Taman Cadika Medan - My Favorite Place Back Then, But It Has Changed A Lot

Hey Hive community fam around the world!
Super stoked to finally be back to say hi and share a bit of my little journey today. Yesterday afternoon, when the sun was blazing hot and making me sweat buckets, I just dropped off a motorbike passenger in the Johor area, Medan City. Suddenly, my memory drifted to a place I used to frequent a lot, Taman Cadika. It's just a short ride from where I dropped off my passenger. It's wild how time flies, it's been over six years since I last visited. Back then, that place was my favorite escape spot to chill, unwind, and clear my head when it was overloaded.

This Taman Cadika is actually a green open space managed by the Medan City government. A long time ago, every time I visited, the place was always crowded with young people. Some were just chilling and chatting, some were practicing dance, some were jogging slowly in the afternoon, some were photo hunting, creating video content, and even couples being lovey-dovey under the trees. The atmosphere was just so full of life. But this time, it felt really different. When I arrived, the park felt deserted. Maybe it was because I came too fast when the weather was scorching hot, or perhaps this place is no longer a favorite spot for Medan's youth. I could only shake my head and smile to myself. "Wow, times have changed," I murmured in my heart.

As I was about to enter the park, I had to cross a man-made lake via the iconic red bridge. Now, here's the fun part! While walking on that bridge, it felt like it was constantly swaying. If someone crossed it for the first time, they'd surely get nervous. Especially if it was a girl visiting for the first time, she'd usually hold on tight while laughing in fear. When there were many people, the swaying felt even more intense. It's like riding a boat on slightly rough seas. Even after crossing and getting off the bridge, our heads would still feel a bit wobbly for a while. Even I, who's used to it, was still surprised feeling the sensation again after not being here for six years.

Actually, there used to be two bridges in this park to cross the lake. But a few years ago, one of them collapsed. They said it was because too many people were standing on the bridge for selfies and group photos, so it couldn't support the weight. This might also be one of the reasons why Taman Cadika feels deserted now. I learned about this from a viral news report online at the time. Until now, only one bridge remains functional, which is the one near the entrance gate.

Just like before, I immediately explored the park by taking the path that runs along the edge of the man-made lake. The scenery is still lush, the trees grow densely, and the gentle breeze keeps things cool even though the weather is hot.

What's always puzzled me, from way back until now, is why this tree grows right in the middle of the walking path? Although it's still passable, this question remains unanswered. Every time I pass by, I think about it again, it's quite amusing, isn't it?

My favorite part of this park is relaxing under the big trees by the lake. I used to always bring a book from home and then stop by to buy coffee from outside. Reading a book under the shady trees with a glass of coffee felt so comforting. The gentle breeze, the sound of rustling leaves, it just made me want to stay for a long time.Even if I didn't bring a book, I'd still enjoy sitting there. Just watching the small fish swim near the edge of the lake while enjoying the blowing wind. Even now, there are still many young couples happily dating under those trees. But I didn't dare take photos of them, hehehe. I felt too shy, they might think I'm a busybody.

The thing that still annoys me the most is that there are still people who lack environmental awareness. They just carelessly litter wherever they please. Even though trash cans are provided everywhere, well, that's just how it is.

After relaxing by the lake, I continued my walk around the park. Suddenly... "Hey!!! What is this?"I stared in disbelief at two large armored vehicles parked there. What?! Why are there tanks here? It felt like entering a military zone. It's so funny, I was just relaxing, and suddenly I encountered tanks. There were no tanks here before.

After admiring the combat vehicles, I continued walking and found a large football field. As far as I remember, this field didn't exist before. If I'm not mistaken, this place was previously used for paintball and outbound training. Now it has completely transformed into a neat green football field. Maybe it's now used for football school training.

I kept walking and suddenly found a skate park! "Wow, this is so cool!"
Back when I used to come here often, there was nothing like this. I myself used to enjoy skateboarding when I was a teenager, but it was so hard to find a place. There was only one skate park in all of Medan. Now, public places have more of these facilities. It seems skateboarding is trending among young people now. Unlike my era, when only a handful of people played skateboard.

I don't know what this is called, but as far as I remember, this place was often used for dance and acting practice. Usually, students preparing for a show or performance. Sometimes TikTokers also like to create dance content here. It's cool, the place is spacious and open.

This is the last photo I took at Taman Cadika. There used to be a functioning fountain, and little kids loved playing there while watching the small fish swim in it. But now the water doesn't flow anymore, it's deserted, and it looks a bit neglected. It's sad to see.

There are actually many other spots in Taman Cadika that I haven't explored yet. The park is really vast. However, because the weather was scorching hot and burning my skin, making me constantly sweat, I decided to end my little journey for the day. I then headed to the parking lot to get my motorbike to go home. Turns out, many things have changed in this place of memories. Some for the better, some feel deserted, but it still evokes nostalgia. Who knows, maybe next time I'll come back when the weather is more friendly, or even invite friends to hang out together. If you're visiting Medan, come on over to Taman Cadika. You might find your own story here.

Thank you for following my little journey, friends! See you in the next travel story.
Stay cool and take care of the environment! 🌳

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. @louis88 from @ecency, who has provided temporary RC delegation assistance, so that this post can be published.