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Tip
• Note Due to all the drama that has happened in Indonesia Tourism is
being promoted , so generally if You play by the rules they have
to also, one word of warning Stay away from Drugs as this could
lead you into deep and expensive shit
• Taxi Service’s run across Sumatra with daily schedules, Morning
around 8am. (day drive) and evening 8-9pm. (night Drive) these
service provide “FREE” pick up from your accommodation
if your with in the city, so just ask the people at you accommodation
to telephone for the pickup. Sunday is the best day to travel,
less traffic and usually Monday boat to Teluk Dalam Nias
Mini Van Companies
Binnaka Medan Jln. Sisingamangaraja Tel. : 061-7352222
Binnaka Sibolga Jln Horas (Near Harbor) Tel : 0631 - 22242
Simpati Jln. Sisingamangaraja Tel : 061 -7355674
Simpati / Sibolga Jln. Diponegoro Tel : 0631- 23111
Bengawan Taxi Jln Bandung Tel : 061- 4565527
Bengawan / Sibolga Jln Sutomo Tel : 0631 21240 (
TOP )
Accommodation in Sibolga
Best accommodation in the center of town
*** Hotel Wisata Indah Jln. Brigjen.Katamso Tel. : 0631
23688
** Hotel Pasar Baru Jln. Junjungan Tel. : 0631 22167
** Hotel Prima Indah Jln.Brigjen.Katamso Tel : 0631 22797 ( TOP )
Things to do
in Sibolga
Sibolga has quite a lot of attractions if you have the time.
~ Padang food, great coffee shops and a variety of fresh
vegetable and fruit markets all within the city.
~ Big central market fresh produce, spices, and other interesting
stuff.
~ On bigger swells if you’re lucky the local islands
have waves as well as great isolated beaches.
~ 3 Klm. from town is a waterfall, with a deep swimming hole
also a rock slide. This is a pleasant 2 Klm walk trough
the jungle & mixed plantations. Cool refreshing clean
water.
~ Cold beer bintangs in quite surrounds at the Hotel Puncak
GM. Enjoy cool air and an outstanding view over Sibolga
and the Tapian Nauli Bay.
~ Bird singing competition most Sundays at the Pelabuan Lama
Jln Yos Sudarso No 29
~ More info while in town, give me a ring or call into my
office at Jln Yos Sudarso No 29 Pelabuan Lama Sibolga ask
for Mr Mark Tel 0631 23278 mark@surfingsumatra.com
Tip
• If you don’t plan to stay overnight in Sibolga a cheap and easy
Sibolga fix is to spend the day poolside at the Hotel Wisata Indah. The WI
hotel has a nice and quite landscaped swimming pool, and for only Rp. 5.000
you can relax for the day, swim in the pool, sleep in the deck chairs, and
take a shower in the change rooms. Meals and drinks are not that expensive.
They can also for a small fee arrange your boat ticket, finish of by chartering
the WI hotel mini van for the short ride to the boat and bypass the harbor
riff-raff and the hassles that are usually found around Indonesian port towns.
By doing this you can find that Sibolga is not so bad a place at all. (
TOP )
Things to do
Sibolga has many unexplored and interesting attractions
Around the dock and water front areas is the jetty’s, stilt houses and
local fishing fleet which has usually daily off loading and auction of fish.
Also this area has the dockyards that build and repair the traditional fishing
fleet. Here you can see traditional methods used by the local shipwrights
to form the huge timbers some 20 to 30 meters long, laid and bent around the
frames to form the hulls and superstructure.
Tip
• Harbor tour by sea. Charter small boats check the docks and stilt
houses out, visit docks and small fishing village on Sarudik Island around
Rp.100.000 great in afternoon for photos.
