Sumatran Tiger in Sumatra

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Around Medan - Sumatra Island

Since Medan is on the island of Sumatra, we would like to introduce you to other popular things on the island of Sumatra.

Did you know?

Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera) is the sixth largest island in the world (approximately 470,000 km²) and is the largest island entirely of Indonesia (two larger islands of Indonesia, shared with Borneo and New Guinea, are partially Indonesia).

Apart from Lake Toba - the Largest Crater Lake in the World, Sumatra is also popular for The Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The wild population is estimated at between 400 and 500 animals, occurring predominantly in the island’s national parks. Recent genetic testing has revealed the presence of unique genetic markers, indicating that it may develop into a separate species, if it is not made extinct.

This has led to suggestions that the Sumatran Tiger should have greater priority for conservation than any other subspecies. Habitat destruction is the main threat to the existing tiger population (logging continues even in the supposedly protected national parks), but 66 tigers were recorded as being shot and killed between 1998 and 2000—nearly 20% of the total population.

The Sumatran Tiger is the smallest of all tiger subspecies, and the Siberian Tiger is the largest. Male Sumatran Tigers average 8 feet in length from head to tail and weigh about 265 pounds. Females average 7 feet in length and weigh about 200 pounds. Its stripes are narrower than other subspecies of tigers’ stripes, and it has a more bearded and maned appearance, especially the males. Its small size makes it easier to move through the jungle. It has webbing between its toes that when spread, makes them very fast swimmers. It has been known to drive hoofed prey into the water, especially if the prey animal is a slow swimmer.

Tigers can breed at any time of year, though they typically breed during the winter or spring, and the gestation period is about 103 days. Normally they have 2 or 3 cubs, but can have as many as 6. The cubs are born with their eyes closed and weigh approximately 3 pounds (1.36 kg) each. Their eyes usually open by the tenth day, though some zoo born cubs have been recorded to have their eyes open at birth. They only consume milk for the first 8 weeks and after they can start trying harder food but still suckle for 5 or 6 months. The cubs first leave the den at 2 weeks old and learn to hunt at 6 months old. They can completely hunt for themselves at 18 months and at 2 years they are fully independent. They can live for about 15 years in the wild, and 20 in captivity.

source: Steve Irwin Project | Save The Environment

Parcel Hampers

Gift Hampers are commonly known as Parcels or Parsel in Medan

… is the most popular choice of gifts used in celebrating Idul Fitri, Christmas and Chinese Lunar New Year which is a tradition in Indonesia but are more prominent in Medan.

Parcels are widely sent as a gift to relatives, friends, business relations, clients and customers as a gesture of appreciation during the festive month.

As many people travel during the holidays of Idul Fitri, these parcels are usually being sent out about 2 weeks in advance of the actual celebration day to ensure they are being received.

You will notice many shops offering many different parcels package in different shapes and sizes with different price ranges.  Macan Yaohan Supermarket offers some of the widest choices to choose from as seen below.

Price of ready made parcels ranges from Rp50.000 to Rp500.000.  It is not uncommon to see parcels ranging above Rp500.000.  At the main branch of Macan Yaohan Jl. Merak Jingga, you can find the different ranges of parcels in terms of sizes, designs, prices as well as product packaing.  In addition, the company has ready stock hence there is no need for pre order unless in large quanity of 50 and above.  Due to the product guarantee and attractive packaging, Macan Yaohan supermarket’s parcels has always been Medan’s favourite choice.

For more information, please see the list of Parcels at www.Macan-Group.com

or directly to the product page at Medan Gift Parcels

Telkom Sumatera 3000 blogs

Telkom received MURI for most employee blogs

Telkom Divre I Sumatra received a MURI ( Museum Rekor Indonesia ) award for creating and achieving the most employee blogs of a total 3000 blogs.

MURI is an organization in Indonesia that recognizes extra ordinary achievments and record breaking events in Indonesia and Telkom is the largest telecommunications company in Indonesia.

The award is especially presented to Telkom Sumatera Divre I for organizing and creating this special record of 3000 employee blogs which is by far the most employee blogs ever created in Indonesia giving pride to Medan Sumatra Indonesia. The MURI award formally recorded as “Perusahaan BUMN dengan Jumlah Blog Karyawan Terbanyak”

The award was presented to Telkom General Manager ( EGM Telkom Divre I Sumatra ) M. Awaluddin by the Head of MURI Bapak Jaya Suprana and witnessed by the Vice Governer of North Sumatra Bapak Gatot Pujo Nugroho during the award ceremony named as “Telkom Sumatra with Thousands Employee Blogger” on 30 August 2008.

You can view the currently formally registered 2352 blogs HERE which were created since 11 August 2008. They are mostly written in Bahasa Indonesia and promoting Telkom of course. But you do find some personal blogs, so if you want to know more about Telkom and life in North Sumatra. You may search through these blogs.

Kayak in Lake Toba

Ever thought of Kayaking in Lake Toba?

I received this special interesting Breaking News Story featured in Straits Time Singapore from our reader Mr. Ronen Skaletzky.

The feature is about the wonderful experience of 10 kayakers comprising Australians, Britons, Germans, Malaysians and a Singaporean - rowing Kayak 139km down Lake Toba for over four days.

