Medan – Worst. City. Ever.
Alright.. I haven’t been blogging for a longggg time.. that’s simply because.. 1. I am busy with life and 2. I have nothing interesting to entertain … ^0^..
Anyway.. this morning, a friend send us a link.. he said someone wrote that Medan is “Worst. City. Ever.”.. well.. honestly, I wasn’t expecting much of what the article is going to be about anyway.. but mine oh mine.. just the first paragraph alone had me feeling sick to the stomache..
Alright.. I am not going to deny that I am not a big fan of this city, Medan.. I have lived for a decade by now.. and though it is not the best city on earth.. (Bangkok, my hometown, received ‘world’s best city” this year).. but I have to defence on behalf of Medan people that.. ‘NO!! Medan is not the Worst. City. Ever.’
enough said.. but here’s what Mr ADAM GARTRELL wrote on July 19, 2010 for www.theage.com.au..
“Dear Medan. I hate you.
I visited you recently and found you the most unpleasant, charmless and thoroughly depressing city I’ve ever encountered. And I’ve visited plenty of s—holes in my time.
Now, when it comes to big Indonesian cities I have pretty low expectations.
I live in Jakarta, the biggest of them all, so I know what I’m in for: traffic, pollution, heat, noise, chaos, the stench of human waste.
And you, Medan – Indonesia’s third biggest city – you provided all those things. In great abundance.
In fact, even though your population, at three million, is a quarter that of Jakarta’s, I reckon you’re worse on just about every count.
Quite an achievement.
But Medan, you’re awful not just because of your many failings but because you appear to have no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
You’re slim pickin’s for hotels, you don’t seem to boast a single, decent restaurant and from what I’ve heard, you’ve got no real nightlife.
Your airport is a Boschian nightmare, your roads a mess, your buses an embarrassment and your taxis … well, if I ever find one I’ll let you know.
And ever heard of trees?
Okay, so you have a big mosque but it’s also the closest thing you’ve got to a tourist attraction. And you have a few shopping malls but what city doesn’t?
I understand now why you consistently feature on people’s “Worst. City. Ever.” lists.
You’re at the very top of mine.
Okay, I admit, there’s a personal element to this. See, I got robbed in one of your hotels.
It wasn’t a very nice hotel. It promotes itself as a four star hotel when in actual fact it’s closer to a two. But that’s fine. I don’t need luxury and it cost less than $100 a night.
Except, in the end, it actually cost a couple of grand. Because while I was out one night scouring the streets for a decent meal – in vain, of course – someone broke into my room and stole a giant wad of company cash from my suitcase.
Why did I have a giant wad of cash, you ask? Well, because Indonesia is a mostly cash economy, so I’m forced to travel with plenty of it. But why didn’t I put it in the safe? Well, because the hotel didn’t provide one.
And when I brought the robbery to the hotel’s attention the staff were predictably – and perhaps deliberately – unhelpful.
Security staff at first said they could give me a keycard lock report, so I could see if anyone else entered my room. But then – for reasons not properly explained – they suddenly couldn’t.
But that was okay, they said. They could show me the CCTV footage outside my room instead.
Oh no, wait, sorry! We don’t actually know the password to review the CCTV!
Can you say “inside job”?
Needless to say I moved to a different hotel for my final night. I woke up the next morning in blood-stained sheets. Mozzies never take any interest in me but your Medan mozzies made quite a frenzied exception.
I didn’t get malaria. But I did get spectacularly, violently sick about a week later from an intestinal parasite, which I’m certain I picked up from you, Medan. I just know it.
I’ve never been so happy to board a plane as I was the one that whisked me away from you, Medan. And I never want to see you again.
AAP”
Popularity: 20% [?]
medankota on July 21st 2010 in Medan Bisnis, Medan Food, Medan Hotel, Medan Leisure
Joseph Bloggs responded on 21 Jul 2010 at 5:42 pm #
I completely agree with this article. Medan is a smelly dump and I wish I never went there.
