original purpose remains recognizable since the granaries were always built on six pillars, while houses had more. 




The Batak Toba house is organized vertically into three distinct zones. The lower zone--the area beneath the house raised on piers--functioned as a work area and as an open-air pen for animals. The next zone¿½the floor of the house�is a living area where as many as four different families crowded together (nowadays there is usually one family per house). Ladders were once used to access the living area from the ground, so that in times of war the ladder could be quickly retracted and the opening sealed. At present, many families have installed stairs for convenience.
The highest and most important level of the house is the upper storey, which extends about 1/3 of the depth in from the front of the house. In this area family valuables and ancestral shrines are located. In front of this area, facing the street, is a veranda used for open-air storage.
The roofs of the Batak Toba houses are formed of sugar palm fiber thatch, held together with rattan cords. However, many houses have abandoned the labor-intensive thatched roof and have converted to zinc metal roofs, which are far more durable in the humid climate. 


SUMATRA TRIPS
Medan - north Sumatra INDONESIA
pHONE : +62 81 263 355 335
Email : sumatratrips@gmail.com

About Sumatra



 About Sumatra




Sumatra(Indonesia): Sumatera) is an island in western Indonesia n Indonesia and part of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island that is entirely in Indonesia (two larger islands, Borneo and New Guinea, are shared between Indonesia and other countries) and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 (including adjacent islands such as the Riau Islands and Bangga Belitung Islands).
Sumatra is an elongated landmass spanning a diagonal northwest-southeast axis. The Indian Ocean borders the west, northwest, and southwest sides of Sumatra with the island chain of Simeulue, Nias and Mentwai bordering the southwestern coast. On the northeast side the narrow Strait of Malacca separates the island from the Malay Peninsula, an extension of the Eurasian continent. On the southeast the narrow Sunda Strait separates Sumatra from Java. The northern tip of Sumatra borders the Andaman Islands, while on the lower eastern side are the islands of Bangka and Belitung, Karimata Strait and the Java Sea. The Bukit Barisan mountains, which contain several active volcanoes, form the backbone of the island, while the northeast sides are outlying lowlands with swamps, mangrove and complex river systems. The equator crosses the island at its center on West Sumatra and Riau provinces. The climate of the island is tropical, hot and humid with lush tropical rain forest once dominating the landscape.
Sumatra has a wide range of plant and animal species but has lost almost 50% of its tropical rainforest in the last 35 years, and many species are critically endangered such as the Sumatran Ground-cuckoo, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros, and Sumatran orangutan. Deforestation on the island has also resulted in serious haze over neighbouring countries, such as the 2013 Southeast Asian haze causing considerable tensions with affected countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.
Srivijaya was a Buddhist monarchy centred in what is now Palembang. Dominating the region through trade and conquest throughout the 7th to 9th centuries, the empire helped spread the Malay culture throughout Nusantara. The empire was a thalassocracy or maritime power that extended its influence from island to island. Palembang was a center for scholarly learning, and it was there the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim I Ching studied Sanskrit in 671 CE before departing for India. On his journey to China, he spent four years in Palembang translating Buddhist texts and writing two manuscripts.

 Batak Warriors, 1870
Srivijayan influence waned in the 11th century after it was defeated by the Chola  Empire of southern India. At the same time, Islam made its way to Sumatra through Arabs and Indian traders in the 6th and 7th centuries AD. By the late 13th century, the monarch of the Samudra kingdom had converted to Islam. Marco Polo visited the island in 1292, and  Ibn Battuta visited twice during 1345–1346. Samudra was succeeded by the powerful Aceh Sultanate, which survived to the 20th century. With the coming of the Dutch, the many Sumatran princely states gradually fell under their control. Aceh, in the north, was the major obstacle, as the Dutch were involved in the long and costly Aceh War (1873–1903).
Sumatra came under the control of the Dutch East Indies and became a major producer of pepper, rubber, and oil. In the early and mid-twentieth century, Sumatran academics and leaders were important figures in Indonesia's independence movements, such as: Mohammad Hatta (the first vice-president) and Sutan Sjahrir (the first prime minister).
The Free Aceh Movement fought against Indonesian government forces in the Aceh Insurgency from 1976 to 2005. Security crackdowns in 2001 and 2002 resulted in several thousand civilian deaths
The Great Sumatran fault (a strike-slip fault), and the Sunda Megathrust (a subduction zone) subduction zone), run the entire length of the island along its west coast. On 26 December 2004, the western coast and islands of Sumatra, particularly Aceh province, were struck by a tsunami following the Indian Ocean earthquake. More than 170,000 Indonesians were killed, primarily in Aceh. Other recent earthquakes to strike Sumatra include the 2005 Sumatra Earthquake and the October 2010 Sumatra earthquake

