Indonesia 1991: Medan - Danau Toba the largest lake in South East Asia...

"Man can believe the impossible, but never believe the improbable..." - Oscar Wilde

(All in the family at a Batak Village)

Medan & Dano Toba, Indonesia

(5 - 9 June 1991)

We had a family holiday in Medan, Indonesia during the school short break. On arrival, we spent a night in Garuda Plaza Hotel in Medan. Then we travelled to Lake Toba and spent two nights at the Toledo Inn by the lake. The final night was spent in Garuda Plaza Hotel in Medan again before we fly back to Kuala Lumpur.

(Arriving at Medan Kualanamu International Airport)

(Our transport for the day and to Lake Toba)

Medan is the capital of the province of North Sumatra, Indonesia. Located in the northern part of the province along the coast, Medan is the third largest city in Indonesia. The city is bordered by Deli Serdang Regency to the east, south, and west, and the Strait of Malacca to the north.

(Ready for the day tour)

(Visiting museums and palaces)

(Photo opportunities at the museum)

(Maimun Palace, one of the historical palaces in Medan)

(The interior of the palace and museum)

There are many older buildings in Medan that still retain their Dutch architecture. These include the old City Hall, the central Post Office, the Water Tower, which is Medan City's icon, and Titi Gantung - a bridge over the railway. There are several historic places such as Maimun Palace, where the Sultan of Deli lives, and the Great Mosque of Medan built in 1906.

(Medan Great Mosque - Masjid Raya Al-Mashun)

The next day, very early in the morning we travelled to Lake Toba. There were several options to get to Lake Toba from the city of Medan. The most convenient is the public transports, bus, taxi or train. For our convenience, we rented a van with a driver to transport us to Lake Toba. A Malay couple and their daughter joined us on that trip.

The trip to Parapat via Berastagi took us almost five hours with a few stops along the narrow winding road. The journey was slow as the old rented van was struggling to manage sharp inclines and hairpin bends. The road began levelling when we were nearing the crater of the volcano. Lake Toba is what is left of a huge volcano that erupted near 100,000 years ago. 

From Parapat, we took a ferry to Samosir Island. Also known to the locals as Danau Toba - the giant lake sits at an altitude of 800 meters, and is 100 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide. The lake is situated in the caldera of the huge Toba volcano which erupted about a decade ago. The eruption of Toba was one of the most massive eruptions ever on Earth. The eruption probably lasted two weeks until finally the volcano collapsed and formed the caldera which is now Danau Toba.

(The ferry ride to Samosir Island)

(Ja is nervous to ride the ferry)

The bottom of the volcano rose and formed the island of Samosir which is beautifully situated in the middle of the blue waters of Toba. Danau Toba is a must see of Sumatra. The beautiful Danau Toba was absolutely breathtaking. 

(Visiting souvenir shops)

(Historical sites on the island)

(A guided tour on the island)

(The Batak village and their community)

(At a Batak village on Samosir Island)

(Dinner time at Toledo Inn)

Next morning we joined a large group to visit some attractions around Lake Toba. Sipiso-piso Waterfall is one of the tourist attractions. This waterfall is located in the hills with an altitude of about 800 meters above sea level and is surrounded by pine forests. With a height of about 120 meters, Sipiso-piso Waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls in Indonesia. It has become one of the most popular tourist attractions for domestic and foreign tourists.

The view point is at the top of the hill overlooking the beautiful scenery of Tanah Karo and Samosir Island in the middle of Lake Toba.

(Our hotel by the lake)

(A nice view of Lake Toba)

(Waiting for the Wisata bus)

(Joining a big group for a day tour)

(Visiting Si Piso-piso waterfalls)

(A Cultural village)

(The interior of a heritage house)

(Our three children, Sara, Iwan and Ja)

(Ja under the kolong)

(A replica of a boat)

(The kids were having fun)

(Mirwan Ashran with a scary mask)

(The kids are having a great time together)

(Buying buah salak at the market)

(Back at the hotel - exhausted)

(Time for dinner, the weather was cool)

(A stroll in the garden after dinner)

On the last day at Lake Toba, we checked out early and boarded the ferry back to Parabat where our van was already waiting to drive us back to Medan. We reached Medan early afternoon, ample time for the children to go for a swim in the pool.

Although it was a very short holidays, it was worth spending quality time with our three beautiful kids.

(Early morning departure to Medan)

(Spending a night at Garuda Plaza Hotel)

(Free and easy in the hotel)

(Having a deep in the pool on a humid afternoon)

(Garuda Plaza Hotel in Medan - Goodbye!)

👈 1992: Madinah, Saudi Arabia 

1991: Tiwana, Mexico 👉

Mexico 1989: Tijuana - Tia Juana for the Gringos...

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are..." - Theodore Roosevelt

Tijuana, Mexico

(1 June 1989)

(In a small Mexican town)

Side Trip: Tijuana – A Step into Mexico

Another adventure awaited just across the border - a short trip into Tijuana, Mexico. Crossing from the United States into Mexico felt like stepping into another world.

We had the opportunity to cross the heavily guarded US - Mexico border and visited the city of Tijuana. This region of Mexico isn't the safest and is notorious for its human-trafficking and drug-related homicides. As it was a short visit, we avoided the crowds and stayed within the tourist shopping area.

Tijuana is the largest city of the Mexican state of Baja California, situated on the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to its sister city of San Diego. Tijuana is the westernmost city in Mexico. Tijuana has a vastly diverse population consisting of immigrants from all over Mexico and the world. Tijuana is also home to a large and rapidly growing population of United States citizens, mostly from Southern California, who have moved to the city to avoid the higher cost of living in their home country while still being able to work in San Diego.

(Are we lost?)

(A sunny day at the border)

Tijuana's bustling main street, Avenida Revolución, is lined with souvenir shops and lively bars. Landmarks include the neoclassical Jai Alai Frontón palace and Centro Cultural Tijuana, a modern cultural complex in the Zona Río district. Throughout town, stadiums stage lucha libre for wrestling matches, while the nearby city of Rosarito fronts sandy beaches.

The change in atmosphere was immediate - vibrant streets alive with colour and sound, stalls selling local crafts, the scent of tacos and spices filling the air. Tijuana had the rustic charm of a cowboy town, energetic and full of character.

(A cool mosaic fountain)

(A short visit to Knott Berry Farm)

We spent the afternoon exploring, enjoying the sights and sounds before returning to Los Angeles by evening. It was a brief yet unforgettable glimpse into Mexico’s spirited culture.

👈 1991: Medan, Indonesia

1989: San Diego, New York 👉

USA 1989: San Diego - America's finest city...

"Life is about laughing and living in good and bad times. Getting through whatever comes our way and looking back with a smile..."

San Diego, USA
(30 May 1989)

(Fun time at the Sea World)

Side Trip: San Diego – Marine Marvels

We rented a car and drove south along the scenic coastal highway to San Diego, a city blessed with ocean breezes and a laid-back charm. The distance is about 120 miles from Cockatoo Inn in Los Angeles.

(Visiting the Japanese Garden)

(San Diego Zoo)

(Strolling leisurely in the garden)

(Shopping for souvenirs)

Our day was spent visiting SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, both world-famous attractions. At SeaWorld, we watched dolphins and killer whales perform in perfect harmony — a breathtaking display of grace and power. The San Diego Zoo offered another kind of wonder, with lush enclosures and rare animals from around the world.

(The Sea World)

It was a day filled with discovery and quiet awe - a celebration of nature’s beauty and the world beneath the waves.

👈 1989: Tiwana, Mexico

1989: Los Angeles, USA 👉