Medan, Indonesia: A Hidden Gem for Nature Lovers

Have you ever heard of Medan, Indonesia? This hidden gem offers a unique travel experience for those seeking untouched natural beauty.

While information about Medan may be scarce, this guide aims to provide valuable insights for adventurous travelers.

Medan's allure lies in its untouched natural landscapes, offering a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

This guide will delve into the practical aspects of planning a trip to Medan, including accommodation, transportation, and activities.

Join us as we explore the wonders of Medan, a city waiting to be discovered.

Travel Itinerary

Day 1: Chiang Rai - Bangkok - Medan (Arrival in the evening)

Day 2: Medan – Parapat – Samosir Island – Lake Toba

Day 3: Parapat - Sipiso-piso Waterfall - Berastagi City

Day 4: Mount Sibayak - Bukit Lawang Town

Day 5: Bukit Lawang - Medan

Day 6: Medan - Bangkok - Chonburi

---

Day One of the Journey

Departing from Mae Fah Luang Airport at 9:25 AM, we spent the day relaxing and waiting for our evening flight to Medan at Don Mueang Airport. Our flight departed on time at 4:10 PM.

Upon arrival, we were presented with immigration forms in Indonesian, which caused some confusion as we were unable to read them. We resorted to asking the flight attendants and making educated guesses.

Behold, Medan! Our aircraft is preparing to descend and land at the airport.

Upon arrival at Kualanamu International Airport at 18:05, I was impressed by its grandeur and modern design. However, the interior seemed surprisingly small.

While other passengers breezed through immigration without any questions, I was subjected to a lengthy interrogation by the immigration officer. Fortunately, I had prepared all the necessary documents, which helped me answer their questions confidently.

At the airport, I met a fellow Thai traveler who was staying at the same hotel as us. We decided to share a taxi to the city center.

On the plane, I had spoken to a Thai tour guide who frequently visited Medan. He advised me that the standard taxi fare to the city was 150,000 Rp. However, upon arriving at the taxi rank, we were quoted 200,000 Rp.

We firmly declined and insisted on the 150,000 Rp. fare. After some negotiation, the taxi driver finally agreed to our price. However, there was a catch...

The taxi driver offered to take us to a money changer outside the airport, where the rates were supposedly good.

He also took us to buy SIM cards, which cost 3,000 Rp each.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

Upon arriving at our accommodation, we planned to tip the taxi driver an additional 10,000 Rp.

However, the driver demanded 170,000 Rp., claiming that he had gone out of his way to take us to exchange money and purchase a SIM card. To avoid any conflict, we reluctantly paid him 170,000 Rp.
Oh well, we thought it was part of the service.
We checked into the Hotel City International Sun Yat Set and booked a room for three people. However, it turned out to be a two-bedroom suite.
In the end, the three of us crammed into one room and left the other room unused.

When we turned on the tap, the water was rusty red, as if it had never been used before.

The bathroom had no door, only a curtain for privacy. We wondered how we were going to shower.

Fortunately, we had the unused room, so anyone who wanted to shower could use that bathroom.

This is another room. No one sleeps here, but they use the bathroom...

Even though I checked in, it was almost 9 pm. After I finished packing, I went out to find something to eat. I found a noodle shop near my accommodation. I didn't want to walk far because it seemed a bit deserted.
I ordered one noodle soup and two dry noodles. They couldn't speak English, so we just pointed.
Thai food needs a lot of condiments, but there was nothing to season it with here, so I ate it plain like that. But the noodles were delicious.
The atmosphere in the shop looked like a shop in our country in the old days. It was full of pictures of celebrities.

Everywhere you go, food is wrapped like this...with banana leaves.

After finishing our noodles tonight, we need to rest first.

We woke up at 5 am from Chiang Rai and waited at Don Mueang for another day. It was already evening when we arrived in Medan.

We have a car pick-up scheduled for early tomorrow morning. Good night.

---

Day 2

Unfortunately, we arrived too late last night to explore the area around our accommodation.

Today, we woke up at 6:00 AM to continue our journey to the city of Parapat.

Parapat is a port city for crossing Lake Toba.

We will cross to Samosir Island and plan to arrive before evening, so we left early in the morning.

We had scheduled Medanrentcar to pick us up at our accommodation at 7:00 AM.

However, we ended up leaving around 8:00 AM because we were busy eating breakfast.

The hotel's dining room opened at 7:00 AM, so we decided to have breakfast first.

The view from our room was of buildings, not unlike our home.

At first, I was worried that the car wouldn't arrive on time.

