Indonesia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 214

Wisma Ronna Jl SM Raja 34C. Offers simple, scruffy fan
rooms that are among the cheapest in town; cheaper yet
is the roof, where the friendly owner allows guests to set
up camp from April-Aug (Rp20,000). Only a few of the
rooms ha ve inside bathrooms (Rp80,000). No phone
bookings. Rp70,000

Tavern Pub Hotel Danau Toba, Jl Imam Bonjol 17. A
friendly pub long-favoured as an expat hangout, although
these days the crowd is predominantly local. There's a
relaxed atmosphere with draught beer (Rp45,000) and live
music - including traditional Batak tunes - but it has
become a little seedy. Daily 10pm-2am.
Yuki Simpang Raya Jl SM Raja. A popular bowling alley
(Rp8000/game) in the basement of this shopping mall,
situated just across from Mesjid Raya. There are also pool
tables (Rp20,000/hr). Daily 9am-8pm.

EATING
Medan has its own style of alfresco eating, where a bunch
of stall-owners gather in one place and put out chairs and
tables. Servers then bring around menus listing all the
food available from each of the stalls.
Amaliun Food Court 3 Jl Amaliun. Lively, open-air
food court just across from Yuki Simpang Raya , offering a
wide range of Indonesian meals, from seafood to nasi
ayam (Rp20,000), as well as fresh juices and ice-cream
floats. A handful of restaurants stay open 24hr. Daily
midnight-2am.
★

DIRECTORY
Banks There are many banks at the corner of Jl Diponegoro
and Jl H Zainul Arifin, including BCA, which offers the
best rates in town. There is also a slew of moneychangers
along Jl SM Raja near the Grand Mosque. Compare rates
before exchanging.
Consulates Australia, Jl Kartini 32 ( T 061 455 4504);
Malaysia, Jl P Diponegoro 43 ( T 061 453 1342); UK, Jl Kapt
Pattimura 459B ( T 061 821 0559); US, 4th floor, Jl Let
Jend MT Haryono A1 ( T 061 451 9000).
Hospital Gleni International Hospital, Jl Listrik 2A ( T 061
456 6368).
Immigration O ce Jl Mangkubumi 2 (Mon-Fri 8am-
4pm; T 061 453 3117).
Internet Most hotels and restaurants have wi-fi, while
there are many warnets around the city centre. Try Nusanet
in the basement of the Yuki Simpang Raya shopping plaza
opposite the Mesjid Raya (Rp4000/hr).
Post o ce Jl Balai Kota, on the northwest corner of Lapan-
gan Merdeka (Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm, Sat 7.30am-6pm).

Cahaya Baru Jl Cik Ditiro 12. The best of the Indian
restaurants in Kampung Keling, set in clean, a/c
surroundings. The menu is mostly North Indian (veg/
chicken thali Rp20,000/26,000), with a handful of South
Indian favourites ( masala dosa Rp15,000) and local dishes.
Authentic flavours, colourful decor and local patrons
combine to make you feel as though you're in Delhi.
Daily 10am-10pm.
Corner Kafé Raya Jl SM Raja & Sipisopiso 1. The closest
thing Medan has to a travellers' café, serving mainly Western
food, including fried breakfasts and great burgers (from
Rp16,000). There's also a flatscreen TV on the wall, wi-fi and
jugs of Bintang for Rp66,000. Daily 10am-midnight.
Merdeka Walk Lapangan Merdeka, Jl Balai Kota. One of
Medan's most popular evening hangouts, with a lively
ambience and a good selection of outdoor restaurants and
fast-food joints serving everything from hamburgers to
durian pancakes. Favourite spots among locals include
Nelayan and Jala-Jala for their affordable seafood
specialities. Daily 9am-midnight.
Tip Top Restaurant Jl Brig Jen A Yani 92 W tiptop
-medan.com. Part restaurant, part Medan institution -
this is a venerable old place that's been serving European
and Indonesian food since 1934. The large menu includes
Western, Chinese and Indonesian dishes as well as an
extensive selection of cakes (from Rp4000) and ice creams.
Daily 10am-9.30pm.

4

BANDA ACEH
Capital of Aceh, BANDA ACEH is the transit
point for Pulau Weh , and the gateway to
the wonders of Sumatra's most far-flung
province. As the crow flies, the city sits
closer to India than to the Indonesian
capital, and the relatively few foreigners
who make it up this far along the spine of
Sumatra are rewarded with a vastness of
primate-packed rainforests, volcanic peaks,
empty beaches, eye-popping dive sites and
a welcoming population of predominantly
devout Muslims. Since Islam's first landing
in the region (see box, p.219), Aceh's proud
history was shaped by the sultans of this
capital city, strategically set at the entrance
to the Straits of Malacca. Recent decades
have been turbulent, to say the least, with
deadly conflict engulfing the province as
the separatist Free Aceh Movement battled
with Indonesian forces from 1976 right up

NIGHTLIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Medan Club Jl Kartini 36 T 061 451 6133. Also known as
MC&P , this rambling old colonial-style place near Sun
Plaza and just behind the governor's o ce attracts a
posh crowd of wealthy locals and expats. The charming
restaurant has decent food and is a good spot for a drink.
Sometimes it's booked for private events, so call to check.
Daily 9.30am-10pm.