Introducing Medan
Medan is the capital of North Sumatra and is the third-largest city in Indonesia. Depending on your perspective, you’ll either love it or hate it. If you’re coming from saner parts of mainland Southeast Asia, Medan will be everything that’s wrong with an Asian city: choked with traffic, pollution and poverty. If you’ve worked your way north through Sumatra, Medan is thankfully modern, with air-con, internet and a middle class.
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Most people only stay a night and grab transport out the next day. The city’s major attraction is a graveyard of colonial buildings centred around Kesawan Square. For urban junkies, Medan has lots of confusing public transport to conquer.
Last updated: Mar 24, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: sumatra- 17 days in september/october. advice/ help needed:)
by mike66jakarta 14 September 2011
*2.09-parapat -padang* This part of your trip is by plane via Medan right? I suggest not to take the bus from Parapat to Bukittinggi/Padan…
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Re: Banda Aceh and Pulau Weh - worth the visit?
by ollito 13 September 2011
Hi, another possibility to escape Medan would be Berastagi, climbing the two vulcanos, enjoying nice climate and good food and hot spring.…
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Banda Aceh and Pulau Weh - worth the visit?
by steadynswagin 13 September 2011
my flight out of Medan to Borneo is on the 20th, so I would only have 5 days to see Banda & Weh. I was wondering if it's worth the hassle?…