I was anxious because after half an hour, no one had come to find us.

I wondered if they had come and not found us, so I took the printed email to the hotel counter.

They contacted the driver and it turned out that he was already waiting downstairs.

When we met, we greeted each other to build a rapport with the driver.

Our driver was an older man named MR.ERNOVE, 50 years old. He seemed very calm.

I told him that I would call him Uncle because his name was difficult to pronounce.

Before we set off, we stopped to fill up the tank. The first full tank cost 285,005 Rp. (900 baht).

I noticed that the gas stations here are separated into sections for cars and motorcycles. They enter from different directions.

However, the driver, an elderly gentleman, drove very fast, which initially frightened me.

I constantly assisted with braking, leaving me breathless.

Furthermore, the locals here are generous with their horns, honking incessantly.

I even mimicked the horn sound, "Beep, beep," which amused the elderly driver.

As the apparent leader of this trip, I sat in the front with the driver, directing him to various stops.

I had prepared a schedule in advance for convenience, which he followed.

However, I also requested that he stop at any scenic locations.

I particularly enjoyed the roadside views, especially the lush tree tunnels.

Our first stop was the Kwan Im Temple.

While driving, I came across a wedding procession. (I asked the uncle)

He said that the bridal party was on their way to the bride's house.

So I asked him if I could get off to take some pictures, and he stopped the car immediately. (The uncle is the best!)

Most of our friends fell asleep during the long journey.

To keep the uncle company, I decided to sing him a Thai song.

However, I couldn't think of any songs at the moment, so I tried singing "Jongrak" to him.

But after singing a few lines, he waved his hands and laughed, saying that if I continued singing like that, everyone would fall asleep.

So, he played some music in the car instead, and we all swayed to the rhythm. He seemed to enjoy it a lot.

After almost 5 hours of travel, we arrived at the city of Parapat. We could see the lake from afar, and the uncle pointed it out to us.

We quickly woke up our friends to see the view, and everyone was amazed by its beauty.

Unfortunately, we couldn't take any pictures from the car.

Don't forget to pay the entrance fee to Parapat. The three of us were charged 10,000 Rp.

Before crossing the lake, it was almost afternoon, so we decided to find a place to eat.

The food at the restaurant was delicious, or maybe we were just really hungry. We spent 175,000 Rp. for this meal.

Full and satisfied, we prepared to board the ferry to Sarmosir Island. However, the kind uncle did not want us to spend money on the ferry fare, which included taking the car.

He offered to stay on the Parapat side and wait for us. He suggested that the three of us take the ferry ourselves, saving us 420,000 Rp.

The uncle explained that taking the car would cost 600,000 Rp for a round trip, plus 90,000 Rp for the passengers.

He asked if we were comfortable going on our own, and we readily agreed.

He then took us to the pier and arranged for us to meet him the next morning. He would call us and wait for us at the pier at 10 am.

We were to board the 9 am ferry. He instructed us to tell the driver of the Tuk Tuk we rode in to pick us up at our accommodation at 9 am.

While waiting on the boat, vendors came to sell food and children sang songs for us. It was quite enjoyable.

We tipped them 1,000 Rp. (only 3 baht) and paid 15,000 Rp. each for the boat ride.

After a short break, it's time to travel again.

We need to cross Lake Toba to Samosir Island, which takes about 45 minutes.

Lake Toba is the largest and deepest freshwater lake in Asia.

It was formed by a volcanic eruption over 70,000 years ago.

This created a large lake of 1,707 square kilometers. Subsequent eruptions caused the sides of the volcano to collapse further.

When it rained, the water was trapped in the basin. Over time, it became a lake on the crater of the volcano.

It is over 100 km long, over 30 km wide, and has a deepest point of 505 meters.

Tonight, we stayed at Lekjon Cottage. We added an extra bed because there were three of us.

However, the room looked beautiful in the Booking photos. But when we arrived, the door lock was broken, and the mosquito net was torn.

My friend was also annoyed because she saw a ladder leaning against the bathroom door, and she was afraid that someone might climb into the room.

So we had to lock the bathroom window as well. When we arrived, we wanted to charge our phones, but there was no electricity.

We asked the resort owner, and he said they were working on the electricity. The power wouldn't be back until around 7 pm.

We arrived at the island around 3 pm, so we didn't know what to do. We decided to rent a motorbike from the resort.

We asked to rent one bike, and we would ride three people on it. The owner said no, so we rented two bikes for 120,000 Rp.

