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Medan
built 647 days ago
Long known as the gateway to the wilds of northern Sumatra, Medan is capital of this largely Islamic area of the country. Be prepared to be stared at and possibly hassled if you're not dressed modestly and conservatively. Don't wear shorts, tank tops, or even "clingy" clothes, because the locals will be very offended. Skirts, t-shirts, and light cotton pants are your best bets. Batik patchwork pants are widely available, and cost about US$2 or $3. The tourist office is located at Jalan Ahmad Yani 107.
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Medan is the capital of North Sumatra Province, a trading center and important harbor. Once part of the Deli Sultanate, the Mesjid Besar (Grand Mosque) and the Palace of the Sultan of Deli have been restored there past grandeur. Medan’s harbor, Belawan, is the sea link to Penang, Malaysia. Regular flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Amsterdam, Vienna, and Jakarta arc available, as well as destinations in Sumatra.
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As the capital of North Sumatra, Medan has a very strategic position. There are consulates of foreign countries and it is the primary centre of activities of northern Sumatra. Geographically, Medan is located at 3o30' — 3o-43' Northern Latitude and 98o35' — 9o844' Eastern Longitude, with a north-ward sloping topography and it lies at 2,5 - 37,5 meters above sea level.
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The first inhabitants of Medan came from the Batak Karo community. It was not until the Sultan of Aceh, Sultan Iskandar Muda, sent his warlord, Gocah Pahlawan Laksamana Khoja Bintan, to be the Sultanate of Aceh's representative in Tanah Deli, that the Sultanate of Deli started to grow. This growth stimulated growth in both the population and culture of Medan. In the second year reign of Sultan Deli (between 1669-1698), there was a cavalry battle in Medan.
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The people of Medan are more outgoing and less self-restricted than those in other parts of Indonesia. This makes for a particular brand of chaos, as well as of freedom. You have to live here for some time to capture this atmosphere. It expresses itself in some aspects of public everyday life, but is most evident in personal communication.
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Medan's harbor town is called Belawan, which is the sea link to Penang, Malaysia. Medan, Indonesia's western international gateway maintains regular flight to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Amsterdam and Vienna. Additionally, there are several air connections between Medan and Jakarta, and other destinations in Sumatra.
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Medan