Adam Gatal responded on 23 Jul 2010 at 11:01 am #
My blow-by-blow explanation http://twitter.com/adamgatal
Muli responded on 23 Jul 2010 at 8:00 pm #
LOL 2 words for you mate, TOO BAD.
Muli responded on 23 Jul 2010 at 8:22 pm #
First, it is your fault not having a medanese friend guiding and driving you around with a car, windows up, air conditioned and that will simply avoid you from smelling shits.
Traffic isn’t that bad, come on… It is definitely better than Eastern Freeway in Melbourne during early peak hours (or any highway heading to the city) or streets in Sydney at night time. And yeah, streets in Sydney are pretty fucked up too.
By the way, I had lived in Medan my whole life and I have never been to that mosque… And yea probably because I am not a muslim but I gotta admit it sucks and unattractive hehe… BUT, don’t you know Medan is the gate to the one and only Lake Toba? Well it is the biggest lake in the world and there are jaw-dropping, marvelously beautiful sceneries… Besides that, you can take a shorter trip to Brastagi, part of the mountain range of Bukit Barisan. It is just as beautiful. Google it for more info, mate.
You got robbed? Oh come on… How could you be so cheap coming to a cheap city like Medan. I’d stay in JW Marriott. Give me a buzz if you are coming next time. I could get you a corporate rate to as low as US $79 a night (Yup, no kidding it is the cheapest JW Marriott on the planet). Or you could stay in the newly renovated Hotel Asean, $59 for a guaranteed comfy room. I’m pretty sure you wont get robbed in there, or if otherwise, I will accompany you to have some staffs sacked by the end of that day (YES I promise).
I will continue if I get your reply…
Cheers
Anita Ekberg responded on 01 Aug 2010 at 9:23 am #
Mr ADAM GARTRELL himself is a fucking cunt that full of shit and all kinds of pestilence ever known to man.It is a great shame that Medan had to host such a lousy pussy motherfucker son of bitch.I hope you will get castrated one day and the stray dogs and cats will get to enjoy your testicles.Dirt pig like you should be locked up in Cuban Prison and left to rot there so that you will be able to distinguish shit hole from vagina,penis from cunt.
Anita Ekberg responded on 01 Aug 2010 at 9:25 am #
Btw,Joseph Bloggs is also a nasty fucking cunt liar.
agongkia responded on 09 Aug 2010 at 9:28 am #
I have given my comments in another blog over this yesterday.
Me think that Medan is one of the place that I am comfortable with and I have the intention to stay there ,given a chance.
The writer may be expressing his anger over his losses at a so claimed 4 star hotel becos he has not got a satisfactory reply from the hotel,after reporting his loss.We need to understand his anger .
He could have exposed the name of the hotel but had not.
Though I feel that his opinion of Medan should not be tarnish by the unfortunate incident at the hotel and that the city and hotel are too separate matter ,I am also sad to see some of you being so carried away.
What is wrong allowing someone to air his grievences if what he reported is true?
Some are kind to suggest he carry credit cards,some suggest he stay at expensive hotels etc.Is this a way to solve the problems?Bechaks accept credit cards?Budget hotels are not safe?
OK.Now,you can consider me cheap becos I stay in budget hotels whenever I am in medan .I was back few days ago.Must I stay in expensive hotels to ensure that my room dun get ransack?Is that what some of you mean?Nothing happen so far to me in Medan.I like the people especially the bechaks .I negotiate with them for cheaper fares and they have not show their anger so far.Most ask for reasonable fares.No discrimination from them though I am not a medan larng .They are the one who have touched me during this trip.
But if some of you are unable to accept others comment and get too carried away,then my impression of Medan larng can also be affected.
Pls show Medan people are gracious and are able to accept comments.
Medan,my beautiful Medan..Saya cinta kamu.Saya senang bertermu dengan kamu…I started to learn Indonesian becos I love Medan….Pls encourage me and not to let me give up….
LOL responded on 25 Aug 2010 at 5:43 pm #
I totally agree with this article.
I live in medan and i dont even like it
medan is full of rubbish, faces and dust. Everything is so left behind from the other country. I hate it here!
