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SUMATRA
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Sumatra's capital of Medan is the western gateway to Indonesia.
Facing the Malaysian Malacca Strait, North Sumatra is a land
of great mountains, waterfalls, a vast lake, a mixture of cultural
groups and plantations of rubber, tobacco, palm oil and coffee.
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The province's most interesting destination is Lake Toba, situated
in the center of the mountain range. The area of Tapanuli is
the homeland of the Batak people. The Bataks have retained many
of the ancient cultural traditions due to their isolation in
the high mountains and live in tribal or clan groupings.According
to tradition, all Bataks are descendants of Si Raja Batak, a
hero-ancestor of supernatural parentage born on a holy mountain
adjacent to Lake Toba. Through him, the Bataks receive their
sacred " Adat " or traditions. His sons founded the first two
"Marga" or clans, from which all are descended. |
The highland Bataks are a group apart from the coastal Moslem
Malays in the northeast and the primitive people of Nias island
who have been protected by the sea from outside influence. Where
the Bataks settled, there were kings and tribal chiefs. Their
dwelling places, tombs and ancient villages remain, preserved
through centuries, as is their tradition despite Western influence
brought by Christian missionaries. The center of Batak culture
is Samosir Island on Toba Lake.
Nias, situated in the Indian Ocean off the south western coast
is an island of 5,265 square km in size and has a wealth of
archaeological sites.
The land of Minangkabau, West Sumatra, has a distinct culture
and architecture which distinguishes it from the rest of the
island.
A land of scenic beauty, Bukit Tinggi is in the highlands, north
of the provincial capital, Padang.
Most prominent in the West Sumatra landscape are the hornshaped
roofs of the houses nestled in coconut groves. The shape of
the roofs, like those of the women's headdress, are in honor
of the legendary buffalo calf who won the fight against a bull
and thereby gave by people of West Sumatra their freedom from
Javanese overlordship.
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According to legend, the West Sumatranese once challenged invaders
from Jaya to a bullfight and fielded a starved buffalo calf
with sharp knives tied to its short horns. Mistaking the opponent's
bull for its mother, it ran to suckle and stabbed it, it winning
the day for West Sumatra. The name Minangkabau means triumphant
buffalo.
The Minangkabau follow a community and family life based on
a matrilineal system by which all inheritance passes through
the womenfolk. The Moslem religion plays an important role in
communities which cluster around the Mosque and the traditional
Council House.
As it is the women who own the properties, the men are known
for their wanderlust and entrepreneur ship. Travelling is considered
a mark of success and therefore many of them are found on "Merantau"
(travel) in other parts of the country. Proof of this is the
many Minang or Padang restaurants, serving spicy food, found
in all major towns.
The people are hospitable and eloquent in a poetic style of
speech. Ceremonies and festivals are colourful occasions.
West Sumatra province stretches along a broad coastal area where
the capital is situated and boats a hinterland range of high
mountains which dip into picturesque valleys and lakes.
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