Usually, they rent for 24 hours, but we asked if we could rent them for only 3 hours. Pleaseeeeeeeeeee...

At first, the owner wouldn't agree, but we kept asking because we didn't know what to do in the room.

There was no electricity, so she finally gave in. Hehe.

But we had to hurry because the sky was starting to get cloudy with rain in the distance.

Time is precious, so we used it wisely. It's time to go!

The road ahead is long, long, long.

This is a Batak village, home to an indigenous tribe that has resided on this island for centuries.

Here you will find the Stone Chair of King Siallagan, carved from volcanic rock. Admission is 10,000 Rp for 3 people.

Before entering the village, you must utter the word "Horas," which means "Welcome." It's a way of saying, "You are welcome here."

The interior of the house is spacious and open, with animals kept under the floorboards.

Every house displays a gecko symbol at the entrance, as the indigenous Batak people believe geckos bring good fortune.

The number of carved wooden breasts displayed on the front of a house indicates the number of wives the homeowner has.

A greater number signifies greater wealth.

We rode our motorbikes around the island. As dusk approached, the air grew cooler, and our stomachs began to rumble.

Just before reaching our accommodation, we spotted an Italian restaurant and decided to stop.

We ordered Italian pizza, steak, and Bintang beer, a local Indonesian brew.

The pizza had a thin, crispy crust and was topped with gooey cheese, making it absolutely delicious.

Did the beer help ward off the chill, or was it just an excuse to indulge?

Our dinner ended at this restaurant... but we also stopped to buy some Indonesian cup noodles for breakfast tomorrow.

Tonight, we ended up at our accommodation and each had 2 beers. >> Kids, don't follow our example. ☺☺

And then we all passed out with the rain pouring down non-stop....

Sweet dreams and good night. I'm sleepy, dizzy, confused, or maybe drunk. I don't know. ;-)

---

Day 3 of the journey.

Every time I travel, I always wake up early because I don't want to miss the morning atmosphere of each day.

And our limited time will quickly run out…

Today's breakfast is Indonesian cup noodles (very bland, I miss Thai instant noodles).

Plus, I felt bad for asking the host for hot water, so I ordered a cheese salad. ^^

Three of us ate it, and we were full enough…

We need to hurry because we have a TUK TUK boat scheduled for 9 am tomorrow.

It's time! We rushed to the pier to wait for the boat, afraid of missing it. Hehe.

As I stood waiting, I saw people playing banana boats and jet skis. The jet ski operators also invited us to go for a boat ride.

If I had time, I would have played. They told us not to worry about getting wet, it was just a boat ride. No, thank you. I'll wait for the boat to return to shore.

It's 9 am now, and I haven't seen a single boat pass by. I think I told the boatman yesterday, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

So I went up to ask the owner of the accommodation what time the TUK TUK boat would arrive. He said 9:30, so I'll wait.

I made an appointment with the driver at 10 am on the shore. It's 9:30 now, and I haven't gone anywhere yet. I'm still waiting for the boat.

It's 9:30 now, and I still haven't seen a single boat. Damn it, what's going on? Will I ever get back to shore?

At 10 am, a passenger boat passed by. I jumped up and waved my hands, shouting.

Oh!!! The boat turned around. I'm going to get back to shore. But three people got off, so I asked if they were going to Parapat.

They said they weren't going yet. Oh, no, what should I do? But they said I could go with them, and the boat would come back to pick me up at 11 am.

And their people were waiting here too, probably to pick up a tour group from this point.

I didn't know what to do, so I said OK. But after about half an hour, a passenger boat honked its horn and passed by. Pooooooooo!

Yay! I'm going to get back to shore before 11 am. So I decided to go back with this boat.

The driver called me at 10 am and asked where I was. I told him I was getting on the boat.

The boat circled around and returned to the original pick-up point, causing frustration and a sense of wasted time.

Despite the inconvenience, we remained calm and waited patiently for the boat to reach the shore.

At 11:00 AM, we finally arrived at Parapat. The driver, an elderly man, searched for us, but we waved to him, and he did not see us.

Upon arrival, we boarded a vehicle and continued our journey.

Before proceeding, we picked up a Thai student named Mon, whom we had met at the airport on the first day.

Mon was waiting at Parapat, and we invited him to join us on our excursion. He agreed, and we picked him up.

After picking up Mon, we continued our journey to enjoy the scenic views.

We admired the breathtaking views of Lake Toba.

...Initially, the sky was clear, but soon, rain clouds began to gather. We silently hoped that it wouldn't rain.

