Simanindo Batak Village, Lake Toba, Indonesia
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 Traditional dance performance of the Toba Batak of Simanindo. © Timothy Tye using this photo
Simanindo is a small Toba Batak village on the northern part of Lake Toba, about 16 km from Ambarita. Tourists come here to view the restored house of the Toba Batak king. This house has since been turned into a museum. In front of the museum is a row of ancient Toba Batak tombs of the ancient Simanindo kings. Just as in Pematang Purba, the Batak kings of Simanindo are Christians. Hence there are Christian motifs in the design of their tombs.
Next to the Simanindo king's house is a replica of a traditional Simanindo Batak village. Here, traditional Batak dances are performed daily at 10:30am and 11:45am to a crowd that is almost always exclusively foreigners, and most likely Westerners. When I was there with a group of AsiaExplorers members, we were the only Asians watching the show.
I enjoy the visit to Simanindo as it provides an opportunity for visitors like myself to find out more about the unique Batak culture. We arrived here by boat from our hotel in Tuk Tuk. On our way here, we stopped over on tiny Tao Island.
 The pier at Simanindo where we arrived. © Timothy Tye using this photo
 Traditional Toba Batak houses in Simanindo. © Timothy Tye using this photo
 Replica of the traditional Batak village where the dances are performed. © Timothy Tye using this photo
 As we were watching the show, we noticed that there were birds up in the tree, so I took a shot of them. © Timothy Tye using this photo
 Musicians playing traditional instruments. © Timothy Tye using this photo
 After the performance, we were allowed into the hut where the musicians performed. © Timothy Tye using this photo
 This is where we sat to watch the performance. © Timothy Tye using this photo
 Tombs of the ancient Toba Batak kings are keep in good order. © Timothy Tye using this photo
 The king's house which has since been turned into a museum. On its left is a boat house. © Timothy Tye using this photo
 A group shot with the Batak traditional dancers.
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