Lake Toba and Samosir Island

World famous is the crater Toba Lake in the Batak highlands; approximately five hours drive from Medan. Toba Lake is the largest lake in South East Asia and also one of the most spectacular, surrounded by tall mountains and with the large island of Samosir in the middle

Once upon a time, lived a young orphan farmer in the northern part of the Sumatran Island. This area was very dry. The young man lived from farming and fishing. One day he went fishing, he had already fished for half of the day but still hadn't got any fish. So he returned home as the day was quickly turning into night, as he was leaving he saw a big beautiful golden fish, he caught the fish and brought it home. He intended to cook the fish right away but was overwhelmed by its beauty. He withdrew his intention of a meal and chose to keep it as pet. He placed it in a big pond and fed it. On the next day, like usual, he went to his farm, and returned at noon to have lunch. Upon arriving at his house he was very startled for the meal had already been prepared and was ready to be served. He feared that the fish might be have been stolen, and hastily he ran to the back of his house.

However, the fish was still in its pond and for a long time he was thinking, “Who cooked this meal”. As he was very hungry, he decided to eat. This incident continued to occur again repeatedly, every time he came home for lunch, the meals were prepared on the table. Then one day this young man decided to find out who had been cooking his meals. The next day he cunningly started his plan, he hid around the trees close to his house. He was waiting for a long time, but the smoke from his chimmney was still not to be seen. It was until he had almost given up hope and decided to return back to his house that he saw smoke rising out of his chimmney.

When he entered the kitchen he saw before him a woman. "Hey woman, who are you, and where have you come from?” the woman began crying, and the young man saw out of the corner of his eye that his fish was no longer in the pond. He asked the woman, “hey woman, where is the fish in that pond?” the Woman cried intensely, but this young man continued to ask and finally the woman answered, “I was the fish that was caught by you”. The young man was startled at this admission and he felt that he had hurt the feelings this woman, then he continued, “Hey woman, do you want to become my wife?” the Woman, herself startled, stayed quiet, then the young man said “Why are you so silent?” the woman replied, “I wanted to become your wife, but with one condition.” ”What is the condition?” the young man quickly asked, the woman then said, “In the future if a child is born and grows up, not once must you mention that he or she was anakni Dekke (child of a fish) ”. The young man then agreed to that condition and swore he would never say it.

For daily needed they do farming. And they are happy family. Not for long time they have one child and give the name Samosir.

One day when Samosir bring a lunch to his father at farm, Samosir have accident, he down and the food droped, now the food already dirty. ButSamosir collecting all the food back and bring to his father. After arrived,Samosir call his father to get lunch, but he affraid to tell him the he get accident before he go to farm and the food was dirty.

When his father opened, he surprise Samosir bring a dirty food. And he angry to Samosir and said "Cause your are kid from fish, you bring to me dirty food.", Samosir crying that his father angry to him, and he go back his mom and make a report. Nauli crying too when her son Samosir tell to her.Nauli sad to Toba he broken promise, and Nauli hugging her son Samosirand tell him that all is true.

Nauli order Samosir to go to highland, this is consequence if your fatherSamosir broken his promise, i will return back as a fish. After Samosiralready in highland, Nauli pray wishes God bring she return back, and the rain coming make flood in Toba area and it become Lake. Nauli was back to her life as a fish. And the lake become Lake Toba and highland where samosir going become Samosir Island.