0612_Sum_7330000_0600_040aWe lived in Banda Aceh, at the far end of Sumatra, for a year from summer 2006 to summer 2007. This experience is covered in the Aceh Diaries, technically not a travel blog, but with enough references to different places to warrant inclusion.

Individual locations we came across, during work and travel, on Sumatra can be accessed below, or through the article Berestagi to Bukittingi, which described a trip from North to West Sumatra in December 2006.

 

 

Banda Aceh
a few of the sights, left after the tsunami
Medan
Sumatra's largest city
Bukit Lawang
The Orang Utan sanctuary
Berestagi and the Karo villages
Karo Batak architectural highlights
Lingga
Best maintained Karo Batak village
Gurusinga & Linggatula
Two Batak villages with traditional houses
Barusjahe & Desa Serdang
Somewhat run-down Batak villages
Dokan
Batak village with many traditional houses
Lake Toba
Prime tourist location in Sumatra
Tomok
Royal cemetery on Samosir, Lake Toba
Ambarita
Ancient Batak court on Samosir, Lake Toba
Jangga
The last of the Batak villages
Balige
Market town in at the far end of Lake Toba
Sibolga
Coastal town with great fishing communities
Bukittinggi
Miningkabau capital, and exploration base for the surroundings
Sumgayang
village full of traditional Minangkabau houses
Danau Maninjau
Scenic crater lake with active fishing business
Padang
Coastal town with a beach and a market