Medan, Indonesia.

You could not say it lacked charm, neither could I say it’s a place you fall in love with instantly, at first sight. However, it is a land you find yourself going back to a few times, subconciously.

I visited the place three times.

My first time in Medan was a big eye-opener. I went there, main reason, to visit my best buddy, second reason, to breathe some fresh air. What I gained when I came back home was to appreciate the finer things we take for granted in our own homeland.

The airport was miniscule – international at that. I was kind of shocked but nevertheless, excited because I was going to meet my friend and experience some good Indonesian food, and my friend’s hospitality is unsurpassed by anyone, to date.   Adding to the experience, who would have thought that corruption & disregard could render an istana (Istana Maimon, otherwise known, Maimon Palace) to look like a run-down and old mosque, with un-cut shrubs at its entrance?  What about vagrant kids selling ciggies and some snacks for a few pennies on the street, especially when your vehicle is waiting for the red traffic lights?  My first experience to Lake Toba, I watched a few kids not more than 10years, exuberantly jump into the lake from the pier, just to catch the pennies you throw in for them.  It may be a sad sight to most, but you could not help to see how happy they were to know you would part a few coins from your pocket.

The Beauty of Toba

Of course, my best experience, would be hanging onto my seat belt while  my friend drives! Drivers in Medan are one of a kind! I believe if you can drive there, you can drive anywhere in the world – manouvre narrow spaces, honking as communication, bad roads with pot-holes, cars driving with no road lines as judgement. Imagine swishing your head at various directions in one second!  This was my first trip.

Less than two years later, I saw myself flying to Medan again, to visit my buddy. This time, I brought another girlfriend of mine to experience the culture.  Oddly, I never thought I will visit so soon.  Like my first experience, I think my girlfriend was in awe as I was in my first trip.  However, she found an experience she so misses till today, Bakso Daging.  Delicious and tasty beef soup with noodles. As for I, a second trip granted me the best Soto Ayam I’ve ever tasted. Soto ayam has been my favourite, it is hard to find a very good soto in Malaysia. If the soup is not runned-down tasteless, then the begedel (potato cutlet) is just not good enough!  Medan did not changed much then, but I am happy to have met my buddy’s fiancee.

Local delicacies of Medan

This time around, we visited Berastagi, an uphill town, slightly chilly, and tasted the hottest, spiciest chicken curry ever! Cooked specially by my buddy’s fiancee’s mom, a Manado way of cooking. I believe I have never cried so hard over food, gladly.   We also had a chance to get ourselves soaked in natural hot spring pool, taste local passion fruits, avocados, and oh, a shaved ice dessert that you must not miss – Esteler 77. A concoction of avocado, jackfruit, coconut milk, brown sugar syrup and shaved ice.  A must.  Few days later, it was time to go home again. Heavy hearted, we left for home with boxes of Indomie, kueh bolu, kek lapis, kek Ambon and a few kgs of weight put on onto our waistline.

My buddy announced his wedding date over a phone call one day in 2008.  This will be my third trip. Third trip was just a few months back from today.  The International Airport was still the same. Nothing changes, except for the extra security measures because of the swine flu.  Third trip got bigger, because I went in a group of nine! My parents and sisters, my best friend and hubby and her parents.  We all went to attend The Wedding .

Edison & Dewi

Apart from the wedding, we visited Lake Toba. My second time. The lake is still its same old serene self, the pier where I once saw kids jumping into the lake to collect coins was still the same, Samosir island did not evolve much, the surroundings of the town is as quiet as before. But we enjoyed.  It’s calmness may likened to parts of Scotland, like Oban, it’s crisp air is devoid of polution. How can you resist a good sunset?  As much as I enjoyed Medan the first time, so did the other 8 persons who was with me this time.  I had the chance to take in all the delicious food in Medan, all over again, plus a few more new delicacies and dishes. Minangnese and Sundanese, you name it, also the chee cheong fun by the roadside was a tasty experience. A white rice noodle dish served on banana leaves, topped with sauce, fried onions and a few more garnishings.

glorious food

A fourth time, you asked?  Yeah, I think there will be…………….

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