Life in Indonesia
Lake Toba
Some 70,000 years ago a supervolcano exploded with such force, a global winter followed. Over time, water filled the vast caldera forming what is now called Lake Toba. Located on Sumatra, one of Indonesia’s more than 17,000 islands, the region is home to the ethnic Batak peoples—and was my home for more than two years in 2012-2014.
Traditional Market
The daily market in Balige—a small town at the foot of Lake Toba—is housed under large decoratively carved traditional Batak houses in the center of town. Once a week the market spills out from the confines of the daily market area into the streets where, among an assortment of items used for daily life, one can buy rice, fish (live, dead, or dried), fruit, vegetables, textiles, live chickens, and freshly butchered meat. Traditional markets, called Onan in Batak Toba language, are the lifeblood of people in rural North Sumatra, and are a distinct way of preserving culture amidst modernization.
Take a walk—and ride—through Balige’s traditional market. (from 2012)
Adat — Culture
From weddings, funerals, and worship to home life, school, and graduation, adat, or traditional culture and customs, is vibrant among the Batak peoples. Food, music, dance, and gathered community are vital expressions in Batak culture.
