Date: 20 Dec 2014 Place : Lake Toba

Lake Toba is an extraordinary natural wonder of the world. This enormous crater lake consists of an island almost the size of Singapore in its center. At over 1,145 square km, and a depth of 450 meters, Lake Toba is actually more like an ocean. This is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and one of the deepest lakes in the world.

The island in the middle – Pulau Samosir – was joined to the caldera wall by a narrow isthmus, which was cut through to enable boats to pass; a road bridge crosses the cutting. Samosir island is the cultural centre of the Batak tribe who are now mostly Christians. The Batak Culture has a lot of Rituals and Parties. You can visit them also, eat there and by the dancing you can contribute then with some money for the wedding or the funeral.

Lake Toba was perhaps once more popular than it is nowadays, but for many it remains a firm fixture on the Banana Pancake Trail. Tuktuk is a great laid back place to chill out for a few days after jungle trekking etc. 

And Lake Toba has much more than only Tuktuk. The Lake Toba Area is divided in seven Regencies (Kapupaten): -Karo in the north with Berastagi and the Volcanoes Sinabung and Sibayak -Simalungun with Sipisopiso Waterfall and Parapat -Toba Samosir with Balige, Laguboti -Tapanuli Utara with the International Airport Silangit, Tarutung with the hot springs, Muara and Sipadan island -Humbang Hasundutan with the Bakkara Valley, the Sipangnolu Spring, the kings house of Sisingamangaraja XII, the famous coffee area of Linton, -Samosir with Tuktuk, Pangururan with the hotsprings, Sianjur Mula Mula valley and the View point Tele -Dairy with a lot of primary jungle around Merek and the 5 star Resort, and the cofee area of Sidikalang