At the Batak

Today, we immersed ourselves in the culture of the Batak on the island of Samosir in Lake Toba. They have a long-standing history and still reside on the island today. They are known for their unique architecture, wood carving art, and intricately woven fabrics. Additionally, there are stories about cannibalism associated with them, but these were mainly propagated in the past to justify colonization and missionary work.

In any case, the people here seem to have a strong business sense. For the first time on this trip, we felt a bit like unwitting European tourists getting our money taken. On the bright side, Jasmin got to feel like a celebrity again and did some photoshoots with locals.

The weather here is mild, giving us a bit of a break from the heat.