Have you ever thought about Kayaking in Lake Toba ( North Sumatra - Indonesia ) - The Largest Crater Lake in the world twice the size of Singapore? Read this adventurous story…

“…Some might say it is one of the most beautiful places in the world to kayak.

We took three months to plan the trip online. Some of us were strangers and the only binding factor was we each owned folding kayaks that could be collapsed into backpacks for easy transportation.

We met at Polonia Airport in Medan before heading for the lake. I was the first to arrive with a 19kg backpack containing food and a kayak.

A customs officer asked: ‘What is it?’

I answered: ‘Sampan.’

He let me through, shaking his head in disbelief.

Halim, a German who owns a local paddle tour company and was joining us as a member in the expedition, was waiting at the airport entrance with a wide grin. He excitedly waved a paddle in the air, making himself impossible to miss.

When everyone had arrived, we embarked on a bumpy four-hour 180km ride to Tigaraja ferry terminal in Prapat town, right on the edge of Lake Toba.

Boats at this terminal head mostly for Samosir, an island in the middle of the lake. There are no pre-designated ferry stops. Passengers simply give the name of their accommodation and alight at the piers nearest to their hotels.

At dusk, we got off at a tiny pier built for Romlan, a traditional Batak house hostel run by a German woman in Tuk Tuk town on Samosir Island.

Night was falling and with the help of torches, we struggled to assemble our kayaks. But something was wrong. My kayak was missing an aluminium rod, integral for stretching and supporting the skin to keep it afloat. I had left it behind in Singapore. My heart sank.

The new blue kayak was to have its debut row on Lake Toba. I had even christened it Toby.

My new friends scoured the area for a substitute rod and found a piece of bamboo. They sculpted ’screws’ for the rod out of tree bark and used plastic cable ties to secure the rod and Toby was ready to go.

The next day, we rowed 55km south to Muara town, passing several waterfalls teeming with jumping fish.

Once in a while, cranes flew by and eagles descended to the water to fish, like a scene out of National Geographic.

There were only a few hours of morning light before the crater lake became shrouded in mist. In the afternoon, the mist condensed into clouds, lingering low on the hills.

The water temperature had fallen over the last few years to about 24 deg C due to global weather changes. So going to the restroom was a cold ordeal because it involved jumping into the water.

When it stormed in the evening, the lake churned up rough waves that could overturn small kayaks. The storm also sent winds so chilly that even windbreakers could not keep us warm and heavy raindrops beat down painfully on our tired bodies.

It became essential to have lightsticks strapped to our life jackets so we could spot one another easily.

We munched on muesli and nuts to keep energy levels up and drank from bottles of water we had stored in the sterns and bows of our kayaks.

It was a relief to finally reach the town of Muara where we spent the night in Wisma Muara Nauli, a hotel that was still in its final stages of construction.

The next morning, as we left the hotel, locals in motorboats stared at us with puzzled looks.

Rowing a boat apparently is for the poor who do it out of necessity. And nobody kayaks in Lake Toba.

Halim, who has lived in Indonesia for more than 10 years, explained: ‘The idea of paddling a boat is absolutely crazy to the locals, it is a lapse into backwardness. Once they can afford motorised boats, it is absurd to use such a primitive form to move a boat forward.’

That night, we got lost when the batteries of the GPS system ran out after 16 hours of paddling. Even with a full moon overhead, differentiating Samosir Island - our key landmark - from the various hills and crevasses was impossible.

Finally, at midnight, we found Sampean. The family hosting us ran out of their homes, shining lights onto the dark water to guide the paddlers. They served a meal of mee gomak - noodles with a very hot sauce made of peanuts and grounded chilli padi.

On day three, paddling north to Silalahi, a remote sleepy village, revealed more of the lake’s beauty, as the hills surrounding it were filled with flowers.

You spot more Christian tombs than humans, scattered all over the hills. The Bataks were converted by American missionaries in the 19th century. Today, on Samosir Island, which is also called the Island of the Dead because of the tombs, locals practise a mix of animistic beliefs and Christianity.

The villagers at Silalahi made an impression on us on the last night. They gathered at the only restaurant in their town situated along the lake, anticipating our arrival. They had prepared a song and dance to welcome us, and also called a TV crew from Medan to film our arrival.

But we were four hours late and we arrived in a storm.

Still, the villagers ran out to welcome us, making their way down slippery rocks to carry the kayaks ashore.

David, the restaurant manager from Morina guesthouse, had his employees move all the tables and chairs outside into the rain, so our kayaks could be kept safely inside for the night. They also whipped up a stunning meal of Toba french fries and local dishes.

The next morning, the village chief danced and sang before we left. Young and old, they stood in line to shout, ‘Horas! Horas! Horas!’ (a Batak greeting that means God bless).

Finally, on the fourth day, we paddled into Tongging village to disassemble the kayaks and a van took us to the airport.

Sim Cher Huey, who organised the expedition and owns kayakasia.org, claims this to be the first folding-kayak expedition in Asia.

According to Halim, Sumatra is ‘a great place for adventurers, a lousy place for tourists’. The downside is its poor infrastructure. Nonetheless, Lake Toba was for me a journey of wondrous sights where time stood still.“

Source: Breaking News Straits Times Singapore