SMA North Sumatra

Berastagi is located in the highlands of North Sumatra province. Sandwiched between Sibayak Mountain (2049 m) and Sinabung (2451 m), has a cool climate, beautiful scenery, and several tourist attractions. With well-developed infrastructure, the city is perfect for holiday weekends or holidays again.
Berastagi always been a favorite place for the citizens of Medan last week from 1.5 hours drive from Medan (North Sumatra Provincial Capital) relative was shot. The city, however, also can be a valuable goal for Jakarta. It only takes a total of 3.5 hours to reach: 2 hours drive Berastagi Medan.
There are extensive forests along the road from Medan and sometimes, you can see a building with a unique Karo (a tribe of Batak) decoration, a sign that you have entered their domain. Women wore a headdress typical of Batak also can be seen from time to time.
Mejuah juah-, welcome to the land of the Karo! On the road between Medan and Berastagi, located Sibolangit Botanical Garden, which houses several types of local vegetation. Next, he went crooked and tilted upward, through Penatapen. If you wish, you can stop here a moment to enjoy the cool air or a clear view of the plains below.
Near Berastagi, there are going to the spirit of crossing the Mount, the starting point for people who want to climb Mount Sibayak. After this intersection, you will see the hotels lined up along the way, get to the top of the hill. You can also see wooded hills on the right side of the road is winding, before finally entering the main road
.Berastagi is a small town with a downtown consisting only of a main street with shops and restaurants on the left and right. For accommodation, it is better to choose a hotel in the hills, like Mount Gundaling where it's quiet and offers a better view.
Panorama of Gundaling Hills is very beautiful in the afternoon. You can see the entire city, the surrounding gardens, and the crater of Mount Sibayak, a volcano that has lain dormant for centuries. To the west is Sinabung (other active volcanoes), while Karo lying plains in the south.
Egg and Bandrek martabak.
Night is the best time to enjoy a variety of dishes of North Sumatra in the Market Surprised, the market is open every night along the main street of Berastagi. Among the interesting dishes and breads martabak grind down, both of which gave birth to the heavy Indian influence. India is not the dominant ethnic group in the province, but they have certainly left their mark on the culinary scene of North Sumatra. Among the few stalls that sell food restaurant Aboy, ie after the owners. Martabak offer eggs, bread rolled, and Indian-style fried rice.
For drinks, you can enjoy a glass of milky tea or try Berastagi s favorite drinks: bandrek. This is similar to the general bandrek in java, a mixture of milk and ginger warms the body, the perfect cure for cold weather typical of the place stands 1,400 meters above sea level. Across Berastagi, bandrek are daily drink and pride of local residents.
This may be a bit confusing why a popular drink in Java, especially West Java, ended wiyh the same popularity in Berastagi. Local tales have that bandrek introduced several decades ago by the Javanese who opened the first shop (similar to a cafe but with a simple setup) serve bandrek. Behind, the drink is virtually unknown in Berastagi, but because according to the cold climate bandrek, its popularity took off at once. Currently, almost all people visiting this city will feel obliged to try to drink. In fact, bandrek has become synonymous with Berastagi.
Fruit Market
Morning is the best time to buy fruit or enjoy the atmosphere of the fruit market in Berastagi main road. You can find all kinds of fruits and vegetables, from the ubiquitous citrus and tomatoes, that special bit to Berastagi, cauliflower, red, and passion fruit. You can even buy flowers in this market.
Many fruits were first grown under the direction of the Dutch colonial government to supply their needs in Medan. Since Karo Plains is surrounded by volcanoes, the land is very fertile and able to produce the best fruit and vegetables. In the past, most of them are exported to Singapore and Malaysia. Now, it is the tourists who come here to enjoy the harvest.
Another activity you can do is visit the traditional village of Linga, 16 kilometers south-west of Medan. You can observe the traditional Karo village go about their lives and see their homes a unique tribe that is almost extinct, or their traditional dress that is almost extinct, or their traditional clothes which are still widely used, especially at certain times.
You can also continue to Sipisopiso Falls, about 1.5 hours from the Linga, and so on to Lake Toba, through Simarjarunjung, Prapat, and Samosir Island.
On the way to the airport in Medan, you may want to visit the famous palace and mosque Maimun, or go to Jalan Majapahit to bika ambon box, delicious local cake sponge with a unique texture, sold by various vendors there.
A key point to remember is that you have to book accommodation in advance for weekend or long weekend, because you'll be competing with tourists from Medan, and even Singapore and Malaysia for lodging.
"Tourist Destination for Nearly Century"
Development of de from Berastagi to the tourist destination is closely related to colonial planning. When the area around Medan is converted to plantations (one of the most successful plantations in the Dutch colony), their need for fruits and vegetables are supplied from the fertile soil of Karo. This connection was increased in 1908 when the Dutch establish a direct road connecting Medan and Karo high plain.
The Netherlands recognized the potential of Berastagi as a vacation spot. So they built bungalows, villas, resorts. Clinics, schools, and even a nine-hole golf course. In fact, many of them fall in love with Berastagi that they choose to spend their retirement here.
Berastagi fame as a tourist destination began to spread in 1920. nearly a century later, the city is still attractive to foreign and local tourists. Berastagi has become even more popular than Kabanjahe, capital of the Karo.