One of the most-visited in addition to nearest international destinations to Penang would live on Medan at our neighboring country- Indonesia. It does non conduct hold a long haul flying to accomplish Medan... inwards fact, it takes some 50 minutes to accomplish the town. The metropolis inwards North Sumatera has a bad reputation- pollution, poverty, tourist scams etc but it is undeniably, the perfect house for sense the local Indonesian culture. The nutrient scene, on the other hand, is interesting plenty to explore. While it does save the traditional Indonesian eats, international delicacies tin sack live on easily works life inwards most prestigious shopping malls. Our three Day- 2 Night trip was a petty hectic... which comprises of a nighttime rest at Medan urban amount in addition to some other at Tuk Tuk, Samosir (most known every bit Lake Toba). Also, if y'all must know... nosotros flew amongst Air Asia (direct flying from Penang International Airport) in addition to it was an eye-opener to bear witness against Tony Fernandes' proverb "My Indonesian passengers convey their household in addition to their neighbor's household amongst them when they travel".
Getting Out of Kualanamu (KNO) International Airport:
We would recommend taking a cab to the urban amount but non all Cabs are reliable. Our local friend- Tim, recommended us to conduct hold "Bluebird's" cab. The metered cab is reliable in addition to tin sack live on easily works life across the city. The ride volition conduct hold some ane hr amongst a cost tag of about 200,000 Rupiah. We took multiple rides of cab (via Bluebird) to explore the urban amount every bit well, the fares were cheap in addition to reasonable for the four of us. In example y'all are wondering, nosotros stayed at Hotel Polonia, v minutes motility away from sun Plaza.
1) Bihun Bebek Kumango
Address: Jalan Kumango
Business Hours: 6:30 am to 12 pm. Closed on Sundays.
Bihun Bebek Kumango (60,000 Rupiah)
One of the must-try iconic dishes at Medan is Bihun Bebek in addition to this detail stall manned yesteryear a Chinese uncle whom speaks decent Standard Mandarin at a narrow alley- Jalan Kumango, a stone's throw distance away from Merdeka Walk (Jalan Balai Kota). Kumango's is believed to live on the most expensive but it commensurate inwards price of character in addition to generosity of the Duck meat (Duck is known every bit Bebek inwards Indonesian language). Thick Vermicelli Noodles were get-go blanched in addition to tossed amongst calorie-free Soy Sauce... laden amongst bountiful of deboned Stewed Duck meat, completed amongst copious amount of Deep Fried Garlic in addition to Spring Onions. The meat possessed the perfect texture- soft yet amongst a satisfying meatiness. H5N1 unopen relative to our version of Koay Teow Th'ng in addition to for the real get-go time... I genuinely had a bowl of Noodles amongst to a greater extent than meat than the noodles. To consummate your dining experience, a bowl of thick, rich in addition to creamy Duck broth volition live on served together. It could non live on to a greater extent than satisfying, nosotros highly recommend adding this house to your itinerary.
2) Soto Kesawan
Address: Jalan Ahmad Yani 116, Medan.
Business Hours: 8 am to three pm. Opens Daily.
Soto Ayam (22,000 Rupiah)
Soto Udang (25,000 Rupiah)
H5N1 mutual in addition to traditional soup at Indonesia- Soto... comes inwards many variants. We had ours at a local famous house amongst relentless queue thronging the house every bit early on every bit nine inwards the morning. The concoction (meat broth) was creamy due to the add-on of Coconut Milk in addition to at that spot are diverse meats available- Beef, Chicken in addition to Shrimps. It shares some similarities every bit our Curry Mee. H5N1 plate of White Rice in addition to a concoction of Green Chili were served to us every bit well. We did non similar the dip but the Soto was alright, though it was every bit good heavy for breakfast; nosotros all the same thought it was a bully sense to acquire nigh the local civilization in addition to nutrient scene.
3) Crazy Crab
Address: Level 3, sun Plaza, Jalan Kh. Zainul Arifin No. 7, Sumatera Utara, Medan.
