Traveling around Medan

There's lots to see in the fourth largest city in Indonesia and the largest city outside of the island of Java.  Medan is located in North Sumatra and has a culture of its own...

This is the capital building for the province of North Sumatra.  A
large white building located in the central part of Medan, with a
mosque open to the public next door and mall on the backside.
(Left) A statue of Guru Patimpus who founded the city of Medan.

While traveling around the city, one of the uncles took me to see the
apartment complex he and his family will be living in soon.  Quite
impressive and spacious!
(Right) The Great Mosque built in 1906 in the Moroccan style by the
Duth architect Dingemans.  It is close to the Maimun Palace where the
Sultan Deli still lives, although he now has no political power.

Located near the city's center is the building/house of the person who
brought Islam to North Sumatra.  My friend will be writing his final paper
about this person and place.
(Right) Selling rambutan on the side of the road.  One of my favorite fruits
in Asia, and there were plenty in Medan!

We visited a new, large Buddhist temple, which
reflects the number of Chinese that live in Medan.
There is also an area in the city where many Indians
live.  A very diverse city.

With all of the traveling around Medan we did, we of
course had to stop to eat a few times and enjoy some
of the special foods from Medan.  (Above) I ate a
special kind of soto (like a soup) from Medan with one
of the uncles.  (Left) The cousins stopped to get a cool
drink - "es buah" fruit & ice mixed with a sugary drink!

The motorized becek is special to Medan.  While the
becek is a common form of transportation through
Indonesia, usually it is pedal powered with a man
pedaling from the back.  This beceks are motorized
with a motorcyle attached to the side.  I rode a little
more comfortably in the family's cars.

Driving around Medan can wear you out!
(Right) While visiting friends during the holiday break, we ran across
some folks who discovered this monitor lizard crawling around.  It had
eaten two baby cats, which it was forced to throw back up.  

While many of our days were spent traveling Medan and
visiting friends, the evenings were often spent at the
house hanging out with the family.  (Above) Playing games for pride isn't enough, punishment makes it more fun, especially when everyone will lose.  Here the punishment is to be hit with handfuls of flour.
(Left) Visiting on the "front porch" while eating durian, another new favorite fruit!

One of the uncles had some fun putting on the
monkey mask and playing the role as he danced
while the kids sang.  An hilarious evening!
(Right) A hobby that seems to have taken the world,
taking pictures and then observing them together.

Lots of memories and relationships made in Medan!

Idul Fitri

 After a day of preparations and the whole month of Ramadhan leading up to it.....Idul Fitri is here!  After a month of fasting, this is the day we've been waiting for!

The day starts with a large gathering at the mosque to pray called Sholat-Eid.  Here the family is getting ready to leave for the mosque.  They said thousands gathered at the mosque they attended to pray & hear a sermon of sorts that followed.

Upon returning, the whole family immediately gathered in the large family room  to "beg forgiveness" of one another.  It is a tradition that's taken very seriously and engages most everyone emotionally.  It starts with the oldest member of the family, in this case the grandmother, seated alone and all of her children & their spouses kneel before her, ask forgiveness, and give one another a hug.  In asking forgiveness, they use the phrase "Minal Aidin Wal Faidzin, Mohon Maaf Lahir & Batin."  The first part loosely translated from Arabic means may you be part of the peope who return to purity and part of the people who are granted glory."  The second part is translated "Forgive my physical & emotional (wrongdoings)."

After all of the children have passed, then the grandchildren do the same, starting with the children of the oldest child until the children of the youngest child.  After the grandchildren ask forgiveness from their grandmother, then they did the same with their aunts, uncles, and parents, starting with the oldest child from their grandmother until the youngest.  

The photo above shows the circle that formed around the room.  The photos below give a taste of the emotion involved.

Following the time of "begging forgiveness" a bit of a photo
session followed with the various families posing with grandma.
I felt extremely welcomed and grateful as I was considered one
of the family by participating & getting in on the family photos
that followed.

Here my friends parents pose in front of a picture of
his mother's father, my friend's grandfather, who
is now deceased.

Finally it was time to eat that delicious food that had
been prepared the day before -
longtong with rendang!

Later that afternoon and evening I hit the road with
part of the family!

The first stop we made was to visit the parents of one of the aunts from my friends family.
This kind of activity is officially known as silahturmai, where family and friends visit one another.
The guests should have food, cakes, and drinks ready, which means we kept eating!

We also made a stop at Pizza Hut before getting some
durian to finish the evening!  Mmmmm...
Selamat Idul Fitri!

