Friends from the village school and worked in Padangsidempuan , ahead of Eid , definitely going home , either to huta - Padangsidempuan huta around town , which is only about tens of kilometers away , or to Mandailing Natal , Sibuhuan , or Padangbolak are hundreds of miles away . They came to Padangsidempuan , the capital district , to junior high school , PGA , high school , SMK , or university , or work .
Those who attend usually stay at home relatives or rent a room ( also known as mardagang, boarding house) . Since the first school holidays in the month of fasting , then they return to their villages during that month . Who came home ahead of Eid usually already employed , for example, teachers and office workers , or traders . However, the school some distance away, for example to Medan or Padang , also home ahead of Eid , sadari mangalomang , the day before Eid.
Padangsidempuan city can be reached from Medan , Padang , Pekanbaru by bus (ALS, Sampagul) or minibus using Mitsubishi L-300. The bus will be used in long distance around 2 - 3 days in one trip from Jakarta - Padangsidempuan, or Padangsidempuan - Jakarta. Otherwise the minibus usually used by people in medium distance let's say one night trip for example from Medan - Padangsidempuan, Padang - Padangsidempuan, Pekanbaru - Padangsidempuan.
My father said that having built the pass from Medan to Bandar - Lampung , traveling back and forth from Java to my hometown is getting easier . First of all the travelers aboard sea - lanes Jakarta or Jakarta - Bayur bay - Belawan for two days and one night , followed by a bus ride from Padang or Medan to my hometown about 12 hours with a captivating panoramic.
If by land , the time taken is also almost the same , but the advantage that we can rest on the trip. When I was still child, often we go through this step. From Jakarta we headed to the port of Merak in Java western tip, then take a ferry across to Sumatra . From Port Bakahuni uphill to Bandar Lampung, then to Bukit Kemuning, Baturaja, Muaraenim, Tanjung Enim, Lahat, Bangko, Sarolangun, Sungai Dareh, Solok, Danau Singkarak, Bukittinggi, Lubuk Sikaping, Bonjol, Panti, Tapus, Rao, Muara Sipongi, Katanopan, Panyabungan, and last Padangsidempuan. If departing from Jakarta night , we stayed in Lahat or Lubuk Linggau , and may stay longer in Bukittinggi.
What a joy of traveling back and forth when done with ease while seeing the sights . If another season or Duku , then in South Sumatra , such as Baturaja or Muara Enim , we can buy it at a low price. While driving , fast road continues. Precisely driving while fasting is much more enjoyable : there is no intention to stop to eat. Stop only when praying in the mosque or surau , which were encountered along the way . When sleepy , mosques can be used as a place of rest and sleep or just of the sake to take a nap.
But contrary when traveling back and forth just in time to berbuka or eating sahur. If the time coincodience in Bukittinggi berbuka can be performed in - lined restaurant row near the Clock Tower , or go down to the Pasar Bawah. Don't imagine that berbuka eating Padang as in Java or other places . In Bukittinggi or Padang we 'll never find Padang restaurant . If you do not believe , try your own search :D
In addition to food , traveling back and forth is an opportunity to enjoy nature . When I was children we take a bathing in the river where the water is crystal clear in Tanjung Enim . Bathing in the river is a distinct pleasure for the people of Jakarta . Where there is a river in Jakarta that the water is clear ? We also ever taken a rest in the middle of Rimba Panti shade or Bukit Dua Baleh , between Rao and Muara Sipongi on the border among North Sumatra withWest Sumatra.
Based on my experience the journey of two days and two nights it was performed at least five days before Eid . The closer Eid increasingly congested roads . Often arise at the port congestion , but that hit Sumatra island street so smoothly.
The happiest moment is when we reached the village safely and can be assembled at home parent with relatives from Medan. We each bring a family . The house was so great parents seem small , but precisely herein lies happiness . Especially when shaking hands after prayers id . Not Sungkeman, just shaking hands . First of all to the parents , then to the older ones. Sometimes greet event was peppered with cries . As you know , the Batak was very emotional . Even less, in such an atmosphere. As the most powerful cry that high degree of apology . Children are often puzzled.
When the crying has subsided , the event continued with makkobar, speech , by all family members unexceptionally , although most marimom also known as follow it, especially women . This is a family trait Batak . Apologize for any errors , whether intentional or not , she hopes in the future is always in the shadow of God . Finally, my Grandpa advising. Once, as a children, in my mind I often menggerutu, how long exactly the advising. If the parents listened respectfully , the intermediate heard with puckered forehead and his thoughts were elsewhere , then that children restless waiting continues when advising ends in order to get a "salam tempel" .
After advising, then the dish was opened . There is a glutinous rice cake that is delicious combined with rendang ayam, gulai ayam , liver sauce, and spicy foods as well as other bersantan. Also arranged pastries widths , starting from lemang the taste is the same as glutinous rice cake , dodol , kembang loyang , karak koling , and others.
Return to the Jakarta I bring a new spirit , even though the road we remain the same. The contents of the car has also been different . If the original contents sarung (the most precious gift in the village) or a food mill , then return home changed by souvenir from the village . If the form of food , which is not exceptional is the ikan sale, salted fish (especially teri medan) , or snacks such as lomang , alame , karak Koling , kembang loyang, and so on . Later , a souvenir was coupled with a wide variety of food that we bought along the way. In Bukittinggi , for example , we will buy kerupuk Sanjai , while in the South Sumatra area we buy Duku Palembang . Of congenital smell can make us avoid trouble on the trip , such as durian , kuweni , or Ambacang.
On the way back to Jakarta , we were more relaxed again . Through Padangpanjang or Solok , for example, we eat sate Padang at a time to the city . Or eat martabak Mesir that actually exist in Baturaja , not in Cairo, Egypt. All the experience was very valuable . Heart and mind went back to staring at the clear sheet over a new leaf of life. Alhamdulillah