A few interesting facts about Medan. It’s the first developed city on Sumatra (developed by the Dutch in 1865 as tobacco plantation area). The British reported a population of 200 a few years before that. By the end of 1945 the population swelled to 80,000. 61 years later, Medan is home to 2.5 million people and is Indonesia’s 3rd largest city.

Among its redeeming features are it’s harbor, it’s proximity to Singapore & Malaysia, it’s function as a trading hub for many Sumatran exports (palm-oil, rubber, coffee…) and a lot of palm-oil & rubber plantations close-by.

Like Jakarta, there are distinct classes of “haves” and “have nots”,,, with very few in-between. It doesn’t help that the majority of “haves” are Chinese, Indian, Malaysian… and the ranks of “have nots” are swollen with Indonesians. It’s just a dynamic of this city, which remains somewhat evident.

Next stop: the mosque.
The mosque appeared to be a centerpiece of the city. A typical experience played itself out again with my becak driver. “how old is this mosque pak?” “Oh! Hundreds of years old! maybe a thousand!” was his response.
Hmm, according to the plaque in front, construction on this fine mosque was completed in 1906. It is grand inside though.

It was built by one of the last Sultans of the royal Deli Sultanate. The royal line continues (the current Sultan is 10 years old, as his father died in a helicopter crash), but they exercise no authority, and the palace is now a museum.

Following a recommendation from my boss, I contacted a local Chinese businessman & guide, pak Fon, to show me around a bit. For $50, no problem.
We spent an unexpectedly long amount of time sitting at the Medan Club,,, getting to know each other. Hmm. Oh well. At least it was interesting. We kicked around conversation about secrets of happiness, religion, marriage, Medan’s history, etc.

Part of the subject of our conversation was being fueled by the recent realization that I’m probably going to have to cancel my December travel plans through Nusantengara Timur/Barat (the eastern islands to the right of Bali), so I can sit & write a ton of travel reports over the next weeks. Time consuming but necessary work. Anyways- that said, I figured I’d make a new Christmas plan & take Nina’s parents up on their offer to visit.
Nina is excited, but warned me to expect a grilling from her parents about “my plans to marry their daughter,” and the un-negotiable requirement to change my religion first.

Hmm,,, even though I haven’t heard that in a while, it’s been a subject laying just under the surface of things for Nina’s family. Most importantly,,, how do they explain to their neighbors why they are allowing their “good Muslim” daughter to date a non-Muslim. Hmmm. I suppose it’s an unavoidable conversation worth coming out & being straight forward about sooner or later. Merry Christmas to me… I’ll be ducking & weaving between Nina’s parents… good times. I can’t wait.