Idul Fitri "Eve"

After arriving in Medan, I was quickly and graciously welcomed into my friend's "keluarga besar" big family.  We arrived the night before Idul Fitri "Eve," so the following day was full of preparation for the celebration on Idul Fitir!  Here's some of the scenes...

By the time I got up, the women were already hard at work preparing
food for the next day.  (Left) One of the sisters from the family is
making "longtong" rice steamed in a banana leaf, which was served
with "rendang" (pictured below left), Traditional & Delicious!
The ladies above are preparing some vegetables & fruits for a
smorgasbord of food to follow the coming days!

"Rendang" meat simmered in spices & coconut milk - "Enak!"  (Right) The younger ladies of the family, sisters & cousins, make a more western style of dessert - bite sized cookies made from corn flakes, chocolate, & sprinkles.

Later that morning & into the afternoon, I joined one of my friend's
uncles to visit the neighborhood where he once lived.  Normally
people make their visits the days following Idul Fitri, but he wanted
to start early so as to catch as many friends as possible!

While we were out and about, I saw many people painting their fences and doors in anticipation of the many guests and family that would be visiting in the coming days.  (Maybe my Mom isn't the only one who likes the house to look good when guests come over :)

"Ketupat Lancang Kuning" = another traditional food from this time of year.  It is rice cake boiled in a rhombus-shaped packet of plaited young coconut leaves.  Quite sweet and also delicious!  We picked up some to break the fast later that day.

The last time to break fast together until Ramadhan next year!
We're gathered around the table waiting to hear the evening call to
prayer "Azan Magrib."  We'll drink out tea first and then eat
something light & sweet.  Later we'll have a bigger meal of rice.

After breaking the fast I headed out on the town with my friend to meet up with several of his high school friends.  Since they've all graduated and live in different parts of Indonesia.  They like to get together whenever they're all in town.
(Right) Schedule of times to break the fast during the month of Ramadhan.

Mudik - Going Home

August was the month of Ramadhan on the Islamic calendar, which is one of the most important holidays for Muslims.  The people fast for the entirety of the month, and then enjoy a big celebration once the month month is over called Idul Fitri.  During Idul Fitri, people travel to their home (mudik) to celebrate with family and ask forgiveness from one another.  The capital, Jakarta empties out as millions travel to the country to see their family.  

I had the pleasure of joining my close friend and his family to mudik to the city of Medan on the island of Sumatra.  On the island of Java, the majority of people use the train or travel by car or motorcycle to mudik, but since we were traveling to another island our options were different.  Our trip started by traveling from Bandung to Jakarta by bus, taking a taxi to the port, and then riding a ship to Medan!  It was an adventure!

My friend (left), his younger brother (right), and I
stayed the night in Jakarta with their uncle and family
before leaving the next morning on the ship.
(Right) All aboard!  Loading up at the port in Jakarta.
Most everyone is heading home to celebrate Idul Fitri!

Here's where we'll be staying the next 3 days & 2 nights!  Economy class has its ups & downs.  Its empty for now, but people will be filling it up soon.  (Left) There are two classes above the economy class.  This is the dining room for those willing to pay for a little more comfort.

Leaving the Jakarta port provided some neat shots and an opportunity to see how much cargo is transported by sea!  It appeared to be a busy port with lots of goods coming & going, and lots of equipment ready to move the cargo.

Sunset on the first day!  First time on the sea for this
Kansas boy.
(Left) Leaving the port in Jakarta.  If you look closely,
you can see a few fishermen at the bottom of the tower.

The open sea brought some fantastic sights.  Lots
of islands along the way, and here a rain shower
moving in.  (Right) My friend said, 'that's not
Indonesia." Once in Batam, we could see Singapore
in the distance. Check out the horizon and you can
see the skyscrapers, which we also saw light up the
sky once it was night - what a sight!

We made a stop in Batam, an island south of
Singapore, for some people to get off, but mainly for
more people to get on.  I took a quick break with my
friend to walk around and pick up some food.

Quarters got a lot closer as the ship filled up in Batam.
This is our area for sleeping, eating, talking, playing
cards, reading, etc.  Yes, this is mainly where we lived
for 3 days.  My spot to sleep is in between them,
which I was thankful to have!

"Don't sit on top of the fence,
Don't go outside of the fence"
Being the last ship heading to Medan before the
Idul Fitri celebration, it was filled to above capacity,
forcing many to stay and sleep outside 1 night and
1 day until we reached Medan!