Local Islands
Si-tunkus, Pulau Bakar, Pulau Mansalar and Pulau Putih are just some. All
are full of beautiful beaches and jungle scenery also very few people. Putih
Island is a small island off the lee side of the larger Mansalar Island. Here
you can stay in basic huts and get back to Nature snorkeling around the reef,
bird watching, paddling canoes. On the western coast of the island is the
water fall with its clear, fresh unpolluted mountain water that falls around
80 meter directly into the sea, great swimming scuba diving, birdlife.
Tip
• Hire a boat that you can basically live aboard, stock up with some
basic food essentials and spend a couple of days in the isolation of Tapian
Nauli Bay and Mansalar Island area. Easy to do as the islands are so close
to Sibolga. If you’re interested in short overnight island adventures
please contact me direct. Mark
Becaks around town
The favored and most economical way to travel short distance in the tropical
heat or rain storms is by the Becak. Becaks provide inter city transport at
a pre arranged price. An average fare ride in inter city is between Rp. 1,000
to Rp.2, 000. A trip from the center of town to the port is between Rp. 3,000
to Rp 5,000. But you have to bargain.
Tip
• Always organize your fare first, pay on arrival at your destination.
• Becaks need to buy a pass to enter the Harbor. (
TOP )
Local Guides
& Becaks
In Sibolga there are heaps of local guides and Becak riders. They both provide
an array of service that relates to all sorts of tourism needs, some you want
and some you don’t. A becak ride will get you around the city at a reasonable
price. Some of these becak riders are pretty well informed to your tourism
requirements just use common sense and organize the price up front. Motorized
becaks are also plentiful and used for rides of greater distance, try a trip
to the Puncak and old tunnels on the mountain road approach to Sibolga, or
to the beaches out of town, same rules apply for bargaining.
Tip
• Hire a Becak for a few hours or ½ day organize a price and
do a Becak city tour and all your shopping needs.
Local Guides 24 Service
Bangun Si Hombing No Hp. 08126472609
Bangun has been guiding for years now he also operates a seaweed farm operation
on the Putih and Mansalar Island he travels regular back and forth to the
islands.
Other Services
• Boat & Bus Ticketing, Nias Medan Bukittingi etc local tours, has
a speed boat for hire, fishing, surfing and diving to local islands. reasonably
reliable.
Guides
Due to the drastic turn down in tourist entering Indonesia some guides are
using new tactics to get you to use there service. In Sibolga the new one
is to meet you on your transport as you start to descend from the mountains
at the back of Sibolga. Here they will stop your transport and offer you all
types of service and information and sometimes miss information with out clear
price of service. If your not happy with this then the best advice is to tell
the driver not to stop and continue on to you designated destination. My recommendation
is the WI hotel and pool side. (
TOP )
Scams
Beware of guides/ becak riders that tell you there is.
~ Losmens / Accommodation in Nias don’t supply mosquito nets.
= bullshit
~ No mosquito nets for sale in Nias. = bullshit
~ No Beer in Nias. = bullshit
~ That your Malaria Drugs don’t work in Nias. = bullshit
~ Don’t leave your bags unattended with guide, or becaks. Drug
Scam
A word on Bargaining and buying
Bargaining is a normal part of life in Indonesia so anything you buy in markets
and stalls usually can be bargained down, how much is really up to how much
you really want the item/s and the time you have to haggle over, what sometimes
really boils down to at most times a matter of only a few cents. For large
or important purchases its best to do some research on comparable items.
Tip
• Learning to count in Indonesian it easy and you will find it helpful
for eavesdropping on what locals pay when shopping at the markets.
• When you are buying fresh produce organizes your price and then pick
your produce yourself, if you don’t you could end up with a bargain!
Of second grade or half spoiled produce. (
TOP )
Eating in Sibolga
Sibolga has some great Indonesian and Chinese food.
Some of local favorites.
Sibolga special : Pangang Geleng (Stuffed fried fish)
Padang style : Full menu rendang, grilled fish in spicy sauce,
Padang spicy hot curries, seafood, chicken, and vegetables.
