Holiday in Toba Lake- Sumatera

Still remember how to play with imagination for holiday, ok now I want to shared information about toba lake.
A long time ago I ever visit this lake, the atmosphare so cold and fresh, it was when I was 18 years old, and I bet not many change there, I mean the culture and atmosphare.
I collect information from many sources in internet, just to remind me how's the beautiful lake in sumatera, my father home town.
Lake Toba's anesthetic vibe has lured many backpackers to North Sumatra over the years.
Formerly a super-volcano until about 75,000 years ago, a massive eruption left a gaping hole in the Sumatran landscape. At 505 meters deep, 100 kilometers long, 30 kilometers wide Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world.
The local Bataks hold firm to their history and culture. In a land of 95 percent Islam, the Bataks, which practice a blend of Christianity and Animism, have a reputation for being blunt and gruff. However, I did not see any of this while I was there. After being a life time New Yorker I am impervious to bluntness and gruffness.
Before being colonized, the Bataks had a highly developed system of government with a strong judiciary branch and were cannibals.
They are also historically renowned warriors who fought neighboring villages as well as the influences of Islam. German missionary Nommensen swayed the Bataks in the 1880's by adapting his Lutheranism to local Animism.
Lake Toba is one of the awesome natural wonders of the world. Lake Toba actually is a huge crater lake that was created by the eruption of the Toba super volcano, over 100,000 years ago. This eruption is believed to be the largest explosive eruption on earth in the past 25 million years. The eruption led to a volcanic winter with a decline in temperature between 3 to 5 C and even up to 15 C in higher latitudes around the world. The total amount of erupted material was around 2,800 km3. The eruption caused South Asia to be entirely covered in a layer of ash of approximately 15 cm thick. The lake is so enormous that it has an island almost the size of Singapore in its centre. At over 1,150 square kilometers, and a depth of over 450 meters, Lake Toba is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and one of the deepest lakes in the world.
View over Lake Toba. Picture taken south of Tomok on Samosir Island, up the mountain Lake Toba is a place to come and sit back, relax and absorb some beautiful pristine scenery. As you sit and take in the view of the picturesque mountains set against the cool clear lake, you will feel the worries of the world melt away. As the lake sits 900 meters above sea level there is a cooler climate here making a refreshing break from the heat, humidity and pollution of the city. Nowadays more and more westerners enjoy their retirement at the shores of Lake Toba.
Venture onto Samosir Island in the middle of Lake Toba and discover the Batak heartland, beautiful mountains, clear waterfalls to swim under and
locals taking their water buffalo out in the fields. Taking a refreshing swim underneath Binangalom waterfall that plunges into Lake Toba
This is a place to come and enjoy the legendary Batak hospitality. Say cheers and enjoy some traditional palm wine - called tuak - with the locals. Sit and have coffee and chat with islanders keen to practice their English. Where-ever you go, it won't take long to make a new friend. And if you are into playing chess, you might find yourself some excellent opponents here. When the sun starts to set, walk around and join a group of youngsters singing and playing the guitar.
Most accommodations can be found at the main land in the town of Parapat. That being said, at Samosir Island you won't have any trouble finding a place to stay either - especially at Tuk-tuk.
Parapat occupies a small, rocky peninsula stretching out into Lake Toba. On the way down to Parapat from the hill town of Berastagi you will get some spectacular views over the lake and Samosir Island as Lake Toba first comes into sight and the road winds its way down the mountain closer to the shoreline. Although the majority of the Toba Batak people have embraced Christianity, ancient beliefs and traditions still persist.
Many visitors prefer to take the more scenic option and stay on the massive island of Samosir in the middle of the lake. The original home of the Toba Batak people, the island has many traces of ancient days including stone tombs and traditional villages, such as Huta Siallagan at Ambarita which has a courtyard with stone furniture where in the old days convicts were tried and beheaded.
Visit Simanindo where traditional Batak ritual dances and music are performed. At Tomok you can find the stone tomb of former king Sidabutar and there are souvenir stalls with Batak handicrafts. Buy the traditional red and black hand-woven shawls called ulos (that are still used today at important celebrations like marriage and funerals), a Batak calendar on rattan, woodcarvings and more.
Samosir is accessible by regular ferries from Parapat or the large ferry from Ajibata.

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