SAMOSIR MUSIC INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2018 by Beautiful LAKE TOBA

Superb harmony, great music, together with the legendary hospitality of the Batak ethnic group of North Sumatra will again reverberate across the waters and hills of magnificent Lake Toba when the Samosir Music International Festival 2018 takes place on August 25th, 2018, at the Village of Tuktuk on Samosir Island.

Entering its 4th edition this year, this special music festival which forms part of the Horas Samosir Fiesta Program is projected to attract over 10,000 people, comprising both domestic and international tourists.

“Over the years, the festival has attracted more and more crowds. It has even turned into one of the largest events on Lake Toba that drew the largest crowd. We are optimistic that we can attract 10,000 tourists this year” said Project Manager of the event, Henri Manik.

As in previous years, the Samosir Music International will feature exceptional performances including collaborations among international and Indonesian top musicians. In the international lineup are Herman Delago, Nadine Beiler, and JB’s Band from Austria; Bernadeta Astri from the Netherlands; and Ken Lila Ashanty, a violinist from Switzerland born in Jakarta.

These extremely talented musicians will share the stage with some of North Sumatra’s own and Indonesia most prominent artists namely Viky Sianipar, Alsant Nababan, Louis Sitanggang, Tongam Sirait, the Jajabi Band, Boraspati Group, and  Halak Hita Group.

What makes this music festival special is where each musician will perform a traditional Batak Song and play a Batak traditional music instrument. In this way, every performer is required to learn Batak traditional songs as well as their unique traditional music instruments.

“With this concept, the habatakon (the Batak culture) will be elevated and further spread to the world. We aim to show that Batak’s songs have their own distinct beauty and adjust easily to be played in all genres. This event has a true positive impact on many aspects”, said Henri Manik.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister, Arief Yahya shared his enthusiasm over the event since it will further boost the promotion and beauty of Lake Toba to the world. “Today, with the full operation of theSilangit International Airport, Lake Toba is supported with excellent accessibility.  Added to world-class attractions, tourists will definitely make return visits to this destination” said Minister Arief Yahya.

A trip to Lake Toba will never be complete without visiting Samosir Island, the heart of the Toba Batak culture with its many traditional villages along its shoreline. Regular ferries ply between Parapat on the mainland and the villages of Tomok and Tuktuk on Samosir.

Tomok is a traditional village, best known as the gateway and introduction to Samosir where you can see beautifully painted traditional adat houses standing in a neat row, with their backs to the lake. Here, one will also find the large stone sarcophagus of chief Sidabutar.

Carved from a single block of stone, the tomb dates back to the early 19th century.

Image source: Shutterstock

Further north of Tomok is a small peninsula, known as Tuktuk Siadong, - or simplyTuktuk-, best loved for its sandy beaches and beautiful lush scenery. Here the soft lapping blue waters of Lake Toba blend with the green pastures where water buffalos graze or work the land.

Offering beaches and opportunities for watersports,  here the air is cool as it is located high in the mountains. No wonder, therefore, that Tuktuk has become a favorite with tourists so that here you will find a plethora of small hotels and homestays, restaurants and handicrafts galore.

Image source: Shutterstock

Image source: Shutterstock

Today, getting to Lake Toba has become a lot easier with direct flights available by Garuda Indonesia from Jakarta to the new modern and expanded Silangit airport at Lake Toba Region, thereby cutting the former long overland journey from the Kuala Namu International airport of Medan before reaching Lake Toba.

Other airlines now also fly to Silangit from Indonesia’s main cities, whereas, Citilink flies to Silangit from Singapore, and Malindo Air will operate its regular 4 weekly flights from Subang, Malaysia, starting on Indonesia’s 73rd Independence Day, on 17 August 2018.

Image source of header banner: Shutterstock