Enjoying Natural Sense of Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang tourism now seems to fledgling. 2003 flood, it still leaves a past trauma. Then, how he survived and tried to get up from a long slump that? Is there optimism in the hope that one day he will pick up again or will he only a memory?

That was the pictures and skepticisms recorded and occurred when TP exploring tourism in the District Bahorok, Langkat it recently. In a location that is identical to the lure splashing rivers and panoramic tropical forests is challenging, no longer much in the hustle and bustle of the crowd who just "teasing".

In fact, most cafes were closed. Also, no more long nights (all nights) really shows that this region is a leading tourist area number three in North Sumatra after Lake Toba and Brastagi. Or perhaps people have forgotten that this area had once tasted the golden ages?

However, although they probably still have expectations, Mrs. Eva example, one of the victims who are still optimistic about the stretch of Bukit Lawang is now fallen and tried to revive it.

When we came in a little cafe just managed re-located not far from the banks of the Bahorok River, did not seem busy at her and two staffs. Reasonable and what could I do, indeed of late guests (tourists) are rarely entered. While there, it was not as crowd first, could be counted on the fingers, he said. That day, though it was already dusk and getting dark, he only served two tables. The first table occupied by two foreign tourists with a local guide. And the second is our table.

"Today, just be USD 50 thousand," he said. Eva admitted that the number is far fewer when compared with the period before a flash flood came and dragged the whole business. "Actually, usually in the first full day can achieve an average turnover of USD 500-600 thousand," said the mother of two children.

Indeed trauma came not come at the wrong time. When the flooding has blasted Mrs Eva entire business, including restaurants, souvenir gallery and inn with 10 units of rooms, he could inhabit the refugee camps for almost two years. Not only that, he was forced to endure life with two children who was a child after her husband joined the river drifted.

About the material, the amount was small. "If the math is calculated, the loss we suffered when it reached approximately USD 600 million more," he said.

After a long time on hold at the refugee camp, Mrs. Eva determined to rebuild his business from scratch. Alasanya simple enough, he had no other job alternatives. In addition to long in the business of tourism, he was also optimistic Bukit Lawang are like first must rise again.

"I am optimistic! In the span of time between two or three years ago Bukit Lawang would get up and go back, "he said. So since the past six he returned to establish a small cafe, although conditions are still quite simple. It looks simple but artistic, maybe so. For his own cafe (Tony's Cafe) is provided with natural nuances. It lies among most of wood and tree roots. It thatched and felt cool when sitting or leaning on in it.

Meanwhile, for Eva herself, she admitted the trauma is gone from him. He has now is hope for optimism despite the rise of Bukit Lawang is still waiting at the front, sometimes. But, he believes changes will happen.

The Rising

Besides, the other is Bambang (33). In the afternoon before we came to visit Mrs. Eva cafe, long-haired man was busy with work to establish a small “joglo” right in the side of the river flow. "For what it, mas," we asked him. "Well, this joglo just for a place to sit relax enjoy the natural atmosphere when guests had begun to busy later," he said lightly.

It seems that optimism was not only present in Mrs. Eva. This is evident from where the owner Bambang working on small projects "only" joglo for that relaxing place.

Bambang himself is one of the first business tourism in Bukit Lawang. Only, who would have thought fate could change so quickly. Now, all of living is just a memory. Because the home and business has been "sold out" swallowed by the river flow, including his wife and one of two children.

As a result of floods, Bambang was still not his job now. Sometimes he becomes a guide if kebetuan crowded room. But, if more deserted as on that day, he was busy with any work.

BAmbang worked as a guide, a profession that was done seasonally. And about the little joglo, he explained and commented. "Bukit Lawang had long sunk. But that does not mean forever right? I myself still believe that someday these tourist areas will rise again," she said optimistically.

Bukit Lawang is quiet now. For a while, almost businesses go asleep. Lethargic and trauma had killed them. Imagine, almost all inn had almost collapsed and functioning again. Some cafes that provide lodging facilities are still operating there. Jungle Inn, which is located adjacent to the gateway to the Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) is for example.

Shortly after we left Bambang with busy, we were stopped at the cafe. Azlam, one of his employees came to greet us. After ordering hot coffee that afternoon we were invited to tell.

"It's been quiet Bukit Lawang, but actually they (tourists) want this site to recover what it used to," he said. So why have not recovered? The reason is quite clear. As a skinny guy, many of whom are overwhelmed about capital to start from scratch.

Jungle Inn is more fortunate than other cafes. That afternoon was a few foreign tourists was quite crowded cafe. Some were reading while enjoying the quiet and some were chatting. And there was enjoying the roar of the river while rafting.

Jungle Inn is also different from other places. Some parts looked new buildings completed and improved through the addition here and there. Moreover, Jungle Inn is more strategic. Because in addition to close to the gate TNGL (which is also habitat for orangutans) is also a start position to do good rafting for amateur and professional levels.

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Ulos, One of Symbol Batak Arts

North Tapanuli regency, like other regions also have the uniqueness that if not maintained and kept current will disappear by modernization. So who will be consistent with the uniqueness of this?

One of the uniqueness of the many secrets of a unique art skill combined with a culture that is found in ulos, is a Batak traditional costumes. And the uniqueness of both the wealth that is still maintained at least thanks to the perseverance that still care about the arts and cultural traditions.

A couple Sitompul D St. (67) and F Br Panggabean (60) since the 1980s has struggled to preserve the weaving ulos. Armed with hereditary skills of parents, traditions and skills of this any artistic talent and became a source of support family life.

Not only them, the villagers of Siatas Barita Sitompul District, about five miles from Tarutung City, are the majority have the skill to weave ulos than rice farming.

"80 percent of the villagers weave Sitompul ulos," Sitompul said when met at his residence yesterday, some time ago (July 2006).

Ulos-making process is not easy work. Besides take a long time, also needed skills in the art of combining color and weave the threads into ulos and "mandar" (sarong) is motivated art.

"This is not an easy job," she said, pointing Sitompul, showing materials chemical coloring neatly behind his house. "This is my office," he added jokingly.

The main raw material, yarn, is decisive. The higher the quality the higher yarn prices also. In addition, the more difficult to do pattern ulos, the higher the price is. For example "Letter Mandar Batak", are more expensive than mandar ulos or another, starting Rp 250 thousand to Rp 2 million.

The construction is also not for a moment. One mandar ulos or quality yarn quality and level of difficulty making a higher hue takes two weeks if finished by one person. "So we more frequently work together," said Boru Panggabean.

While, there are also simple construction cheaper valuable ulos. Like the "The Leaven Ulos Life", "Leaven Hotang" and "Sadun" are cheaper, which starting from Rp 20 thousand to Rp 600 thousand.

Yarn 100 is one of high quality raw materials. This yarn imported from India after purchased by agents from Surabaya, Bandung or Jakarta. Initially the color was plain white. "This is where the special skills needed to integrate chemical colors into the desired color," said Sitompul. Then, as the colored yarn, weaving process was carried out after the colored threads were dry by the sun.

"Well, here's where the process is more difficult because it requires the creation of art," said Sitompul. Besides yarn 100, Sitompul said, to create patterns or writing on them ulos also use gold thread (which resembles the color of gold), nylon, porada, and yarn singer.

Sitompul said, however, he more often obtain advance orders than sell directly to the agent ulos. "Apart from Tarutung, orders often come from Medan, Jakarta and other cities. They already know me and this village through ulos," he said.

Sitompul, after 20 years in weaving ulos, until now has successfully completed three children from the university. "This is all thanks to the power of God and the perseverance to maintain ulos family as one of the wealth of the Batak land," he said.

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