Business Hours: 10 am to nine pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +061- 450 1546
Combo 1- Crabs, Shrimps, Squids, Clams, Corns, Carrots in addition to Potatoes (serves 4/ 428,000 Rupiah+)
Avocado Juice (75,200 Rupiah+)
One of the most enjoyable meals nosotros had at Medan was at Crazy Crabs at sun Plaza (one of the largest malls at Medan). The concept is non novel (though it may live on all the same novel to Penang)- cooked Seafood volition live on served on tabular array in addition to diners volition live on eating them using hands. Crazy Crabs' comes inwards a twist- available inwards few types of sauces: Angry Curry, Vampire Sauce, White Cream Sauce, White Pepper Sauce, Black Pepper Sauce etc. We opted for Combo 1 which was expert plenty for the four of us. Generous amount of Seafood was presented to us inwards a glimpse of an eye; heavily drenched inwards the seemingly fiery hot, thick Sauce. We enjoyed every bits of it, the Seafood was fresh in addition to succulent. The sauce was expectedly Peppery amongst an indelible sweetness; nosotros thought it worked good amongst the Seafood in addition to for sure suits our typical Malaysian sense of savour buds. The joy of picking your preferred items on the tabular array adds to the overall dining experience. We washed everything downward amongst a loving cup of Avocado Juice (a must-try quaff at Medan). This is a house that y'all don't desire to miss.
4) LARC Soft Serve
Address: Level 4, sun Plaza, Jalan Kh. Zainul Arifin No. 7, Sumatera Utara, Medan.
Business Hours: 10 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Green Tea Soft Serve amongst Chocolate Cookies (35,000 Rupiah)
Red Velvet Soft Serve amongst Honey Comb (35,000 Rupiah)
While browsing the mall, nosotros noticed a humble Ice Cream parlor that serves interesting Soft Serve. We tried 2 unlike flavors- Green Tea in addition to Red Velvet; both the flavors did non shine. The old season was weak in addition to nosotros thought it could live on to a greater extent than apparent; the latter ane was a confused-mediocre that has nary season inwards it. If y'all are looking for something to crunch the heat, this mightiness live on an option; forget nigh it otherwise.
5) Macehat Coffee
Address: Jalan Karo, No. 20, Medan.
Business Hours: 10 am to vii pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +061- 452 9944
Avocado Coffee Float (35,000 Rupiah)
Mie Ayam Jamur (25,000 Rupiah)
Risoles (22,000 Rupiah)
Macehat Coffee is the beak of the town in addition to it is ane of the highly-rated cafes inwards Medan. We were at that spot early on in addition to the house was rather empty but every bit nosotros were enjoying the food, regular patrons started to inundation the house in addition to it was completely total the 2nd nosotros left the place. Macehat Coffee is famous for its Avocado Coffee Float; the quaff is multi-dimensional... blended Avocado at the bottom in addition to mixed amongst Chocolate Syrup in addition to topped amongst Chocolate Powder (possibly Milo) in addition to a scoop of Chocolate Ice Cream. The select grip of is to pour a loving cup of Espresso over the float. It was creamy amongst a sleek refreshing Avocado season yet chocolaty spell the caffeine boost introduced some other layer of incredible season to the drink... something that y'all could non expose inwards Penang. The other snacks were alright, though nosotros did non holler back they were out of the basis delicious; Macehat Coffee tin sack live on an ideal house to savour your Cup of Joe. The house tin sack live on a petty tricky to locate, we'd recommend taking a cab in addition to that mightiness relieve y'all a lot of time.
Here are some shots taken spell nosotros were wandering the city:
"Betor"- Beca (It way Trishaw inwards Bahasa Indonesian) + Motorcycle
An old uncle carrying his bike
The bustling street inwards front end of Merdeka Walk
Centre Point Mall- some other large shopping mall at Medan
Getting to Lake Toba/ Parapat/ Tuk Tuk Samosir from Medan City:
Danau/ Lake Toba is a famous goal for international tourists in addition to it is non uncommon for tourists to go from Medan City. There are 2 ways of getting to Parapat (the jetty to conduct hold the ferry to Tuk Tuk):
- Hire a machine amongst driver (the cost ranges from 700,000 Rupiah to 1,200,000 Rupiah/ seats upwards to four passengers); it takes some four hours to accomplish Parapat.
- Take an economical motorbus from Amplas Bus Terminal to Parapat (a ticket costs 40,000 Rupiah); it takes some 5.5 hours to half dozen hours to accomplish Parapat (Do non consider this pick if y'all produce non speak their language).
The "unappetizing" interior of the real old shuttle motorbus (probably older than me).
We conduct hold experienced both go methods (we took an economical motorbus from Medan to Parapat in addition to hired a machine (Toyota Innova) amongst driver from Parapat dorsum to Kualanamu International Airport). The get-go ane tin sack live on throat-cutting but if y'all are travelling inwards a grouping of 4, that evens out the cost. It is also a to a greater extent than comfortable way of travelling (though it tin sack live on a extremely tiring due to the bumpy road) compared to the 2nd option.
