I decided to make a detour to the south with the Canadians I met when I was climbing the volcano.
First stop was lake Toba, The largest volcanic lake in the world!
So one morning were climbing a volcano and the same afternoon we are spending the night on an island in a volcanic lake.
It was super sunny and beautiful there, kinda of reminded me of the Okanagan .
All the houses were in this style which is traditional to Sumatra.
These were our rooms at "Hotel Carolina"
One day we rented motorbikes and explored the island and areas around it.
Lots of rice fields and fish ponds in the lakes and surroundings.
After riding around we decided to go to the hot springs which we found out when we got there were pretty developed. The local people had attached all sorts of pipes and drains to the natural part of the hot springs and had it pumped into bathing pools all over the area. We had to pay 10000 IDR to get in for an hour. About $1. Once there we found out that the water was really really hot so we ended up sitting on the side for the 30 mins we could last.
One thing I ended up doing there was running around and around the circle to try and make a whirlpool. Sadly I didnt have enough mass to do it by myself .
Back at the hotel we went and hung around on the lake for the afternoon because it was sunny.
There was a wooden diving board which was made of three 2x4's nailed together. As I walked out to the end I heard the wood cracking so as soon as I got the picture I was off.
I do really miss diving though, I think its definitely the longest I've gone without being on a real diving board.
Next stop was Lake Mananjau which is another lake just south past the equator. We got a share taxi there that ended up being 5 hours late, and then another 15 hours drive till we got there. I was lucky and got the passenger seat in the front where as my friends got squished in the very back. Apparently it was a horrific and scary drive along the roads in the night because of how bad they were and all the cars that were flying around but I was lucky enough to sleep the whole way through.
Once we got to the lake we found it really hard to find accommodation because everything was really expensive or full or really dirty. But eventually we found a place just before the downpour started. We only spend one night there because there really wasnt anything to do.
Then we were off to Bukittinggi
Bukittinggi is a typical Indonesian city about halfway down Sumatra
It was pretty brick and concrete in most places but we found one house with a little greenery.
One day we went to the canyon and the japanese tunnels
There was some pretty nice views.
Down the tunnels we go.
During the war the Japanese were forced to dig a network of secret underground tunnels.
Not really sure why because we didnt have a tour guide and not many people spoke english but it was still pretty cool to go explore.
A lot of steps to get down to them.
there was many different rooms once we found as well such as this conference room
and this movie theater.
After we walked over to one of the bigger shopping centers near the main square.
I was surprised to see that there was a bunch of mascots walking around that people could take pictures with.
I was even more surprised to find out that all of the costumes were occupied by kids working for tips.
Here is a prime example of Asian fashion.
I should have bough it.
For more photos check the album on the left!
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