Beautiful photos from Nong Mon, whom we stopped by to pick up.

We stopped for a quick break and found delicious, crunchy, and sweet salak fruit, which everyone enjoyed.

Feeling hungry, I wanted to eat everything in sight. I came across a satay vendor and ordered a set. They served it with steamed flatbread instead of rice.

The flatbread was a bit bland; a touch of salt would have made it much better. The satay, however, was delicious.

We continued our journey to Sipiso-piso Waterfall (I can never pronounce it correctly).

Before entering the waterfall, we stopped for lunch. I was so hungry!

The person serving us food was our driver, who provided excellent service throughout our trip.

Full and satisfied, it's time to continue our journey to the waterfall...

The entrance fee for Sipiso-piso Waterfall is 4,000 Rp per person.

However, it was raining heavily, so we decided to wait in a restaurant until the rain stopped.

Sipiso-piso Waterfall is located between Parapat and Berastagi, where we will be staying tonight.

Sipiso-piso Waterfall is 120 meters high and the water flows from a cliff.

We sat in the car for an hour while the rain subsided... When the rain stopped, we started looking for a way to get to the waterfall. Luckily, we brought raincoats.

Before we came, we told our friends to prepare a thin raincoat each, so we finally got to use it.

Every journey brings new friendships.

Mostly, only Indonesian tourists visit here. I haven't seen many foreign tourists.

This is a blank paragraph.

Two more beautiful pictures from Nong Mon...

After enjoying the waterfall to our heart's content, it was time to continue our journey to the city of Berastagi.

We dropped off our friend Mon in the city center, as she had to return to Medan.

She was flying back to Thailand the next day.

So we had to say goodbye to Mon in this city and send her off on a bus back to the city.

And we had to exchange some money, as we were running low. This time we exchanged all our money.

The three of us got more than 7 million. Wow! If this were Thailand, I would be a millionaire!

Exchanged everything until I had nothing left... Rich this time around.

A Day at the Market and a Volcano Climb Ahead

The bustling market in this town offered a vibrant array of colorful fruits and vegetables. Our uncle, eager to share the local experience, took us on a delightful stroll through the stalls. We couldn't resist the allure of sweet mangoes and juicy salak, adding them to our growing collection of local treats.

As we wandered, we learned that an exciting adventure awaited us the next day: a climb up the majestic volcano. Our uncle had arranged a meeting with a local guide at the market to discuss the details of our ascent.

Filled with anticipation, we gathered around the guide, eager to learn about the path ahead. However, two of our friends, initially enthusiastic, began to express hesitation. Determined not to let their doubts dampen our spirits, we assured them that we would support their decision, whether they chose to join us or not.

After some negotiation, we settled on a price of 500,000 Rp for the three of us, a significant reduction from the initial offer of 600,000 Rp.

Before returning to our accommodation, we couldn't resist indulging in a local delicacy: a delicious meal of crispy chicken enjoyed with our bare hands. The simple act of eating with our hands added a unique dimension to the already flavorful experience.

Tonight we are staying at the luxurious Mikie Holiday, but I can't sleep. The sound echoes through the hallway.

I can hear everything everyone is doing... or maybe it's just the excitement of having to wake up at 3 am tomorrow to climb the volcano.

I have to wake up at 3:30 am tomorrow morning because I have arranged for the driver to pick me up at the accommodation at 4:00 am.

I have also arranged to meet the guide at 4:00 am. See you at the volcano!

---

Day 4 of our three-girl adventure

At 3:30 am, the alarm on my phone went off... but honestly, I don't think I was asleep.

The room we were staying in had two floors. My two friends slept upstairs, and I slept downstairs alone.

As usual, I was the first one awake. After washing my face, I woke up my friends.

At 4:00 am, our driver, Uncle, called to ask if we were ready.

We were ready! Our accommodation wasn't far from the meeting point.

Uncle picked us up at the location arranged with the guide and drove us to the foot of the volcano.

At 4:30 am, we began our climb up Mount Sibayak. Everyone needed to bring their own flashlight.

The hike took about 1.30 hours. We reached the top just in time to see the sunrise.

Take a picture with the guide, please...

A friend of ours walked for a while and then started coughing and hacking. We were afraid that he would faint and collapse.

We were the ones who brought our friend, so we had to keep pushing him from behind, holding his arm, and carrying his bag for him.

We were afraid that our friend would die on the volcano...hehe...

We had to stop every now and then because our friend was really exhausted.

The guide told us not to worry and to take our time.

