Sabrina in Sumatra
Sumatra, Pulau Weh, and More – An Adventure in the Heart of Indonesia!
After landing in Medan, Sumatra, we faced a 5-hour drive into the island’s interior. We passed through landscapes and forests of palm oil plantations before finally arriving in the jungle. From there, we crossed a long suspension bridge to reach our lodge. We were greeted warmly, with delicious food, and in the evening, music filled the air. We sipped Bintang (local beer) and learned a few phrases in Indonesian.
Our accommodation was right on a river, and the next day we went river tubing. The landscape was breathtaking! I still vividly remember a beautiful view, though I couldn’t capture it because our phones were securely packed to keep them waterproof. We were “offline” all day – a refreshing break from modern life. The locals were incredibly friendly, always smiling and waving at us. Later, we were picked up by Jeeps and drove back to camp, sitting on the roofs of the vehicles.
Next day:
Off into the jungle!
We hiked through thick jungle, and luckily, the weather was dry, and we had good shoes. The path was steep, but the surrounding beauty made us forget the effort. We even spotted some orangutans, which was incredibly impressive. It’s rare to see wild orangutans these days, and Sumatra is one of the few places where this is still possible.
Back at camp, I jumped straight into the river to cool off. After a delicious candlelit dinner, I had an amazing sleep in the tent. Before the trip, I’d been worried about unwelcome little creatures at night, but those fears turned out to be totally unfounded – I was almost disappointed by how few I saw!
The next morning, we hiked back through the river to the beautiful "Ecolodge Bukit Lawang," which supports the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program. The small town of Bukit Lawang was charming, with children playing in the crystal-clear river, women washing clothes or brushing their teeth in the water, and a few small bars where we spent the evening. Together with the locals, we played instruments and sang traditional songs. Pure joy!
Our next stop was Banda Aceh, where the tsunami hit 20 years ago. A local shared his touching story with us.
After a 3-hour ferry ride, we arrived at the hidden island gem of Pulau Weh. We stayed in a lodge run by an Indonesian woman who now lives in Switzerland. Her energy was infectious! In the evening, she gave us a little concert, and you could see how much her spirit came alive when she was back home. The lodge was beautiful, located on a hill right by the beach. We went on a snorkeling trip, discovering secluded beaches with turquoise waters. In the afternoon, we explored the town and enjoyed the sunset from a hill.
After a few days on this beautiful island, it was time to head home. Since we had traveled so far into the country, the journey back took a while. As a final stop, we explored Kuala Lumpur’s street food scene and the city’s sights.
And just like that, our adventure was over. But it will definitely stay with us in our memories – a true adventure.
After landing in Medan, Sumatra, we faced a 5-hour drive into the island’s interior. We passed through landscapes and forests of palm oil plantations before finally arriving in the jungle. From there, we crossed a long suspension bridge to reach our lodge. We were greeted warmly, with delicious food, and in the evening, music filled the air. We sipped Bintang (local beer) and learned a few phrases in Indonesian.
Our accommodation was right on a river, and the next day we went river tubing. The landscape was breathtaking! I still vividly remember a beautiful view, though I couldn’t capture it because our phones were securely packed to keep them waterproof. We were “offline” all day – a refreshing break from modern life. The locals were incredibly friendly, always smiling and waving at us. Later, we were picked up by Jeeps and drove back to camp, sitting on the roofs of the vehicles.
Next day:
Off into the jungle!
We hiked through thick jungle, and luckily, the weather was dry, and we had good shoes. The path was steep, but the surrounding beauty made us forget the effort. We even spotted some orangutans, which was incredibly impressive. It’s rare to see wild orangutans these days, and Sumatra is one of the few places where this is still possible.
Back at camp, I jumped straight into the river to cool off. After a delicious candlelit dinner, I had an amazing sleep in the tent. Before the trip, I’d been worried about unwelcome little creatures at night, but those fears turned out to be totally unfounded – I was almost disappointed by how few I saw!
The next morning, we hiked back through the river to the beautiful "Ecolodge Bukit Lawang," which supports the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program. The small town of Bukit Lawang was charming, with children playing in the crystal-clear river, women washing clothes or brushing their teeth in the water, and a few small bars where we spent the evening. Together with the locals, we played instruments and sang traditional songs. Pure joy!
Our next stop was Banda Aceh, where the tsunami hit 20 years ago. A local shared his touching story with us.
After a 3-hour ferry ride, we arrived at the hidden island gem of Pulau Weh. We stayed in a lodge run by an Indonesian woman who now lives in Switzerland. Her energy was infectious! In the evening, she gave us a little concert, and you could see how much her spirit came alive when she was back home. The lodge was beautiful, located on a hill right by the beach. We went on a snorkeling trip, discovering secluded beaches with turquoise waters. In the afternoon, we explored the town and enjoyed the sunset from a hill.
After a few days on this beautiful island, it was time to head home. Since we had traveled so far into the country, the journey back took a while. As a final stop, we explored Kuala Lumpur’s street food scene and the city’s sights.
And just like that, our adventure was over. But it will definitely stay with us in our memories – a true adventure.
Impressions
