Thanks to all HRD activists who made this trip a reality. 7th Feb 2009, all 15 of us landed at Husein Sasteranegara Airport Bandung. This was my first trip to Bandung though not my first to Indonesia.
The airport immigration clearance was fast but the luggage collection was real slow. The very limited collection area was overcrowded with passengers and the poor air port staffs kept shouting to keep the curious and anxious passengers away.
“Ayuh Pak! Ayuh Buk! Mundur Pak! Mundur Buk!....”
The local guide, soft spoken, handsome PAK AGUS, picked us and soon all of us were on the PARAWISATA BUS heading for the TANGKUBAN PRAHU, about 1.5 hour ride out of the city. It didnt’t take long for us to realize the poor living conditions for some of the people here as it was pretty obvious in the journey 5 minute from the airport.
Stopped for lunch at Sunda Restaurant BALIBU, a short form for BAWAH LIMA BULAN . Served with appetizing meals of IKAN KALOI GORENG. The irony part was, the KALOI was served standing! Hj Kam, Lin’s dad surrended to the appeal of a street trader and parted his Rp 100,000 for the Angklung.
Tangkuban Prahu (Inverted Sampan) was the main tourist attraction in bandung. The weather was cool , and the strong breeze chilled us further. The KAWAH RATU was still smoky while the smell of sulphur was pretty strong. The beautiful place was however marred by hundreds of streets traders who sold almost everything you could think off. I know that have to do that to earn a living but their presence, in large numbers, coupled with their endless and continuous persistence , was really a nuisance. Regardless, I surrended to one of them for the Angklung at Rp 50,000
Descending, we stopped at the SARI ATER HOT SPRING for s short break. Almost every one stepped into the hot water, the hottest spot at 40 ‘C. This place was one of the week end destination for people from Jakarta. The ice cream tiga rasa was delicious though.
Back to Bandung city, the first FACTORY OUTLET was the batik centre. Can’t remember the name but Angah and Umi shopped till drop here. The ladies batik was real good and cheap. However design for men wasn’t that good. I always fancied Malaysian Batik. Those at Buluh Kubu were far attractive. Anyway, grabbed a pair of Batik Shirt for me since Aji Zu said “alang alang udah sampe..beli aja pak!” I was poorer by Rp 2.5 million here! Lin chided on the bus by saying “waduh waduh Pak Sob....bare pit stop pertama, enjin belum panas, tapi udah berbelanja besar!
Second factory out let was GRANDE, the long awaited spot, famous since TNB KOOP first promoted this. I was quite anxious as I always thought that these textiles were like those from Thailand or China, IMITATION. Back home, I was telling Zana, I don’t go for imitation product. Better go for unbranded, rather imitation branded. Walked into GRANDE and posh!!!!!! it was full of Arrow, POLO, CK (bukan my big boss aaaa...) and what ever. Everyone was so crazy. Grabbed a pair of HUGO jeans here ...Was looking for Levis but Pak Agus said it would be elsewhere.
The iterinary for the day ended with the delicious dinner at PADANG RESTAURANT. Superb meal. Was sharing table with bachelor boy Dhar. Warned him but surprised to see him biting, chewing and swallowing the “rendang daging sapi” . Innocently told him that it was beef and he smilingly said “yeah I know...why complicate life???” Mmmm.... a lesson learnt!Photos
By the way every time we were off or about to get on the bus, not a single minute we were spared of the street traders. Some of us, by now, already beginning to get the feel of the value of the Rp against RM were already parting away their money for the street traders.
I thought the day was over when each of us was checked in at PERDANA WISATA HOTEL. The body was weak and the eyes were heavy and ready to land when Umi, Angah and me discovered that the triple room allocated to us was actually a standard double room! Went down to the reception and was told that triple room was more expensive and I need to top up! Adrenalin began to flow. Called the IBU KEPALA , Lin who came down and spoke to the receptionist and Pak Agus (who was in different hotel). Finally we were given room 621, a triple room. Angah ,Lin and me proceeded to the room only to find the key not working! Hah! By now I was already the SARI ATER HOT SPRING!!! Lin called the reception again and I rang the room door bell. All of a sudden the door sprang open and out came Pak Dhar in his kain sarung, with Pak Hani his roommate grinning on the bed! How could we be given an occupied room? By now SARI ATER already turned into the volcano of KAWAH RATU TANGKUBAN PRAHU. I would have erupted if not for Lin to pacify me“ Bapak...sabar ya Bapak....kita ini kan di negeri orang ya Bapak.....”
Down at the counter, I let Angah and Lin did the talking. I just hold my breath. Apparently the poor receptionist gave us the right key with the wrong label. It was meant for ROOM 631 but was labelled as ROOM 621 , which was Pak Dhar’s. Luckily , Pak Dhar and Pak Hani were not involved in any activities when we disturbed them. Walked past Aji Zu’s room and heard nothing unusual though on my way to ROOM 631. That ends my day one in this highland BANDUNG
