Medan, Sumatra Brestagi, Ambarita, Sinabung Volcano, Bukit Lawang, Lake Toba

Batak houses are boat-shaped with intricately carved gables and upsweeping roof ridges. Karo Batak houses rise up in tiers. Each Batak group has its own rules and traditions. Toba Batak houses are laid out side by side with their front gables facing the street. It felt like entering an ancient untouched world. The street formed between the row of houses and the row of granaries is known as the alaman and is used as an area for work, drying of rice. Getting caught in bad weather on top of the Sinabung volcano was not a good idea. I went back in 1991.