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| Panoramic view of the quiet and peaceful Berastagi town |
Three things spring to mind whenever Berastagi is mentioned: Chilly weather, horse-drawn carriages, and the sweet, sweet smell of corn. The highland is also famous for the breathtaking view it provides of the active volcanoes surrounding it - Mount Sibayak and Mount Sinabung.
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| Gorengan, or fritters sold in a rather unpleasant-looking stall by the street on the way to Berastagi |
Within the town, tourists can spend their time touring the famous flower and fruit market while enjoying the cool breeze. Fresh produce isn't the only thing sold here - You can also find pets, clothing, and colorful souvenirs to bring home.
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| Tens of stalls selling every type of fruit imaginable |
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| Rabbits, dogs, hamsters - everything. Who even buys them?! |
Across the street from the market, you can revel in grilled corn on the cob and the freshest sugar cane drink which will complete your whole Berastagi experience:
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| Most of the tourists here are locals seeking for a quick getaway from the scorching city sun. They seem to enjoy taking a ride on a horse for sightseeing around the town. |
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| Street performances, horses, good weather and good food. What an experience! |
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| My first time trying bakso - Indonesian meat balls served with savory soup. Cheap and yummy! |
The tourist centers in Berastagi were all closed down when I was there. I could not find a map, so I've decided to go on a little adventure. I climbed stairs, trespassed gardens and private properties, and harassed young children by continuously waving and winking at them. After about an hour of aimless walking, I was rewarded with the most amazing view ever:
Just how amazing is that view? :)
How to Get to Berastagi
I obviously did not do a good job researching so I ended up going to Pulau Samosir before heading to Berastagi. Berastagi is a usual stop for those en route to Samosir, so make sure you don't make the same mistakes that I did.The route I took:
- Parapat - Pematangsiantar (1 hour - shared cab - 25000 IDR)
- Pematangsiantar - Kabanjahe (3 hours - van)
- Kabanjahe - Berastagi (20 minutes - angkut- 10000 IDR)
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| Van from Pematangsiantar to Kabanjahe. The 3-hour ride wasn't comfortable at all - people kept coming onto the van despite it being full to the brim. I ended up being in the van with 21 other people. It was insane. |
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| Angkut (a mini van) from Kabanjahe to Berastagi. Be ready to travel with baskets of vegetables and livestock. |
Traveling cheap is always exciting. Here's the rest of my North Sumatera itinerary
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