Sumatra Facts

• Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia. It is the largest island in entire Indonesia and the sixth largest island in the world.
• North Sumatra is a province on the Sumatra island. Its capital is Medan. The province stretches across the island of Sumatra between the Indian Ocean and the Strait Malacca. It borders Aceh province on the northwest and Riau and West Sumatra provinces in the southeast.
• The island includes more than 10 National Parks, including 3 which are listed as the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra World Heritage Site—Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.
• The island is home to 201 mammal species and 580 bird species.
• Sumatra has a huge range of plant and animal species but has lost almost 50% of its tropical rainforest in the last 35 years and many species are Critically Endangered such as Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Rhino and Sumatran Orangutan.
• The people represent many different ethnic groups, speaking 52 different languages. Most of these groups, however, share many similar traditions and the different tongues are closely related.
• 87% of Sumatrans are thought to be Muslim with 10% Christian, 2% Buddhist and 1% Hindu.
• Malay-speaking people dominate the eastern coast, while people in the southern and central interior speak languages related to Malay, such as the Lampung and Minangkabau people. The highland of northern Sumatra is inhabited by the Bataks, while the northernmost coast is dominated by Acehs. Ethnic Chinese minorities are also present in urban centers.

Sumatra Custom & Cultures

1. Indonesia has several traditions and customs and it is best if you know them beforehand. Some of them are:
2. Even though hand shaking is deemed appropriate between men and women, bear in mind that a number of Muslim women prefer to introduce themselves to men by nodding their head, smiling, and clasping their hands without any physical contact.
3. Traditionally, when you greet someone, both hands are used when shaking, without grasping.
4. Shoes must be taken off before entering a house or place of worship like mosques.
5. Usually drinks are offered to guests. It is polite to accept.
6. When eating, receiving or giving something, always use your right hand. Right index finger should not be used to point a place, items or people. Use the right hand thumb and fold the remaining fingers to be more polite.
7. Most Indonesian Muslims do not consume alcoholic drinks and pork. Hence, the tradition of proposing a toast to honor someone is not generally known.
8. If you visit someone’s house you may be asked if you have already eaten – “Sudah Makan?” The polite answer is Sudah (Already).
9. Indonesian people are very welcoming and friendly and tend to be very smiley. You will attend to be asked “where do you come from” and call you with “mister” even though you are woman
10. Women should wear clothes that cover them reasonably(shoulders and knees covered), especially in the Aceh province. It is advised to wear t-shit / short when swimming instead of bikinis.