So congratulation medan! Lets give them a BIG round applause!!(plok plok*). You are the worst country i’ve ever seen and i do not expect the others to be as horrible as you
Once again congratulation!!
Opinion responded on 31 Aug 2010 at 8:28 pm #
Medan has a unique culture.
In summary, you can find all the bad things in the world here, and unfortunately not near as many good things.
The financial difficulty is the typical answer to whatever crimes occur. Still, financial difficulty is a reality and it impact on many causing serious change of genetic instability. Jealousy, anger, hate, became an everyday ruitinity for most people here. Everyone smile, but everyone also know everyone is faking. It’s a hypocricity at public level, and after some time we call this Medan’s culture.
Not a single public company provide reliable service.
Not a single school provide quality education.
Not a single government official is corrupt-free.
Nobody is perfect, is what everyone stucked at the corner would say. Indeed, a convenient excuse.
Again, a convenient get-away excuse.
But it’s true. Everyone here is living their best to their knowledge how, and unfortunately, not half as descently we hope for.
It’s the lifestyle, it’s the culture, it’s in their DNA.
What happened to education? In school we learn all that is good, makes you an idealistic person. Leaving school, entering society, all the students were shocked, no place for idealists.
The older generation are too stubborn to change–Can’t teach old dogs new tricks. While the younger generation are always rebelling for change. Extremities. Things would work out well if both can work together, the young and the old, the male and the female, the black and the white, the hard and the soft, the stupid and the smart, ha ha ha ha… I’m enjoying this…
In the end, can’t save them. If Medan is paradise for some, then let them live in their paradise.
We can only smile and wonder, amazing culture. Very easy to manipulate, no unity whatsoever, no unity.
KimiWen responded on 29 Sep 2010 at 11:08 pm #
can we call this an article??
“I visited you recently and found you the most unpleasant, charmless and thoroughly depressing city I’ve ever encountered. And I’ve visited plenty of s—holes in my time.”
how many cities that u ever visit??
“You’re slim pickin’s for hotels, you don’t seem to boast a single, decent restaurant and from what I’ve heard, you’ve got no real nightlife.”
medan don’t need a nightlife…our nightlife is all bout foods…XD
“your taxis … well, if I ever find one I’ll let you know.”
?? are u kidding…where are u??
“And you have a few shopping malls but what city doesn’t?”
we don’t need too much malls that selling the almost same stuffs inside!!
“I don’t need luxury and it cost less than $100 a night.”
& they also just sell a less than $100 safety & services..
“Why did I have a giant wad of cash, you ask? Well, because Indonesia is a mostly cash economy, so I’m forced to travel with plenty of it. But why didn’t I put it in the safe? Well, because the hotel didn’t provide one.”
huh? a dumb?
“But that was okay, they said. They could show me the CCTV footage outside my room instead.”
trust me less than $100 has no CCTV service..
“your Medan mozzies made quite a frenzied exception.”
u’re telling no tree but asking bout the huge mozzies. i think primary students have better brain than yours
“I didn’t get malaria. But I did get spectacularly, violently sick about a week later from an intestinal parasite, which I’m certain I picked up from you, Medan. I just know it.”
i’ve got bite a thousand time & didn’t get any malaria or sick cause of that. are u a ‘man’?
“And I never want to see you again.”
so do i!!!!
conFUSION responded on 06 Oct 2010 at 1:56 am #
OH WOW…I’m GOING to medan next year..with my WHOLE FAMILY..for holiday. so imagine how Im feeling rite this seconds after reading all this. I’m from Malaysia by the way…n will go there during chinese holidays. Its not just that I missed go to Australia last week with my parents ( because I have CLASSSESSS!)..and now Im seeing this. urghhh. to anyone that know this city better, please kindly tell me how can we enjoy going HOLIDAY there. PLEASE. btw man, medan is a city, its not a country
dkman responded on 08 Nov 2010 at 9:25 pm #
Is Medan really that bad? Such a pain reading all the bad comments above. I am Medanese, though I have been away from this city for almost nine years, I still Love my hometown!
