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| This is a very basic guidebook. |
| The information in it was compiled from various reliable sources to serve as a quick reference for your journey. |
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| What's inside? |
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Medan has a lot to offer and you wouldn't want to miss any of it! Make a4trip's Medan guidebook your quick and comprehensive reference to the latest travel tips, city highlights, restaurants, places of interest, hotels and accommodation options. Don't miss out!
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| Help Save the Sumatran Rhinoceros! |
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| Fund collecting in progress... |
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| The Sumatran Rhinoceros is the smallest of all rhinos. It is characterised by a coat of reddish-brown hair that covers most of its body. Listed by the IUCN Red List as critically endangered, only six substantial populations currently exist in the wild: four on Sumatra, one on Borneo, and one on Peninsular Malaysia. Because they are solitary creatures, their numbers are difficult to determine, but it is believed that only about 300 Sumatran rhinos are left in the wild. Their alarming decline is attributed primarily to poaching for their horns, which are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine, and also habitat loss, as their forests have been cleared for lumber and agriculture. |
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| What's an a4trip guidebook? |
| An a4trip guidebook is a travel guide that'll provide you with the information you'll need to plan your trip and to find your way around. Our guidebooks are downloadable in PDF format, and are designed to be so compact, you can take it with you everywhere you go. |
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| How can I pay for a guidebook? |
| We accept credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express (USA only) and Discover (USA only) via PayPal. Your transaction will appear as 'PAYPAL*A4TRIP' on your credit card statement. |
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| Help! Why can't I download the guidebook? |
| Don't worry, just get in touch with us and we'll deliver the guidebook right to your inbox. |
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| Just how often do you update your guidebooks? |
| We try to update our guidebooks at least once a month. |
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| Have more questions about a4trip? |
| Just Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you. |
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Medan, which means 'a large place to gather' in the Malay language, is the capital of North Sumatra. This aptly named city was founded in 1590, as a small village called Medan Putri, which quickly flourished as a trading port and grew into a meeting point for people from all over the world. Today, Medan is the third largest city in Indonesia and is a thriving tourist magnet. This metropolitan city is served by taxis, buses, minibuses, trains and motorised rickshaws called becak. Most visitors arrive through Medan's Polonia International Airport, which is located right in the heart of the city. A new airport is currently under construction and is due to open in 2009. Medan is also accessible by sea via ferries that dock at Port Belawan.
Rich in history, Medan boasts a large number of cultural and modern attractions. Among its most popular historical sites are: the Palace of King Sisingamangaraja, the Grave of King Sisingamangaraja XII and the Padang Lawas site. For a glimpse of its Dutch-colonial past, you could check out impressive buildings like the Medan city hall, Bank Indonesia, Tjong A Fie Mansion and Maimoen Palace. Due to its multicultural background, the city is also home to numerous houses of worships, including: the Grand Al-Mansun Mosque, the Shri Mariamman Temple and the Gunung Timur Temple.
Medan is also blessed with many natural attractions, including: Dairi Holy and Dewi recreation parks, Asahan and Poncan waterfalls, as well as Sipoholon and Parbubu water springs. There are also attractive lakes and beaches, like: Lake Laukawar and Lake Sidihoni, as well as Mirror Beach and Pondok Permai Beach. The most renowned body of water in Medan is perhaps Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world. It is home to Samosir and Sibandang islands which are tourist spots in themselves. Mount Sinabung and Mount Sibayak, on the other hand, offer ample opportunity for nature photography, jungle trekking and camping.
If you're planning a family outing, you'll find a number of suitable spots back in the city. There are theme parks like Mikie Holiday and Wonderia, as well as the Crocodile Park and the Medan Zoo. If you like museums, do visit the Museum Negeri (state museum), Rahmat International Wildlife Museum and Gallery and the Museum Perjuangan TNI (military museum). If shopping is a major part of your itinerary, Medan won't disappoint. Other than a variety of bustling bazaars and markets, it has flashy malls like: Plaza Medan, FairSun Plaza, Mall Grand Palladium and Binjai Supermall.
Looking for good eats? Medan has fantastic local fare. Dig into delicious Padang satay or Tau Kua Heci, a pleasing combination of seafood, vegetables and tofu in soup. Putu bambu, kueh lapis and ambon are just some of the yummy cakes to try. Being such a big city, it goes without saying that there are plenty of restaurants serving regional and international cuisines to choose from. If you're looking for inexpensive local dishes, however, Kesawan Square is the place to go. Medan also has facilities for every budget, so travelers can choose from home stays or upmarket hotels. Whatever your preference, Medan will likely mystify you nonetheless.
Visas to Medan can be obtained by post or in person at Indonesian embassies or consulates. Some visitors have the option of getting their Visas upon arrival. The fee will depend on the type of Visa, but a single-entry Visa on arrival will generally cost around USD25 for 30 days and USD10 for 7 days. Visitors from Brunei, Chile, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam do not require Visas for short visits.
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