When we stopped, we asked our friend if he wanted some water. He said, "No, I'm done with it." We just laughed.

We were about to continue our journey when we shone our flashlight on the path. It turned out to be a steep, curved path.

Our friend was about to get up and walk when he saw the path. He immediately dropped to the ground and made a long "Haaaaa!" sound.

He said, "Where is the light? I'm going to stop there."

When we shone the flashlight on our friend's face, he said, "I'm not feeling well, don't shine the light on my face." We laughed again. ^^

And so, the saying "Where is the light? I'm going to stop there" turned out to be true. He ended up stopping at the top of the volcano...

Mount Sibayak, with its peak at 2,212 meters, offers a breathtaking view of the city of Berastagi below.

Near the crater, fumaroles release plumes of sulfurous smoke, hissing like a boiling kettle.

The view extends to Mount Sinabung, which continues to spew smoke.

On October 25, 2014, Mount Sinabung erupted violently, sending smoke and ash 15,000 feet (4.5 kilometers) into the air.

The eruption resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people in nearby villages.

However, the mountain we climbed had not erupted for a long time, and I can say that it was well worth the effort.

The view from the top was stunning, and the cold air chilled us to the bone as the wind whipped around us.

While we were taking pictures, Mount Sinabung, located on the opposite side, erupted, spewing smoke into the air.

We were all very excited, as we had never witnessed such a sight before.

We spent almost two hours on the mountain. It was time to go down, but I didn't want to leave.

I wanted to stay longer, but there were people camping there.

They seemed to be locals.

My legs were getting tired on the way down. The path was steep, and my feet were sore.

I even sang songs with the guide on the way down.

Upon arriving at our accommodation, we immediately had our meal despite our exhausted state. We then rushed to our rooms to shower and pack our belongings.

in preparation for our onward journey.

Our next stop was the free Lumbini Temple. The path leading to the temple left us feeling dizzy.

The serene and beautiful interior invited us to linger and soak in the atmosphere for a while before we finally decided to leave.

This is our driver, who takes care of us like his own children.

We continue our journey to the Catholic Church in Indian style.

Today, we told our uncle that we wanted to eat Bakso, and he took us to a great place to have it. We were very satisfied.

With full bellies, we continued our journey to Bukit Lawang, a town nestled amidst nature.

The Boharok River flows through the town.

Bukit Lawang is a small village renowned for being an orangutan conservation center.

We did not book accommodation in advance, but our uncle arranged it for us.

Our accommodation was right by the river. Initially, we planned to swim, but it was too cold, so we didn't.

Instead, we took a walk around the area, with our uncle once again leading us through the winding paths.

In front of our room…

It was Islamic New Year's Eve that night.

They had a party with a kind of guest style, I don't know how. I saw them dancing like in Indian movies.

They played party music and had a lot of fun. We came out to peek several times.

We didn't come out because we were annoyed, but the music was so exciting that we wanted to jump in and dance too.

But we had to hold back…hehe.

Actually, we were planning to go see the orangutans tomorrow, but it was too expensive: 450,000 Rp.

So we decided not to go, and besides, we wanted to chill out tonight and relax.

In conclusion, the three of us ended the night with another beer and a cup of Indonesian noodles each.

We've been tired since 3 am, so we'll go to bed early tonight.

Tomorrow we will go back to the city of Medan to continue our trip.

Day 5 of the trip

Today is a relaxed day. We can sleep in because we have an appointment with Uncle at 9 am.

However, we are used to waking up early, so we are already awake at 6 am. We go outside to get some fresh air.

Around 8 am, everyone is ready, so we go out for breakfast. The food is delicious, as always.

The fruits are sweet and fresh, and the orange juice is freshly squeezed. It's refreshing.

Today, we traveled to the city center of Medan. We went sightseeing in the city.

However, when we reached the city center, it was raining heavily. Fortunately, it stopped raining for a while.

Our first stop was the Mesjid Raya, but we didn't go inside.

We just took some pictures from the outside because my friends didn't want to go in. I really wanted to see the inside, though.

It looked beautiful from the outside, and I think the architecture is stunning.

As we drove past Pizza Hut, my friends started to complain about being hungry. They expressed their desire for pizza, specifically from the Indonesian branch of Pizza Hut.

My uncle, being the generous soul he is, decided to treat us to a pizza feast. We insisted that he join us for the meal.

The sausages at this particular Pizza Hut were heavily spiced, which wasn't to our liking. We found them to be rather unappetizing.

However, the pizza itself was decent. Additionally, the female staff at the restaurant were quite attractive.