6Days Tangkahan - Bukit Lawang - Lake Toba Tours

6Days Tangkahan - Bukit Lawang - Lake Toba Tours





DAY 01 :  AIRPORTMEDAN– TRANSFER TO TANGKAHAN.
Upon arrival at polonia airport Medan pick up by our tour guide. Then continue for Medan city tour, visiting sultan palace,great mosque,chinese temple and Kesawan area ,the old centre of Medan city. Thereafter drive to Tangkahan about 4 hours, and stop will be made at several plantation for rubber and palm oil. Arrived in Tangkahan crossing the river by canoe is to reach your accommodation. Late afternoon check in to the lodge. Overnight stay in Mega Inn or similar (simple).

DAY 02   :  TANGKAHAN ELEPHANT TOURS – BUKIT LAWANG (B).
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Morning elephant trekking for 1 hour  through the Leuser National Park. In the afternoon proceed the journey to Bukit Lawang. On the way, you will drive over plantation and rural areas, a bit bumpy but great fun. Arrive in Bukit Lawang check in to the accommodation. Overnight stay in hotel Rindu Alam or Ecolodge Bukit Lawang Cottages or similar. Remarks: Elephant ride is for one hour plus witness the attraction in the river. And Accommodations in Tangkahan are basic, built with simple materials to keep in harmony with nature. Electricity run by own generator and not available after 21:00 pm. Room is equipped with mosquito net and has own bathroom   with cold shower (no hot water).

DAY 03  : BUKITLAWANG – MEDAN – BERASTAGI (B)
Visit the feeding platform to see the closest primate to humanoid so called Orang Utan while
being fed and prepared for release back into their natural habitat. After/before the visit, you have chance to take an optional jungle walk with local ranger for a few hours or go inner tubing down the river (own account). Afternoon you leave Bukit Lawang to the cool and pleasant highland town of Berastagi. Visit local fruit market before check-in hotel. Overnight stay in hotel Sinabung or hotel Danau Toba Cottages in Brastagi.
DAY 04   :  BERASTAGI – MT. SIBAYAK – SAMOSIR ISLAND (B)
After breakfast, morning you will make a short mount trekking to Mt. Sibayak (apprx. 4 hrs go and back). You will enjoy a beautiful mountain view and fresh air of the area. Afternoon, proceed the journey to Samosir Island. Stop will be made at Dokan village, a traditional Karo Bataks village, Sipiso-piso waterfall, Long house of Simalungun Bataks. Arrive in Parapat, transfer to the harbour for the cruise to Samosir Island. Check in to the hotel. The Trekking tours can be change with other trips in Berastagi before we heading to Lake Toba. 2 overnight stays in hotel Silintong or Toledo Inn on Samosir island.
DAY 05   :  FULLDAY SAMOSIR ISLAND (B)
After breakfast at hotel full day excursion on Samosir Island to explore the beauty and cultural aspects of Batak visiting Ambarita village to see the stone chairs, tables and court yard of Siallagan’s clan. Simanindo to enjoy the Bataks traditional ritual dances of the Bataks Tribe. Thereafter continue to Tomok village to see the old tomb of King’s Sidabutar, rest  of the day return to the hotel or discover the Tuk-Tuk village by bicycle (optional) and enjoy a warm interaction with the local people during your ride.

DAY 06   :  SAMOSIR ISLAND – MEDAN AIRPORT –  DROP OFF (B)
Free program till check out time, then cruise back to Parapat and continue the drive to Medan , transfer to airport and drop off, Tours ended.



 



SUMATRA TRIPS
Medan - north Sumatra INDONESIA
pHONE : +62 81 263 355 335
Email : sumatratrips@gmail.com
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