Rick responded on 15 Nov 2010 at 2:34 pm #
Just visited Medan for my friend’s wedding, I have to say this place is like war-zone, the road is full with potholes, the air stinks like rotten corpse especially around afternoon and the locals, they have the most unfriendly face ever, seriously the whole city is like having a bad day.
Not every Indonesia city like this, Bali is awesome, but medan is just sick! You hear me sick! The people living in Medan ought to be ashamed of them-self!
elbuensamaratin responded on 17 Feb 2011 at 5:00 pm #
Who gives a shit about you and your problems? Get lost. Go back under the rock where you obviously live.
Anonym responded on 24 Mar 2011 at 10:11 pm #
Well, i can agree with the complaints about the city, in fact I am a medanese. But this incident is not rare, there are chances of getting all of those. You just gotta do some homework before going to Medan, that’s all….why didn’t he check with the hotel beforehand whether there is a safety deposit box or not?why travel by foot or public transport when they are known to be awful nation-wide? My family and I have guided many foreigners in that town and seemed to enjoy ,say in some part of the town. Even in some developed countries ,there are always chances of having those incidents. Medanese don’t be furious, we just need to make this place to become a better place,don’t we?
makenai_san responded on 24 Mar 2011 at 11:31 pm #
i wouldn’t say i am totally disagree with what Mr Adam had proposed.. there are some truth behind what he says.. it’s just that he lacks of the proof by images or videos to actually get the trust of us.
cheers, have a good day and better luck next time Mr Adam :3
I am Medanese, imagining I am on his show, something like his experience happened to me will cause me to write an article of his kind. But to be honest, if only Mr Adam can read my comment, “You are just too pity that you only got to see the bad side of Medan, there are still lots and more good; nice; marvelous; jaw breaking experience you can see from Medan..”
If only you had seen the other side of Medan, I guarantee you will have the same feeling in leaving it as like you are leaving Bali or Hawaii.
dodzaguila responded on 02 Sep 2011 at 8:21 am #
I really feel sorry to that guy…
Celtman responded on 02 Sep 2011 at 7:35 pm #
Some of this article is just plain silly. You had a large wad of cash as Indonesia is a cash based economy ? Ridiculous. Medan as the third largest city in Indonesia has 100s of ATMs and credit cards are acceptable in most hotels. There is also a lot of great food in Medan.
Celtman responded on 02 Sep 2011 at 7:35 pm #
Worst. Travel Article. Ever. Medan has many decent hotels which accept credit cards, 100s of ATMs to access cash. Indonesia a cash based economy ? Ridiculous. It also has great local cuisine and many nightclubs.
Fez responded on 02 Sep 2011 at 7:36 pm #
Judging from your letter – Medan and indeed Indonesia can do without people like you.
Medan indeed has plenty to offer tourists – the right kind. Other than Mesjid (which means Mosque) Raya Medan, there’s Istana (Palace) Maimun, which is 5 minutes away from the Mosque, an Old Post Office built in the Dutch architectural style, a buzzing China Town and a colourful India Town. Out of all Indonesian cities, Medan is the most multicultural with the largest population mix of Indians, Chinese, and Malay. Charmless? Really?
As for the food – for Indonesians, Medan is a culinary hotspot and it is not unusual for them to fly all the way there just to taste the amazing dishes. If you’re not the laid-back type, or not into eating at small restaurants / street food, then try Medan Club – a charming establishment with excellent food, with strong colonial influence.
“consistently feature on people’s “Worst. City. Ever.” lists” – I’m struggling to find a list where Medan appears at all.
“And ever heard of trees?” – have you actually been there? Just like any other city in the tropics, it has plenty of them!
Alex responded on 18 Oct 2011 at 1:13 pm #
Any good bars in Medan? I do not really care much about the dirt, the traffic, the noise. Medan girls are really wild, at least outside of Medan, so how about in Medan?
sar responded on 08 Nov 2011 at 4:36 pm #
i agree with MULI!!
i’m medanese, i think u guys should make friends with chinese medanese instead of muslim… i bet u will love medan!