We spent a considerable amount of time at the pizza restaurant, waiting for the rain to subside before continuing our journey.

Our next destination was the Maimoon Palace, with an entrance fee of 5,000 Rp per person.

The Sultan's Palace in Medan is a two-story structure made of concrete and wood, featuring a blend of Western and gable-style architecture. It is over a century old.

Inside the Sultan's Palace, visitors can rent a sari for photo opportunities at a cost of 30,000 Rp per person.

My friends and I rented clothes to take pictures together.

But I was embarrassed because three students were standing and waiting while we were getting dressed.

When we finished getting dressed, the three students ran over and asked to take a selfie with us, so we did. ^^

It felt like we were celebrities. ☺♥

The exterior of the Sultan's palace is magnificent and impressive.

The next stop is the Tjone A Fie Mansion, a Chinese tycoon's house with an entrance fee of 35,000 Rp per person.

This is an ancient Chinese-style house built in 1900.

The owner of the mansion was the first famous tycoon on the island of Sumatra, named Tjong A Fie. He was born in 1860 in Sung Kow village, Guangdong Province, China.

He moved to Medan in 1877 to start a grocery store, which eventually grew into a thriving business.

Tjong A Fie's role was to take care of the Chinese community on the island of Sumatra.

Tjong A Fie died in 1921.

The floor tiles in each room are mostly imported from Italy.

They are almost over 100 years old.

The design of the window hinges is similar to the gable houses in the southern part of Thailand.

The ceiling decoration is magnificent, adorned with imported Italian chandeliers.

The upper floor has bedrooms, dressing rooms, and a room displaying family photos from the past to the present.

We spent quite a long time admiring each room.

You will find a sign like this in front of your house.

The front of the house.

The house has a tailoring shop and clothing store inside. Feel free to purchase any items you like.

We spent a considerable amount of time at the home of a wealthy Chinese family.

We were particularly drawn to the traditional wooden architecture, especially with its distinct Chinese style.

As we explored the interior, we were struck by the classic ambiance and the meticulous preservation of the furnishings.

Exiting the residence, we took a moment to capture the surrounding cityscape, hoping to avoid the impending rain.

We continued our journey to Maha Vihara Matreya, which we believe is in the Hindu architectural style.

The colors inside are incredibly vibrant and beautiful.

The bowing etiquette here is a bit unusual. People bow to the image of respect in front of them first.

Then they walk backwards out of the door with their hands clasped in prayer, and then bow down.

After leaving the previous location, our uncle asked us where we wanted to go next. We didn't know where to go, so we asked him to drive us around the city. However, it was raining heavily, and we could barely see anything. We decided to ask our uncle to take us to our accommodation instead, as we couldn't see anything anyway. We also wanted him to go home and rest, as he had been working hard for us for four days. Today, we are staying at the Swiss-Belinn Medan.

Today marks the end of our journey with our beloved uncle.

It is with heavy hearts that we bid him farewell.

After dropping us off at our accommodation, we paid him the agreed-upon rental fee of 2,500,000 Rp for the four days.

Overwhelmed by his exceptional care and kindness, we decided to offer him a tip of 200,000 Rp.

Initially, my friend and I wanted to give him 300,000 Rp, but the other friend disagreed, so we settled on the lower amount.

As we parted ways, tears welled up in our eyes. We had spent nearly 24 hours a day with our uncle, laughing, singing, and sharing stories.

He seemed on the verge of tears as well. He told us to call him if we ever returned to the area.

Even after he left, he sent us a message expressing how much he missed us and wishing us luck.

On the day of our departure, I sent him a message letting him know that we were on our way back and that we missed him dearly.

---

The last 6 days before returning home

Today, we didn't go anywhere because we had to prepare to return and had to be at the airport around 11 am.

So we used the hotel's car service to take us to the airport.

My friends screamed because the driver was cute ^^

Everyone is exhausted...waiting to check in at AirAsia.

It's time to board the plane.

The airport even had a singer performing live. The singer was so beautiful that I had to take a picture with her.

I was so engrossed in the music that I almost forgot to go through immigration.

And then it was time to board the plane back to Thailand... I must say it was a really fun trip...

Safe travels back to Thailand...

---

- Indonesia time is the same as Thailand time.

- Remember to bring a plug adapter, as the outlets there use round plugs.

- Airport tax is 200,000 Rp per person upon departure.

- Headlamp for hiking on volcanoes

• Raincoat

- This trip cost us around 8,000 baht per person (excluding airfare).