No Wi-Fi again so more photos to follow.
Ant's Big Sumatran Ride - day 9-10
Tuktuk - Overnight Ferry to Nias Island - Sorake Beach. - 400km over two days
Two day wrap to spare my unfortunate readers one post, no Wi-Fi on the ferry last night
The touristy Tuktuk was nice but only worth one night so was on the small ferry across Lake Toba to Parapet by 11am. Then a five hour ride up the caldera, across the Batak Highlands and then down the mountain to the pleasant port town of Sibolga.. the descent was amazing, about one hour of solid S-bends which motorcyclists love of course - all through heavy jungle and small towns.
At Sibolga I immediately boarded the night ferry to Nias, an island famous for its surfing and a megalithic culture of headhunting and fantastic old wooden houses. The ferry was delayed an hour as a heavy road steamroller broke down on the ramp and eventually had to be pulled out by a truck to great ironic applause after many attempts. I was able to buy a bed in the crew's cabin for an extra $15 on top of my $20 fare including bike.
Slept well with the help of ear plugs to dull the sound of diesel engines. There something beautiful about sleeping on a ship as it rolls - you wake up occasionally with a sense of movement that is strange but somehow natural. Once on Nias, I visited the Museum in Gunung Sitoli where two long-term Australia volunteers (thanks Bjorn and Shanti) told me to head south where I could find accommodation in the surf town of Sorake - from there I would be able to easily visit the traditional villages in the hills tomorrow.
Nias is amazing. I wasn't sure whether to come or not given my short time left in Sumatra, but I'm so glad I did. Check out the website http//:
www.visitniasisland.com for more info.