Huta Godang

Mandailing by Elizabeth

Mandailing, Indonesia is near two important rivers that are known as the Aek Batang Gadis and the Aek Batal Natal. Mandailing covers most of Tapanuli and part of Labuhan Batu, up to the border with Riau and Pasaman in Minangkabau. The Mandailings have two domains. One domain is called Mandailing Godang (lower Mendailing). The second domain is known as Mandailing Julu (upper Mandailing). Godang and Julu are nasution clans of the Mandailing people. Most Mandailing people live in Sumatra Island, where they have a tradition of padi-planting, buffalo herding and gold-mining. Mandailing society and other clans come together through marriage and by love and companionship. Mandailing society, culture and economy are showed through agriculture, reflected in its human-made landscape of Terrace padi fields and irrigation system. The Mandailing Island is a historic place to visit. 1816-1833 was a civil war and a war against the Dutch; the war resulted in devastation to the Mandailing homeland. Mandailing people are creative through the act of art and music. They have a unique style to the beats of buffalo skin drums and they sculpt beautiful things that represent mythological and past rajas.

            I would love to visit Mandailing, Indonesia. The culture of Mandailing is so beautiful and different. They don’t take money as an obligation in their life. The Mandailing people are very loving and accept different people through the act of love and companionship. I feel that is the best way to accept someone into your life. I would enjoy seeing the Aek Batang Gadis and the Aek Batang Natal Rivers that are located near Mandailing because I know those rivers are important. The first place I would go see would be the Mandailing Island where the Mandailings and the Dutch had a war against one another. That is very interesting to me to go see where the battle had happened. It’s weird because I know it brought the Mandailing people much devastation but I would like to stand on the ground where they had great courage and a lot of emotions.

            Another place I would very much enjoy seeing is the traditional habitats known as hutas. They are homes that are located in Manambin far from the main trunk road that cuts through Mandailing today. The homes look very interesting and unique most of the homes are very close together. It is a very scenic highly village with bright greenery, rushing streams and ijok-roofed homes. And the Manambin people plant rice, coffee, and cinnamon in their fields. I would also enjoy visiting a village known as Huta Godang. The historic village had famous people for their great work such as; oldest surviving Sopo Godang and Bagas Godang, Raja Junjungan Lubis the first governor of North Sumtra after Indonesia Independence and last Raja Gadombang who fought against the Dutch. I would like to visit there because of the great historic background.

            I would love to visit Indonesia. Indonesia is such a counter culture place with people who live up to their ethnic traditions. I would very much enjoy seeing how Mandailing people live their life with money as no obligation. I would love to be in a Manambin home and to see the people plant rice and coffee into their village. I would love to visit the Huta Godang because I would be very interested in knowing the history of the village where famous people lived. Last I would like to go to the Mandailing Island where the Mandailing people fought against the Dutch.

~o0o~

Source: http://www.kidlink.org/kidspace/start.php?HoldNode=10906&HoldNav=10804