Festivals in Samosir Island, Sumatra

The boxing competition is the highlight of the Summer Festival and runs every day for a week. The competitors (mostly boys in their teens) come from as far afield as the Indonesian islands of Papua and Kalimentan and the whole event is taken very seriously by those involved

The Equator lies to the south, about a half day's bumpy ride by bus, but the island's elevation negates the tropical latitude. We were dozing, tucked in sleeping bags, when a rousing chorus of Gloria Hallelujah and O Come All Ye Faithful woke us.