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Samosir island is home to the indigenous Batak tribe, they have their own language and their religion is a fusion of their original animism and Christianity - having succumbed to the missionaries. Up until the early 1800s they still practised ritual cannibalism. Today we arose early (8am) to a stunning clear blue sky and 70-ish degrees and had a snack breakfast (honey toast and tea) in Bagus Homestay a few yards from our Indah. We thanked our kind host Berend and his team for their help and our bags were wheelbarrowed to the quayside. At 10am the boat arrived and we set off across Lake Toba to Parapat - Berend even waved us off from his quayside! On reaching Parapat 8 of us (including the driver and bags) squeezed 'cosily' into the 8-seat MPV. We had a 5 hour journey starting 11am where we ducked and weaved across carriageways dodging trucks, people, bikes, lorries, etc.. and reached Medan at our hotel at 4pm. We checked in at Grand Sakura but were given a room adjacent to the Karaoke bar so after my 'discussion' with the staff we were upgraded to a quieter, larger 4th floor room! We took a Becak to a Very Small Indian restaurant (Bollywood Foodcentre) and as the only customers ate a very hearty meal of various curries, breads and drinks.... wow I WAS feeling better!! Afterwards it was Becak home and a relax - comfy bed with Aircon - even a lively thunderstorm to cool us down and add some Indonesian Spice to the evening - then a cup of tea. Early night tonight then planning for the next few weeks of travel - yippee! Oh - hope you enoy the few arty photos! Speak later.
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