A journal of an expedition in Tapanuli, North Sumatera. Named as #EkspedisiGorga (Gorga Expedition) since one of its objective is to document Gorga motifs.

1. Expedition Journal
Indonesian Archipelago Cultural Initiatives

2. Slide no.0
 Gorga expedition is an activity under
“Sejuta Data Budaya” campaign.
 “Sejuta Data Budaya” is a campaign which
invites Indonesian people, especially the
young, to submit traditional culture data to
www.budaya-Indonesia.org
 Expedition date : July 10 – 22, 2012
..let’s go

4. Absolutely,
not this Gorga... 
You’ll see her if you try to google “GORGA”….

5. Various Bataknese
building
ornaments, motifs
of decoration.
M.A. Marbun,
I.M.T. Hutapea.
1987.
“Kamus Budaya
Batak Toba”
Balai Pustaka

6. Expedition
Objectives!
 documenting Gorga motifs
 to have preliminary
documentation about
megalithic relics.

7. Map
The Journey

8. Siallagan Village King of Sidabutar Tomb
Tourism Village of Jangga Dolok Sitorang & Silaen
Govt. Building of Toba Samosir
Catholic Church of Pangururan
Govt. Building of North Tapanuli
Sisingamangaraja Tomb HKBP Parapat Church
Batak Museum / TB Silalahi Center

9. Samosir

10. 1 2 4
Huta
Siallagan
3
4

11. 1. Raja Siallagan house
2. Siallagan Court Stone
3. Sopo
4. Museum
5. Execution stone
sketch
5

12. Catholic Church of
Pangururan

13. Parapat

15. HKBP Parapat Church
The Gorga is tintless, but remain varnished.
Claimed as the most beautiful church
in South East Asia.

16. Balige

17. Cultural & Tourism Agency
of Tobasa Regency

18. Toba Samosir Govt. Building

19. Toba Samosir Govt. Building
Left: District House Of Representatives
Locals say the Gorga is from Samosir.
Right : District Chief Office
Some say, the gorga is from Toba.
Gorga also exist on rear side. Many said, it’s totally wrong!

20. Batak Museum
TB. Silalahi
Center

21. Batak Museum
 Six pictures of traditional cloth from 6
puak (clan) of Bataknese people
 Yes, there is Toraja traditional house in
there.

22. Tarutung

23. Govt. of Tarutung

24. Sitorang & Silaen

25. Huta Bagasan Janji Maria

26. Huta Bagasan Janji Maria
 Very old houses, with original paint.
No re-paint at all.
 Many ornaments has been stolen.
 The house in the middle has singa-singa
which shaped like an elephant’s face.

27. …suddenly..
Hey, brother, brother, take a
picture of us… Please..!!
Could you say “NO”
to those faces?
Yeah, me too 
Huta Bagasan Janji Maria

28. Tourism Village Jangga Dolok

29. Tourism Village Jangga Dolok
 The roof still made from “ijuk”.
 There is a house which has no gorga. The old
lady (the household) has no enough money to
held the rituals.
 On left and right side of the houses, there are
some army and hero figures combined with
Gorga.

30. Balige
Trade
Center
6 buildings
with different
Gorga!
Some people
say, those
buildings
represent 6 of
something of
Bataknese.

33. 1. Raja Sidabutar I (400+ years)
2. Raja Sidabutar II (300 + years)
3. Raja Sidabutar III (100 + years
4. The bones of soldiers who
died in a war.

35. 1. Raja Na Ualu : the gestures representing
rain dance.
2. Court Stone Chair
3. The statue of guards protecting the court.
4. Raja Sidabutar VII tomb
5. Many statues remain unknown.

36. D O N E !!

37. Terima Kasih

38. …no title
 Luckily, when
heading back home, I
was not charged for
having extra
baggage, though
carrying gigas
instead of kilos.
 Sometimes, got too
much coffee because
of the hospitality of
the locals.
 Hospitality of
Nusantara people
won’t make you
bored.. 

39. Interested?
• Identify the objects you’d like to observe. It
has to be a traditional culture.
• Usually the objects scattered to many areas.
Therefore, gather information about the
locations and try to make your journey map.
• Make sure you have at least one contact
person that could guide you in those
locations.
• Wrap this into a proposal, and then send it to
us at office@budaya-Indonesia.org