The Exotic View of Toba Lake

 
 Merely a three hours drive from Medan, Toba is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and covers a simply enormous area of 1707 square kilometres. Sitting in the middle of this massive expanse of water sits Pulau Samosir (Samosir Island) which is almost as large as Singapore! The lake was formed by an absolutely gargantuan volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago and sits in what is the largest caldera on earth. In fact, you'd probably have to head into outer space to actually get a good view of this enormous, dormant, fire breather, such is its size.

 Samosir Island and the Toba area in gneeral are the spiritual and cultural homes of Indonesia' mainly Christian Batak population, one of the country's most vibrant and friendly ethnic groups. Toba used to be a very popular tourist destination in times past, although the number of arrivals has dwindled in more recent years. This means, however, that there are no crowds at the lake, prices are cheap and that friendly locals are grateful for your custom. Formerly on the beaten tourist track, Toba and Samosir are now well off it and thus worth a visit if you're looking for a relaxing break.

 The friendly, music loving Bataks and the volcanically warm, clear waters of the lake itself, which is set amid a backdrop of breathtaking mountain scenery, should prove to be food for the soul. Ferries run every hour over to the hotels and guesthouses that crowd sections of the Samosir coast at Tuk Tuk. The lakeside town of Parapat is the ferry terminal and the place to head for upon leaving Medan.
When you reach Samosir itself, why not rent a bicycle or a motorcycle and take a tour of the island? The scenery is superb, there's hardly any traffic and there are many pretty places in which to stop off and take a quick dip in the lake's soothing waters.

At Panururan, on the island's western side, you'll find some bubbling hot springs to enjoy whilst at Simanindo, there's a Batak Museum that puts on regular traditional dance performances. Alternatively, why not head out of the main Tuk Tuk area up to the mountain waterfall behind? It's alovely stroll and there's a refreshing swim waiting for you at the end.