The Fasting Month of Rahmadhan in Medan North Sumatra Indonesia

There are several issues that visitors need to be aware during the fasting month when traveling to Muslim countries such including Medan Indonesia.

Ramadan, the fasting month, is an event of great importance to the Indonesian and the world’s Muslim community. Being one of the five pillars of Islam, observance of the fasting month is the priority in the devout Muslim’s life during this month. Fasting involves a change in the daily routine of the Muslim faithful and represents an expression of their deep belief to God.

Many Indonesians look forward to Ramadan as an opportunity to test and develop their inner, spiritual selves. The fasting regime is rigorous. No drinking, eating or smoking is allowed after the first prayer in the morning until the opening of the fast in the evening.

Prayer times change based on sunset and sunrise, so the exact time will be different every day. The morning prayer usually starts at around 4.30 AM. Before this time, Muslim families must rise and consume the last food or drink that they will have for the next fourteen hours.

The opening of the fast, or Buka Puasa, occurs around 6.00 PM in the evening. At this time, all fasting Muslims will break the fast by drinking, eating and attending prayers. Expect restaurants to be more packed than usual especially those that are serving Indonesian or local food as many families may not cook for this breaking fast period.

During this time, you may noticed that some restaurants may be closed or are opening discretely with curtains covering up windows of restaurants during the fasting time. This is a sign of respect for those who are fasting.

You can see an example of a picture taken at www.MedanKu.com where restaurants have prepared curtains to cover up the windows including fast food chains for Rahmadhan.

Other ways travelers should do as a sign of respect are

* Be discreet when consuming food. Do not to eat or drink in public places except for food outlets.
* Be observant and dont offer food or drink during the fasting hours to those who are fasting.
* Be respectful and do not showcase your own food or drinks in public places.
* Be empathetic and tolerant as you may find energy levels of those who are fasting to be low that may affect service levels and lower performance.

Medan maybe not be familiar to many international travelers. It is the third largest city in Indonesia and is famous for having the largest crater volcanic lake in the world known as Lake Toba

For more information about Medan please visit www.MedanKu.com – The Pride of Medan Indonesia – Travel & Living website for travelers.

Other resources for your unusual vacations can be found at www.VacationSpotsIdeas.com

How much to tip in Medan

Before we get into tipping, you may want to know the value of your money in Medan Indonesia, no not just the exchange rates.

Minimum Wage in Medan
This is just a guide to the value of money ( tipping ) in Medan. The standard minimum wage in Medan is about Rp980.000 a month which is around Rp38.000 (USD 4.00 ) a day. Some smaller businesses and service industry even pays lower than minimum pay like Rp500.000 / month.So you can measure how much your tips are worth.

There are many times, tourists are the victims of extortion in Indonesia, hence, takes extra precaution. The amount of Rp 50.000 is a big sum as tips in Indonesia, hence do not fall into the trap.

Tipping at Restaurants & Hotels
Many restaurants and Hotels inn Medan have the standard 10% service charge plus tax directly charged to your bill. So technically, you are not required to give any extra.
Nevertheless, if you are feeling well served and generous, you may want to give extra tips to the waiters or waitresses.
There are no hard and fast rules on how much to tip in Medan compared to USA where 25% of your bill is expected.

For restaurants, the standard tipping is around Rp 5.000 to Rp 10.000. You may give more if you bring more guests. Rp20.000 should be a big tip.
Hotel porters and bellboys, probably the same aroung Rp5.000 to Rp10.000 depending on the amount of luggages you have for them to help you with.

Tour & Tour Guide
If you took a Travel package to Medan, you may be faced with Tour Guides: I would suggests Rp 50.000 each, for the driver and the guide ( for private tours ). This is based on the standard 3D2N tours. If you feel that you would like to show your appreciation, then really it’s up to each individual. If you are traveling on a group tour, then this should be optional.

Taxi Driver:
This is not expected. But sometimes due to the limited amount of change Indonesia such as the Rp100, Rp500 coins. You may just let them keep the change.

Airport:
Although it is clearly stated that the porter charges Rp 2.000 for each bag, many expect more of about Rp5.000 for each bag now (yes they will ask for more).
So be prepared. There was once, I was feeling generous and gave Rp20.000 for 3 bags and they still ask for more!
You will need the help of the porter if you have many luggages.

Remember, tipping in Medan City should be based on your own appreciation of service you received and your own financial ability. The amount stated here is just a general guide.

For the most up to date and comprehensive guide to Medan City in Indonesia, please visit www.MedanKu.com

You can also download special city guide and budget travel guide at MedanKu.com – The Pride of Medan Indonesia

Medan City

Medan City is the 3rd largest in Indonesia. Located in North Sumatra ( Sumatera Utara ) of Indonesia with a population of 2.5 millions residents. It is said that during day time, the population of Medan City will grow to about 4 millions with people coming from suburbs.

The unique thing about Medan is that, it resides the largest volcanic lake in world known as Lake Toba which is twice the size of it neighboring country of Singapore.

History of Medan Sumatera Utara

Medan started as a village called Kampung Medan (Medan Village). Kampung Medan was founded by Guru Patimpus around the 1590s. As Kampung Medan sits on Tanah Deli (Land of Deli), Medan Village is also referred as Medan-Deli. The initial place of Kampung Medan is an area where the Deli River meets Babura River.

Based on the diary of the Portuguese merchant in early 16th century, it stated that the name of Medan was actually derived from Medina which is actually a holy city in the western of Saudi Arabia. But, other sources indicated that the name of Medan actually came from Indian language “Meiden”. One of the Karo-Indonesia dictionary written by Darwin Prinst SH published in 2002 wrote that Medan could also be defined as “recover” or “be better”.

The first inhabitants of Medan came from the Batak Karo community. It was not until the Sultan of Aceh, Sultan Iskandar Muda, sent his warlord, Gocah Pahlawan Laksamana Khoja Bintan, to be the Sultanate of Aceh’s representative in Tanah Deli, that the Sultanate of Deli started to grow. This growth stimulated growth in both the population and culture of Kota Medan. In the second year reign of Sultan Deli (between 1669-1698), there was a cavalry battle in Medan.

Medan did not undergo any significant development until the 1860s, when the Dutch colonialists began clearing the land for tobacco plantations. Medan quickly became a center of government & commercial activity, dominating development of Indonesia’s western region.

The Dutch governed Tanah Deli from 1658, after Sultan Ismail, ruler of the Kingdom of Siak Sri Indrapura, yielded some of his once-ruled land, Deli, Langkat, and Serdang. In 1915 Medan officially became the capital of North Sumatra Province, and officially a city in 1918.

With the largest volcanic lake in the world, Medan Danau Toba is city worth visiting for your vacation spots in Asia Indonesia

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