Day 4

Our day started off at 7am where we ate breakfast at the hotel as usual where after that, we board the bus to the jetty at 8am. We then met the Indonesian students at the jetty itself to board the ferry to Samosir Island. We may choose to sit outdoors which was on the top level or on the main level which was sheltered.

Sitting on the ferry gave us a closer look to the houses and architecture of Lake Toba. The view was majestic, as compared to a landscape of green that we see from the hotel. Our tour guide, Pak Agus, then briefed us on today’s itinerary.

We were entertained by 4 local boys who sang for us their traditional songs and a bonus! Hegi, one of our Indonesian students, in blue top, joined them too!

Samosir Island, an island in the middle of Lake Toba? Yes! Our first stop was Tomok village.

The first village we visit is called Tomok village, it is a tourist hot-spot where most of the tourist from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand come and visit the village.

The place we visited after we reach is cemetery, where all the kings are buried in. Before we enter the holy site, we need to abide the rules of putting the cloth on the right shoulder. The cloth is called ulos batak, it means shawl in english. The brighter color cloth is for female, while darker color cloth is for male. The cloth is only make by batak people have as it is the pride of batak people. 

The first king died 250 years ago. The batak people believe that when someone died, they have to bury them into the stone tomb. The first king predicts the future for his own grandson, where his prediction is that his grandson will become a great man. Thus, he took care of his grandson, protect him and shower him with love. When he goes out of the palace, he always brings him out and carry him by his shoulder.

The second king is the first king's grandson.

The son did not become the king is because his grandson is better than the son in terms of wise and greatness.

Under the regime of the second king, Tomok kingdom reach his glory, as he fight against other kingdoms and expand the territory. However, his love life is not as prosper, he so busy with the war that he kept postponing the wedding. However, his fiancé stay loyal to him, even after several kings had proposed to her. One of the king got angry and send black magic to her brain, causing her to lose her mind and disappear. 

The last king is a special king as he is the first Christian king. 

There are several small tombs behind the tombs of the kings which are commanders that they died in the battlefield. In a respect for them, they bury their bones into the tomb.

Sigale-gale is a statue that was used in funeral ceremony to entertain the deads, however it serves as an entertainment for the tourists these days as it has become a part of the tourist attraction.

After visiting the Tomok village, we took a short ferry ride to the next village which is called Siallagan (huta village).

This village is a small kingdom and the entrance of the kingdom used to be guarded by soldiers. The surroundings of the kingdom is filled with bamboo as it helps to protect the kingdom from enemy. Although the village become a tourist attraction, the houses are still in use. They have both wooden and concrete houses and they even uses sugar palm tree to build their roof. The Bataknese put lizard as ornament, as they believe that lizards lives at any surroundings and they want to be like lizard which is able to adapt to any changes. 

 Besides that , the Batak people think that the more children they have, the more prosper they are as they ask the children to work in the field with them. 

They put offerings under the tree as they believe that the good spirit lives on the tree. 

This is the house that they decide the punishment. Shaman predict the time to kill the criminal.  The Wooden criminal in the prison is a replication of the past criminals that are waiting for execution. 

The doors are small, this shows that when someone enter the house, they would need to bow before entering the place, this is a sign of respect to the ancient kings.

Execution place :

Batak people are brutal they wanted the criminal to suffer instead of killing them.

Process:

1. They stab the criminal to make them suffer and allow them to say their last word.

Most of the criminal will ask for delicious meal which is Arsik Carp. However, if the criminal ask for postpone of execution or letting them off from the crime, their last wish will be ignored.

2. After the criminal is stab they are pour with lime juice

3. The heart of the criminal will be eaten by the king as they believe the king will improve his power if he eat the criminal heart.

4. The flesh is cooked and distribute the meat to the villages

In order to prevent the criminal spirit to haunt the village the village will share their flesh, they practice cannibalism. At the same time,  it serves as a warning to the enemy.

  

The Bataknese are well-known for making Bolon Kulowus and wear it for special occasion such as wedding ceremony, funeral and even church service. However, the youngsters nowadays does not wear it as they find it not trendy.

When the criminal is executed, they will cut their hair and place on the stick, as they believe that the power of the criminal will be transfer to the stick and making the king stronger. 

After visiting all the villages, we have free and easy time with the Indonesian students. Overall it was an enriching day we get to not only visit historical places but also learn the history and culture of the place...

FUN FACT ! :

The bataknese are great singers, they believe their great voices are mainly because of the ancestors as they live in the mountain rage in order to communicate with one another they have to shout across.And that is how they train their vocals! 

Want to know more fun facts and interesting stories?  Stay tune for our next blog !