'''Pematangsiantar''' (or ''Pematang Siantar'') is a city in North Sumatra.

Understand

With 280.000 inhabitants, Pematangsiantar is the second biggest city in north Sumatra. The center of the town has two main roads where you can find almost everything you need. The food market is located between these streets. There is one "shopping mall" including a very small cinema. The habitats of Siantar are mostly Bataks. Also many Chinese and Javanese live here. In contrast to the rest of Indonesia the majority are Christians and not Muslims. So there is no problem to drink a beer on the street or find some pork at the meet market which is worth to visit.

Get in

The main way to get into Pematangsiantar is via Medan (Polonia International Airport) which has daily flights from neighboring countries Malaysia (Penang, Kuala Lumpur) and Singapore. There are also numerous flights from Jakarta and other major cities of Indonesia.

From Medan you can easily get shared taxis to Pematangsiantar that cost around 40,000 - 50,000 IDR per person. The journey takes roughly 3 hours of time. The other option is by train (24.000 IDR), which takes a slightly longer time, but worth an experience. A big bus from Medan (Busstation is called Amplas) cost about 18.000 - 22.000IDR.

Get around

Most easy way to get around is by '''becak'''. And it's worth to experience it. You can find these old bikes only in Siantar. Old BSA made in England. Special sound, special look and every becak is unique and lovely modified. Cost about 20.000Rp to go 3km.

The cheap way is to go by '''minibus''', which cost only 3000Rp for same distance, but without help you will not find your way. There is nothing like a bus schedule.

The only place i know for '''rent a motorbike''' is the Siantar Guesthouse. You can rent 150cc Classic Vespa for about 60.000Rp per day.

See

There is a zoo worth visiting that aptly named Taman Hewan Pematangsiantar - animal garden of Pematangsiantar (usually a zoo is Kebun Binatang in Indonesian). It has a good collections of Indonesian native animals, most notably birds, tigers and apes. The zoo itself boasts abundant tropical trees and plants, some of which are quite old. The location is surprisingly close to the main roads of the city (within walking distance). Ticket price (April 2009) is 7,000 IDR.

Another place of interest in the city is Vihara Avalokitesvara - a Buddhist Temple, which house the Statue of Kwan Im (Goddess of Mercy). At 22,8 meter high, this is the highest statue of its kind in Indonesia. The temple complex is accessible from Jl. Pane. It is part of the new temple complex and still under construction (as of April 2009). Connected by a bridge, adjacent to the new complex across the river of Bah Bolon, the old building of the temple was burned completely in an inferno on May 2008.

Do

Buy

Between the main roads (Merdeka and Sutomo) in the center of town is the '''food market'''. Fresh fish, meet, vegetables, fruits very cheap. There is also a small "shopping complex" called '''Siantar Plaza'''. But not really worth to visit. Also a '''second hand market''' for cloths is located close to the mini bus station (terminal perluasan).

Along the main street (Jl. Merdeka and Jl. Sutomo) you will find practically everything the city could offer to buy. From restaurant and bakery to mini market, equipment stores and music store, and many more.

Eat

All the traditional Indonesian food you can find here. Bataks for example love ''babi panggang'' which is small pieces of roasted pork with a special blood sauce. Also ''ikan mas arsik'' (goldfish) and ''cincang'' (small pieces of pork) is traditional batak food.

Besides batak dishes you will also find many chinese restaurants. The most popular place to eat chinese food and chinese indonesian fusion foods is Jl. Surabaya (one of the road connecting the two main road of the city) which offer arrays of Kedai (eating house) and Kopi Tiam (literally coffee house). It is popular with locals (largely chinese and bataks) and gets very crowded in the morning. Most of the eatery open until night (some late into midnight

Drink

It will surprise you, but bars does not exist here. You can ether go to a '''Karaoke bar''', where you have to rent a room, which is mostly full of prostitutes and very expensive (one beer about 50.000Rp). Or you just sit down in a '''Tuak shop''' you will find everywhere around town. Old and young people sitting in a small shop, drinking the white jungle juice called Tuak and playing guitar. One glass Tuak around 1000Rp. But normaly you never pay.

The owner of the Guesthouse ('''Siantar GH''') makes twice a week a small party with around 30-40 people. Cheap Tuak and beer. Mostly with BBQ in western style and gratis open air cinema. This is also the only "bar" in town where you can find girls, which are not prostitutes.

Sleep

There are not so many places to stay in Siantar. The most famous one is for sure '''Siantar Hotel''', which is not an accomodation for budget travelers (free Wifi though).

A small '''Guesthouse''' (Siantar GH) is close to the bus station in Siatas Barita. Relaxed place with garden owned by a German traveler. You can stay for less than 20.000Rp per night (2USD).

There are some small guesthouse called losmen in the city center area, like the one in Jl. Cokro and above (2nd floor) Kopi Tiam (old coffee shop) at Jl. Merdeka.

Contact

Get out