Quiz: Where in the world is Madina?

I told someone I was going to Madina, and he was shocked. He thought I'd converted and gone to do Haj.

FYI, Madina is Mandailing-Natal, a district broken off from the South Tapanuli of old. It borders West Sumatra, so it's in that limbo state where nothing really unique, everything's kinda bland. At least that's a first impression as you go pass it by on the Trasn-Sumatra. But stop and head into the mountains a little bit, and you come across terraced paddy fields rivaling that of Ubud in Bali. Even lovelier for the dramatic enclosure of the mountains and the little whiff of fog on top them mountains. And the streams! I keep daydreaming of rafting the waters between green mountains and paddy fields...

The pristine state of the forests is further underlined by local stories of folks coming face-to-face (or face to butt) with TIGERS! Imagine! in general these kings of the (local) jungle don't bother people or livestock, only uses the villages as their travelling path. Excellent.

Food? How about trapped deer in hot sauce, with piping hot rice and super crunchy shrimp crackers? Supper!

Ah, and don't forget the coffee. I'm not connoiseur, but Mandailing coffee is reputedly the best in the world. If only there's a nice bakery nearby, and internet is available, I'd move out there. You know, for a month or two. With lots of books.