In Reply to: sumatra posted by kazkoo on Thursday, 25. September 2008 at 13:28 Bali Time:
Hard to explain as Sumatra is a very big place & we visit the north & don't do a lot of sightseeing.
This was my second time to Sumatra.
My first JBR from April 2006 is in the archives.
Flight was via Jkt with a brief stop over before another flight to Medan.
This time we stayed one night at the Emerald Garden Hotel in Medan.
Hired a car, drove a few hours away to the village where we spent the bulk of our time.
Medan for me is a great place.
It has shopping centres, great architecture/buildings heaps of restaurants/eating places and the best Batak food.
It is an interesting vibrant place.
The downside is the traffic & the way they drive.
Everyone in for themselves, no patience,many many cars, no giving way.
Local bemo & becak drivers are complete maniacs :)
Roads outside of Medan that we travelled on are generally a nightmare except for the toll expressway.
Sumatra has wonderful vegetation, rivers, jungles etc.
The smaller cities & villages are also interesting places to visit & be in.
Last visit I went to Lake Toba but as yet have not seen as much of Sumatra as I want to.
Hence the reason to give Bali & miss in the future and concentrate on Sumatra & other overseas destinations for upcoming holidays.