Lake Toba and Samosir Island

Lake Toba (google it) is the world's largest crater lake. Samosir Island is the world's largest island inside a crater lake. Therefore, the island of Sumatra contains the world's largest island inside the world's largest crater lake...one more to follow later...









Here is an explanation of the geologic history. I love this kind of stuff.

We hired a driver to take us from Bukit Lawang south to Lake Toba. Along the 6 hour ride way we passed the same sort of agricultural villages and lots of beautiful views. Volcanos abound. Some extinct, some dormant and also the active volcano named Mt. Sibutan. It last erupted in 2018.



We arrived at the lake to a village named Parapat and took a 1 hour ferry boat to Samosir Island. Samosir Island is home to a rather ancient cultural tribe of people called the Batak. They are known for their fabric weaving of unique patterns that consist of the colors: red, black and white. They also do tribal wood carvings in the same patterns and colors.

Our hotel, The Carolina Cottages gets 2 thumbs up.

Don bought this beautiful blanket for his daughter Kate. She collects fabrics from around the world and is planning to turn part of her house into a museum.  I expect a discounted admission. Mention my name and expect the same...or not.

In the lobby of the hotel you are welcome to make noise. Amazingly, they never once asked me to sing.

Batak style guesthouse.













We got rooms for 4 nights and did some exploring. We rented motor bikes and covered most of the island. I guess you are supposed to drop off your laundry, grab a soft drink, eat magic mushrooms, then go for a motor bike ride? Not my thing, so I did my own laundry, drank water, skipped the mushrooms and rode a Yamaha 150.








Views from around the island looking at the lake and the Sumatra mainland beyond. Rather spectacular.

Dormant volcano Gunung Pusuk Buhit .

Now then, we rode to the summit of Samosir Island to Danau Diatas Danau or...the lake on top of the lake.  Twist the tongue on this one...Danau Diatas Danau is the largest lake on the largest island of the largest crater lake that is also located on an island.




We left the island by ferry and stayed one night in Parapat (23 hours too long) and then hired a taxi south to the Silangit airport, spent the night and caught a flight to Nias Island via Medan