"Let's just get into the ship", said Inang.
"Alright Inang", I replied while following her behind.
We both carefully stepped into the ship which already anchored in the harbor, Tiga Ras.
We only needed to wait for a few minutes before the ship started to move toward Simanindo, our destination.
"Unpack our breakfast", asked Inang, "Let's eat now."
I took our bucket where we put some of our stuffs, including our breakfast wrapped with banana leaf and paper. We also had some kinds of cakes we bought at Simpang Ampat at a warung there.
My dad dropped Inang and I at Simpang Ampat, Sipintu Angin. It is about 30 minutes from our home in Urung Panei through Simarjarunjung Mountain.
Right at Simpang Ampat, we got into a bus which came from Pematang Siantar with Tiga Ras as its final destination.
Inang and I started to eat. I was hungry too. For me, the taste of the food was even better since I was inside a ship which was moving faster leaving the harbor. I could hear the sound of the ship's engine. The ship left a trace on the surface of the water along the way, right behind.
While eating my meal, I could also enjoy the view of the lake with the typical landscapes along with it as far as my eyes could go.
During my childhood, even as a toddler, Inang usually took me to different kind of places and event together with her. All along my elementary years, up until I was 12, and then left Urung Panei, I used to go with Inang, including to a far away place such as Bengkulu in South Sumatra or even Jakarta.
At this particular time, she and I went to Samosir Island. I have no idea how many times I have been to the island. Usually, we go there, up to these days, is not for holidays like many people do. No. Not even once in my life that my family members, go to Samosir Island specificly for such a leisure purpose.
For us the Bataks, attending any event to do with joy and sorrow that happens amongst relatives is a must. This is usually the main reason why up until now, we go to the island.
Inang, my grandma, belonged to Damanik Clan in Simalungun. She married to my grandpa, a member of Sihaloho Clan in Samosir Island. My grandpa was born in this island and then lived in my grandma's village, which is Urung Panei in Simalungun Regency.
Oooh dear, the ship was starting to slow its speed. In a few minutes, we would get to the harbor, Simanindo. It usually takes only 45 minutes to cross the lake with this small ship. If you take a ferry, it moves slower and take around an hour to cross over.
I could see a mini bus parked next to the harbor over there at Simanindo.
"Well, we are going to get into that mini bus, Nang", said Inang.
"That one over there?" I asked.
"Yes", Inang continued while making sure that we had all our stuffs with us, "Do you have all your things ready?"
"Yes, Inang", I said while we both started to get ourselves ready to leave the ship.
"Where is your destination, Namboru?" asked the driver.
"Parbaba, Amang", said Inang, "Please remind us once we get there".
"Alright, Namboru", answered the driver.
In a few minutes, we were already inside the mini bus, moving nicely along the smooth road toward Parbaba.
It took about half an hour to reach Parbaba from Simanindo.
Oh no, we were taken passed the intersection where Inang and I supposed to get off.
"Can you bring us back to that intersection, Amang?" asked Inang. The driver refused to do so.
We were a bit upset, but luckily, a becak came toward the direction we were heading off. We got into the becak and it brought us up until we reached the house of Opung Lumban Na Hot's. Lumban Na Hot is about 1 km toward the east from the main road. Most likely, Inang and I would walk from that intersection till we got to Lumban Na Hot, but, since we got off passed it, and ended up in a becak, we asked the becak driver to bring us up to Lumban Na Hot.
Opung Lumban Na Hot was out side when we got there. She probably heard the sound of becak approaching her house. She was waiting for us and many others, that day, even before.
At home, we already met Opung's children who came from Perantauan, diasporic places. Toward evening and night, some more relatives would be arriving too. I knew some of them, relatives who were closer to me in kinship such as Opung Depok, both of them, grandma and granpa. They live in Depok, West Java. Bou and KelaRafael and their daughter Betseyba. The rest were not that familiar to me but sure they all related to Sihaloho Clan.
The next day, we all were headed to Binanga Borta since one of Manihuruk's family member passed away. The mother of the one who passed away is the sister of my great grandpa. That's why Sihaloho Clan members must attend the Adat event to honor the one who passed away and also, in particular, Manihuruk Clan. Sihaloho folks are their hula-hula, the ones who give them blessings according to our Batak cultural ethics and rules.
Inang and I spent two nights in Samosir as well as all who stayed at Opung Lumban Na Hot's house. We all had to stay in Binanga Borta till late in the evening that day and stayed at night at Lumban Na Hot again.
That's how Adat-obligation looks like for us the Bataks. That's only an example out of many Adat events the Batak have to take care all along during their life. Â It demands your commitment to spare your time, energy, as well as resource. It is a must. I heard that for us the Bataks, it is a shame if you can't fulfil your Adat's duties according to your particular role at any given cultural occasion.
Even me, you see, I had to skip school for 2 days to go with Inang since she needed me to be with her, accompanying her. It was always excited to go there, any time, all the time. For me, going to the island was much more exciting than going to school and still it is.***
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