The determination to conduct hold the latter pick (by economical bus) was a huge mistake. Amplas Bus Terminal was a run-down house amongst muddied washrooms in addition to no facilities (such every bit air-conditioners) at all. The motorbus was an antique on the route amongst no air-conditioners... fifty-fifty the seats were flimsy in addition to they could non fifty-fifty unopen the door properly. The motorbus constantly picks upwards passengers on the way to Parapat in addition to our total travelling fourth dimension was 5.5 hours. It was humid in addition to stuffy, the passengers volition exactly mash inwards in addition to stand upwards adjacent to y'all when at that spot are no empty seats left (yes, they volition hold picking upwards passengers fifty-fifty the motorbus is full). Imagine the sleepless in addition to exhausting journey. As far every bit security in addition to comfortness are concerned, this pick should live on your concluding resort.
If y'all are staying at Tomok or Tuk Tuk, y'all volition postulate to conduct hold a ferry to cross the lake. The concluding ferry operates until half dozen pm exclusively in addition to therefore y'all volition conduct hold to carefully conception your trip at that spot (especially if y'all are taking the economical bus, every bit the fourth dimension tin sack live on unpredictable). There are unlike jetties to conduct hold the ferry, depending on where y'all are heading to. Do enquire the locals in addition to they volition live on able to assistance y'all (though speaking Malay/ Indonesian may help). The ride from Parapat to Tuk Tuk costs 15,000 Rupiah in addition to takes about xxx to 45 minutes. The breeze inwards the middle of the lake tin sack live on chilly in addition to therefore if y'all are sensitive to alter inwards temperature, acquire yourself prepared.
If y'all are looking for a house to savour a local meal, we'd recommend Alyssa's Restaurant, a brusk v minute-walk from our stay- Toba Village Inn; Alyssa's is also adjacent to Tabo Cottages.
Gado-Gado (30,000 Rupiah)
Bacon Hawaiian Pizza (47,000 Rupiah)
Baked Fish/ Ikan Bakar (45,000 Rupiah)
Every dish nosotros had at Alyssa's was impeccable amongst their Ikan Bakar left us the deepest impression. The 8-ounces fresh H2O Fish was halved in addition to grilled to perfection. We believe that some form of Sweet sauce must conduct hold been spread over the fish every bit nosotros did sense of savour a hint of sweetness. The pristine-white flesh was mind-blowing; the fish was in addition to therefore fresh that the natural language detected its umami-ness at the real get-go touch. We were recommended that nosotros should savor the Fish together amongst their traditional spiced sauce... it carried some elements that numb the tongue... unremarkably known every bit "Ma" (麻) inwards Mandarin. It has the perfect salinity to complement the Fish every bit well. It was ethereal in addition to nosotros had a 2nd helping. If y'all don't similar your to conduct hold your Fish grilled, y'all may opt for the Sweet & Sour version at 35,000 Rupiah but we'd prefer their Ikan Bakar.
Assuage the guilt yesteryear indulging some fresh greens, Alyssa suggested us to acquire for their Gado-Gado (Indonesian Rojak/ Salad) in addition to nosotros gladly obliged. The sauce was nicely done, somewhat similar to our Peanut dip that goes amongst Satay. The Gado-Gado comprises a lot of greens, non exclusively the usual Salad greens but crunchy greens similar Cauliflower, Carrots every bit well.
We did non conduct hold much fourth dimension to spare at Lake Toba in addition to therefore nosotros hired a driver amongst machine (Toyota Rush) for 2 hours (400,000 Rupiah) via the hotel (Toba Village Inn). We took a casual ride to watch a museum every bit good every bit upwards the colina for a panoramic persuasion of Lake Toba. Here are some of the shots taken during our rest at Lake Toba...
Siallagan Ambarita (a tomb of King Siallagan/ entrance fee of 3,000 Rupiah per person)
Friendly Dogs grin to us
Harvesting Coffee Beans
Panoramic View of the Lake
H5N1 mansion yesteryear the lake side
Fisherman started their daily routine every bit early on every bit 6:30 am inwards the morning.
Our stay- Toba Village Inn (great service but the room was disappointingly average amongst no air-conditioners)
Water Lily
The Paddy Field correct adjacent to the Inn
Visitor having fun amongst his ride
Other resort from the other side of the island
Have Fun Exploring Medan in addition to Lake Toba!
