Exotic Sumatra is one of the world's last frontiers - an island
of lush tropical rainforests, extraordinary flora and fauna, and
active volcanoes. Home to the Sumatran tiger and a host of diverse
and dynamic ethnic groups, it is the third largest island in Indonesia
and the fifth largest in the world. Vastly rich in natural recourses,
over half of the country exports come from the riches of Sumatra:
oil, natural gas, hardwoods, rubber, palm oil, coffee and sugar.
The people maintain their strong cultural uniqueness while facing
the future. In spite of evolution, Sumatra still maintains strong
and well-established traditions that are rooted in their colourful
past. For ancient civilizations surrounding the Indian Ocean Sumatra
was a mysterious eastern island of riches, the gold land guarding
the entrance to all wealth of Southeast Asia. Situated at the western
rim of the archipelago along the Strait of Malacca, for centuries
the region was the entry for marine trade through Southeast Asia,
receiving merchants from China, India, the Middle East and Europe.
The first wave started in the 2nd century with the Hindu-Buddhist
Indian civilisation; later in the 14th century, Islam entered by
peaceful means. Although its strategic location, its great rivers
and its prized export supplies the basis for a succession of powerful
kingdoms, the eastern marshes and western mountains provided protection
for interior peoples who developed their own civilizations very
little influenced by the outside world. Sumatra is a tapestry of
ethnic groups mostly living in rural communities: in the north are
the independent and devout Muslim people of Aceh; in the eastern
highlands, the proud Christian Batak; and in the west, the business-savvy
Minangkabau, a matrilineal society. The Kubu in the south live as
did their nomadic stone-age ancestors with the Orang Laut ( sea
people ) live aboard boats and ply the seas among the hundreds of
islands off the east coast. Sumatra is a travel haven for nature-lovers,
with its pristine environment, white water rafting, unspoiled beaches,
elephants and orang-utan. Add the memorable sights of Danau Toba,
Asia's largest lake, and infamous Krakatau volcano along with impressive
architecture, graceful mosques and Stone Age cultures.
NORTH SUMATRA
From growing business city of Medan to the forested Sungai Alas
Valley to the Islamic stronghold of Aceh, Sumatra's northernmost
part is very varied. North Sumatra is tick with virgin forests,
abundant vegetation and jungle covered hills, terraced rice fields,
cool mountain streams, strong rivers, stunning waterfalls, serene
white sandy beaches and large ancient lakes. The people of the region
are hospitable and warm and can be divided into following ethnic
groups: devout Muslim people of Aceh, the coastal Malays living
along the Malacca Straits; the Bataks consisting of the sub-tribes
of Toba, Simalungun, Pak Pak (Dairi) and Karon of the highlands
around Lake Toba and Samosir Island; the Pesisirs of Central Tapanuli
along the Indian Ocean coastline; the Mandailings and Angkolas from
southern Tapanuli and Nias Islanders off the western coast. These
groups each have their own dialects, religious beliefs and traditional
arts, customs and culture. There are also several ethnic groups
who live in Medan and other towns of North Sumatra, the largest
of these being Chinese and Indian. Other parts of archipelago are
represented, but non more strongly than Minangkabau and Javanese
who now live in many parts of the area. As a result the area is
often regarded as constituting a natural museum of Indonesia's proto-Malay
heritage in which ancient customs and traditions have been preserved.
The diversity of arts and cultures exactly make this region a paradise
for social scientists and culture seekers. It is a treasure chest
of culture and tradition waiting to be explored, with ancient graves
of Batak kings, unique dances and ceremonies, and beautiful arts
and crafts. North Sumatra is also one of the riches provinces in
Indonesia for flora and fauna with a wealth of birds, butterflies,
buffalo and deer. The province proudly boats of its Orang Utan Rehabilitation
Center in the Gunung Leuser National Park which is bordered by the
fast flowing Bohorok River and some delightful countryside and of
course lake Toba, legendary birthplace of the mountain-dwelling
Bataks and the largest inland lake in Southest Asia.
WEST SUMATRA
West Sumatra is one of the most beautiful areas of Indonesia; it
is mountainous and divided by three valleys. There are lovely lakes
and spectacular volcanoes. But the land of the Minangkabau is very
special and has the most friendly population group of Indonesia.
They love to talk with visitors and will tell you about their unique
society, the Minangkabau are one of Indonesia's most interesting
and influential ethnic groups. The Minangkabau are flexible and
intelligent people who lead a community and family life based on
a matrilineal system which gathers around mosques and traditional
houses. It is the women who own property and the men who choose
to wander. Travelling is considered a mark of success and therefore
many West Sumatrans are found in other parts of the country. Proof
of this is the many Minang or Padang restaurants, serving very spicy
food, found in all major towns across the nation. The people are
friendly and expressive with a poetic style of speech and colourful
ceremonies and festivals. Legend has it the Minangkabau are descendants
of the youngest son of Alexander the Great, King Maharjo Dirajo,
more commonly known in Indonesia as Iskandar Zulkarnain. They originally
settled in the Padang Panjang region and gradually spread out over
the rest of Western Sumatra. West Sumatra's centre of culture and
tourism is Bukittinggi, nestled in the highlands, north of the provincial
capital of Padang. This hinterland has a range of high mountains
which dip into picturesque valleys and lakes. Amongst them are the
remains of the old Minangkabau kingdom of Pagaruyung, which now
is the centre for art, silver, hand-weaving, embroidery and woodcarving.
SOUTH SUMATRA & RIAU
South Sumatra is made up of the provinces of Lampung, Bengulu, Jambi
and Riau archipelago. South Sumatra is famous for one of the greatest
kingdoms in Indonesian history, the Buddhist Empire of Sriwijaya,
which prospered and grew along the bank of the Musi River in South
Sumatra over a thousand years ago. Located in the southern-most
rim of the South China Sea, close to one of the world's busiest
shipping lanes linking the Far East with Europe, the region's historical
background is rich and colourful. The Sriwijaya Kingdom practiced
a active and profitable trade with ancient China. However, only
few relics of this memorable era remain. The province of Jambi located
on the east coast of Central Sumatra faces the Straits of Malacca
sharing borders with four other provinces in Sumatra and has long
been a melting pot for different ethnic groups. The earliest inhabitants
were the Kubus, who were among the first wave of Malays to migrate
to Sumatra. The ancient kingdom of Melayu developed and grew in
Jambi and maintained relations with the mighty kingdoms of Sriwijaya,
Majapahit and Singasari, but was eventually attacked and annexed
by Sriwijaya in the middle of the 17th century. This area is home
to a large variety of fauna and flora and an exhilarating place
for active and adventurous visitors. The Way Kambas nature reserve
is a perfect place to see Sumatran elephants being trained to work
in thick tropical jungles as well as hundreds of species of exotic
birds. Tigers still roam this land although they are rare. The largest
flower in the world, Rafflesia, can be seen at the Bukit Barisan
Selatan National Park. The 3,000 islands of the Riau province straddle
the Straits of Malacca, one of the oldest and business trading routes
in the world. For centuries the islands have provided a safe haven
to traders and sailors from Europe, India and China and as a result
they have strong foreign historical links. Riau, which includes
a large part of East Sumatra, is the heartland of the Malays and
the source of Indonesia's Malay-based national language.