- R.M. Minang Jln. Misjid
- Pak Nas Jln B. Katamso next to Military Police Office
Satay Padang : Peanut and traditional Tepung sauce
- R.M Padang Jln. Misjid
- Buffet Horas Jln. B. Katamso Depan Military Police office
Pansit mie : Fresh pangsit noodles with chicken meat in a
light broth
- Jln B. Katamso next to Military Police office morning only
Chinese food : Stewed pork ( Kau Bak) Fried Rice, fish in sweet and sour sauce
etc.
- Tapian Restaurant Jln. A. Yani
- Topas Restaurant Hotel Wisata Indah
- Try small shops Jln. Bahagia
Rujak : Indonesian fresh fruit in “spicy sauce if you
like”
- Crn. Jln Di Ponogoro & Jln Bahagia mid Morning
Juices : Avocado, orange, cendols etc. stalls along the road
- Jln Bahagia and along Jln. Junjungan
Bakery : Fresh Bread, coconut bread & cakes baked on
site morning only
- In font of Bali coffee shop, Jln S. Parman
- Tahiti Bakery near the bus station Jln. Sisingamangaraja
Toast & eggs : Nearly every corner has a coffee shop, great coffee in
Sibolga.
- Hotel Pasar Baru Jln. Junjungan, See Mr Eddy
Supermarket : Modern with check out girls
& Indo style Kentucky fried chicken
- Swalayan Aido Jln. Crn Sisingamangaraja Jln Diponegoro
- Swalayan Nauli Jln Bahagia (
TOP )
To Teluk Dalam = 14klm from Sorake Lagundri Surf location
Sibolga to Teluk Dalam is around 100 nm / overnight journey of. by Wooden
cargo / passenger boats, These vessels run on a 3 night a week Mon, Thurs,
Sat. schedule departure time is around 8 o’clock in the evening. Basic
wood bunks available also you can charter the crew cabins with mattress. Beware
of head lice.
Agent Similue : Boats to Teluk Dalam
and Gunungsitoli
: Jln. Bustamil (near old Harbor) Tel. : 0631 21497
Gunungsitoli = 125 Klm. from Sorake Lagundri
= 80 Klm from Sirombu and Hinako Islands Surf locations
Sibolga to Gunungsitoli is an around 80 nm / overnight journey. Boats are usually every night except for Sunday
Car Ferry Service provided by steel constructed vessel, which has AC room with seating or you can hire cabins that are quite reasonable. On board you can buy light snacks.
Agent : Kapal Poncan Moale (car Ferry) Tel
: 0631 21752
Agent : Bringin Loyd at the harbor (wood boat)
Pt Kalino : Boats = Surya Makmur Jaya and Surya
Makmur Baru
: Jln Horas near entrance gate to harbor
: Tel. HP.0812630174 Yanti / 08126354790 Mr Robert
: Every day air con room and boat ticket price 2003 Rp. 41.000
Pelni Ship
This is the Government operated passenger shipping line that has vessels operating
all through out the Indonesian Archipelago. All based out of Jakarta. Ships
published schedules and travels to a number of ports in Indonesia including
Padang and Nias Sibolga. On board is a number of class accommodations and
quite comfortable. Recently the schedule has changed from arriving in Sibolga
on a Saturday to now Monday; also the journey alternates from Padang Gunungsitoli
Sibolga one week and the next Padang Sibolga Gunungsitoli. This vessel is
fast with the Sibolga Gunungsitoli journey a round 4 hrs.
Pelni : www.pelni.com
Pelni Agent : Jln Sisingamangaraja Sibolga Tel. : 0631 22291
Flights to Nias
This service is provided by SMAC air charter service but you have to book
well in advance and even then no guarantee that they will hold your seat.
Also surf boards are a problem with the small plane and sometimes they can
want to charge an extra seat to carry them.
