Bandung

Facade of Bank Indonesia Building showing influence of Dutch architectural.

In the late 18th and early 19th century, as locals called it the bandoeng tempo doeloe (old Bandung) era, there were many buildings built with an art-deco style. The city that had served as a weekend resort for European rich men has made these type of buildings possible.

Mosque Cipaganti, Bandung

Modern Architectural of Mosque at Universitas Pendidikan Bandung

Factory Outlets were originally meant for export garment (textile) factories that open a store directly in their area so that they can sell with bargain prices. Fashion shopping and its accessories is the main reason for many weekend travellers from Jakarta, because those items are expensive in Jakarta. Starting with denim (jeans) stores along Jln. Cihampelas in the 90s with unique facades to attract people, fashion stores grow rapidly into sisa exports (rejected export products), then factory outlets, now with the new trend is the distro (distribution outlets). Don’t expect luxury labels, because you can find them in Jakarta.

To attract people, they decorated the store with many styles: the colonial style, an old Chinese dynasty, etc. Some stores even have a small food court.

Rumah Mode

Most of factory outlets are concentrated in Jl. Riau, Jl. Dago (Jl. Ir. H. Juanda) and around Jl.Sukajadi-Jl.Setiabudi area.  Enjoy bargain hunting! Take a careful inspection yourself.  Check for below-standard/damaged items.  Beware also for the fake products with branded name. 

Pasar Baru popular with local and tourist for its variety from food to garment

 
Quiet part of Bandung City

Sunda is the ethnic name of the local people living in West Java. Sundanese food has some distinctive features than other ethnics. It mainly consists of fried fish, pepes ikan (steamed fish in a banana leaf), raw vegetables and chili pastes. To try these type of foods, there are numerous Sundanese restaurants. Some with famous name has many branches in Bandung and the vicinity.

I have the best fish soup over here

Street hawker preparing food.  Do you want to taste it.

Bandung is a heaven for food lovers who enjoy new experiences. There are a lot of varieties, not only local cuisine but international ones. You can find any food you want for any kind of taste.

Everybody has their own favourites. One page is not enough to list all food stalls, food courts, restaurants and cafes in Bandung. Here are some lists of foood that are popular and you like to taste it such as Batagor, Bakso Tahu/Siomay, Martabak, Soto Bandung, Lotek, Mie Kocok, Mie Ayam, Nasi Timbel, Oncom Bandung and many others.

Border landmark between Bandung City and West Bandung

Strawberry Park and its strawberry

Flying fox at Strawberry Park

This man preparing grilled glutinous rice

You may find many stalls selling corn grilled on charcoal.  They are very creative as you can taste it with many falvour like butter and salt or even with chilli sauce.

mamadou

Tangkuban Perahu

Tangkuban Perahu, or Tangkuban Parahu in local Sundanese dialect, is an active volcano. Located in Lembang, this place just 30 km north of the city and only within 30 minutes drive from Bandung (when the traffic is light). Its location is in between Sagalaherang village, Sagalaherang district, Subang regency and Cikole village, Lembang district, Bandung regency. Tangkuban Prahu is actually a volcanic mountain.

The shape resembles an upturned boat, hence, the name. It is a popular tourist attraction where tourists can hike or ride to the edge of the crater to view the hot water springs upclose, and buy eggs cooked on its hot surface. This stratovolcano is on the island of Java and last erupted in 1983. Tangkuban Prahu in Sundanese means, more or less, upturned boat. There is a legend involved in the creation of this mountain.

View surrounding of Tangkuban Perahu

It is said that long time ago, there was a couple very much in love. They had a son called Sangkuriang. For some reason, the husband couldn’t walk around in his true form, so he was forced to assume the form of a dog. Sangkuriang loved the dog very much. One day, Dayang Sumbi, Sangkuriang’s mother, felt like eating a deer’s heart. Sangkuriang tried to hunt for a deer, in vain. In desperation, he killed the dog and took the dog’s heart to his mother. Dayang Sumbi, finally realising that the dog had died, became extremely angry. He hit Sangkuriang, causing a wound on his forehead. Sangkuriang then fled, living somewhere else.

Years had passed and Sangkuriang had grown into a fine young lad. Dayang Sumbi was as beautiful as ever. Sangkuriang met Dayang Sumbi then fell in love, not realizing that she was actually his mother. Dayang Sumbi shared the same affection, until she noticed the scar on Sangkuriang’s forehead. Convinced that she had found her lost son, Dayang Sumbi refused Sangkuriang’s marriage proposal. Sangkuriang persisted, so Dayang Sumbi asked him to build a big ship during the night. She thought Sangkuriang wouldn’t be able to finish this task. She was wrong; dawn was near, and the ship was almost complete. Dayang Sumbi then tricked the roosters to crow earlier, so Sangkuriang would think that the time was up. Sangkuriang was fooled.

In bitter anger he kicked the the dam and the unfinished boat, resulting in severe flooding and the creation of Tangkuban perahu from the hull of the boat.  The ship then turned into a mountain.

Tangkuban Perahu

Travel Tips:

• The smell of sulphur is quite strong, so those of you who cannot stand it should bring a handkerchief or similar things to cover their noses.
• Be firm in refusing an unwanted peddlar. Some peddlars and merchants can be quite pushy.
• Bring a jacket or sweater. The temperature in this place is quite cool.

At the foot of Mt. Tangkuban Perahu we see the Ciater tea plantation covering the rolling hills. Farther to the left are the northern coastal plains of Java, and on an extremely clear day we may even be able to see the Java Sea beyond.

mamadou

Aerial View of Bandung

Bandung, the capital of West Java province, located about 180 km southeast of Jakarta, is the fourth largest city in Indonesia.  Located in the central highlands at an altitude of 768m, the city is known for its many universities, textile industry and many roadside cafes.  Called Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) by the Dutch, its high altitude location makes the weather pleasantly cool.  The city lies on a river basin and surrounded by volcanic mountains.

Thanks to all of this, Bandung is a very popular weekend escape for Jakartans, who crowd into the city on weekends and national holidays.

With over 2.9 million population in 2007 and over 7.2 million people on the greater Bandung regency & metropolitan area, it’s one of the most densely populated city in Asia. It’s rated the fastest-growing major city / urban region in Indonesia. 

Bandung’s nickname is Kota Kembang, literally meaning the Flower City. The term is created because Bandung used to have a lot of flowers.

Bandung economy is mainly built upon tourism, manufacturing, textile/apparel, education institutions, technology, retail, services, financial, pharmaceutical, food, among others. Bandung has nearly 50 higher educational institutions and is among the most popular destination for education in Indonesia. Among the several state universities located in Bandung, Institut Teknologi Bandung (Bandung Institute of Technology), Universitas Padjadjaran (University of Padjadjaran), and Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

Bandara Husein Sastranegara, Bandung

I travelled to Bandung in April 2009 immediately after the Indonesia Election Day 2009.  When about to land our flight aborted the landing and circled the Husein Sastranegara Airport, Bandung twice without apparent reason.  Thats gives me ample time to capture these images.

mamadou