SMAC office in Medan Tel : 061 4564760
Email : idahalim@hotmail.com (
TOP )
Tello Islands
(Batu Islands) below Nias
The best advice is to check with the Agent Similue company as they have been
running a irregular (sometimes once a week) route from Sibolga, Teluk Dalam,
back to Teluk Dalam and then to Sibolga. Other than that there might be a
private cargo boat at the Harbor full deck class. Also sometimes there is
a SMAC charter fight from Medan that stops in at Nias and Tellos on its way
to Padang. ( TOP )
Pulau Banyak
above Nias
From Sibolga there is sometimes a weekly cargo boats, these have no schedule,
ask around Sibolga harbor. The other option is via Sibolga overland to Singkil
on a bumpy dirt road, or from Sidikalang at the back of Lake Toba.From Singkil
there are is regular boats service to Pulau Balai Main Island in Pulau Banyak
group ( TOP
)
In Nias
On arrival in Nias Teluk Dalam and Gunungsitoli you are usually confronted
by a hoard of people, Accommodation owners, local guides, transport operators
etc, the best advice is not to say “maybe” to anything (“maybe”
is there word for you promised) Organize your ride with the price agreed up
front, and pay on arrival at your arranged destination. (
TOP )
On the point
at Sorake
Accommodation varies in standard from thatched beach side huts to cement tin
roof dwellings; farthest around the point is the Sorake Beach Resort hotel
if you want cheap luxury. All accommodation is spread around the length of
the bay from the far point at Sorake and around the bay to Lagundri Beach.
The choice is a matter of personnel preference but if you’re into just
surfing and watching the wave you can’t beat Kodak chrome corner right
on the point. Here you can enjoy wave side living. Here on a good rolling
swell, at night you can hear the set waves cracking and thumping of the point
then the wash, rolling up the reef and around your accommodation foundations.
All this makes for a great surfing experience. A good starting place is Losmen
Purba, with Fressi and Sanarli local surf legends, next door, and a good friend
of the wedge team surfers is Losmen Amagumi. This guy has watched all the
history of surfing in Nias and can tell a good story. Surf board hire is available
from most of the losmens and the local beach boys, but be sure you organize
a damage price before hand, if the case arises where you break or damage the
hired board.
Surf Tips
• Beware of dehydration and a “touch of the Sun” if you
have just come from a cold climate. Drink plenty of water or better still
green coconut milk as natural electrolyte; first start to acclimatize by taking
short surfing session during the heat of the day.
• Everyone is eager for waves especially your first session surfing
in perfection, don’t forget that most of the other surfers are most
probably already mellowed to the location. So take it by turn.
• A wipe out is equivalent to going back to the end of the line. So
paddle wide (side line), to avoid the track of other surfers, take time to
enjoy the visuals of other people surfing. By the time you get back to the
take of it could be your turn.
• Beware of your leg rope. (I have seen this happen on several occasions.)
On big or drawing swell, the Keyhole, even though it makes it easy to enter
the surf has a draw out created by the run off of swell surge running across
from the indicator and out side point reef. This draw, on the paddle out makes
it possible for a trailing leg rope to easily hang up on the rocks and coral
heads. Results of this can be of ending stuck up on top of the reef with damage
to body, board and leggy, or worse still sucked down into the depths of the
keyhole, getting shocked and heavily lacerated while being pinned down by
the tension from the swell draw on your leg rope, you dangled on the end,
being rubbed around in the live coral on the walls and overhangs while franticly
trying to get your leg rope off. Not a nice experience so; Advice check the
conditions and put your leggy on after you cleared the keyhole. (
TOP )
Finally
Information above is presented to assist with your travel across Panoramic
North Sumatra and to the attractions of Nias Island. All information is given
in good faith, and directly related to the numerous questions that I have
been frequently asked by travelers venturing through this part of the woods.
Information given is reasonably accurate at the time of release January 2003.
Any new or relevant information is welcomed by all.
Thanks
Yours in Surfing
Mark
Contact Details :
mark@surfingsumatra.com
mobile indonesia : 0812.626.5592
postal : NBC Jln.Padang Sidempuan #2 Sarudik
North Sumatra - Indonesia
