29 November, 2007

Bandung, Jakarta-Indonesia


We travelled to Jakarta on Air Asia during Nov 2007 school holidays. Me, the wife and two younger child. In Jakarta we stayed 2 nights with a relative Fakrul +Zila and their 3 children at Pondok Indah. They drove us to a mosque with a gold plated dome. Inside the dome, they have beautiful paintings of the sky.
Me and the wife did shoppings at JCC (macam KLCC lar), Pondok Indah Mall, Tanah Abang & Magga Dua. After 2 days we took a van to Bandung.

Fakhrul Home in Pondok Indah
Masjid Kubah Emas

We spent 3 nights at a self service apartment at Ciumbuileit. We rented a chauferred driven van for the next 4 days. We use the service of Pak Tam during the stay to shop and sightseeing. Pak Tam owned 3 cars. He drove us throughout our stay. Pak Tam is a devout Muslim. He crack jokes everyn ow and then which make s our travell full of fun.

Day 1:
During the first day upon arrival from Jkarta, we walk and shop along Chehamplus Road. This stretch of road is the safest in the world since it has Superman, Batman, Rambo, Spiderman and Tarzan perching from the rooftop and the facade. Since it was already late, we only manage to scout along the main road window shopping. We went back to the apartment and rest for the night. We cook our own dinner.


Day 2:
On the second day we visited the famous volcanic site at Tankuban Perahu. It was very scenic mountain view of the dormant volcano. However it still spew sulphur which boils hot down below. We spent about an hour taking photos. There are lots of peddlers selling souveniors. We were advised by our driver not to entertain them or we'll end up harrassing by them.
Tankuban Perahu
Hot water spring
Sapu Lidi
Menu Kampung Daun
Sapu Lidi

On the way down we stop over at the hotwater spring. The water originated from Tangkuban Perahu. As it was lunch time, we asked the driver to take us to an eating outlet called Sapu Lidi. The place was recommended by some traveller in the internet. The restaurant is Gazebo-type outlet lies in the padi fields. It was worth visiting. The food was good and the environment is extremely amazing. Since it was closed to town, we went shopping at the factory outlet. Later we went for dinner at another place recommended by friend from Jakarta.

Sapu Lidi
Sapu Lidi

Known as Kampung Daun, the restaurant perched on the hillslope terrace blended among the trees and waterfalls. The weather was cool that we had to put on light blazer. The environment is as good as Sapu Lidi. However this time the backdrop is the hillside with sound of water flowing. The food is equivalently as good as the lunch we had earlier.

Day 3:
Kebun Teh
Kawah Putih, Ciwidey
Kebun Teh
Tasek ?

On the third day we went outside Bandung City to see the countryside. We visited another volcano site called Tasik Putih. It was about one hour drive from the hotel. Over here we had the opportunity to trek down to the lakes since  there were no more sulphur emission from the volcano. Later we drove to a Lake resort. which was 10 minutes away.Along the way we passed by tea plantation similar to Cameroon Highland but it  was very much bigger here. They have plenty of water activities at the lake. We had drink at one of the stalls there to try out the local delicacies.
On the way back we stop over at the strawberry plantation and picked  some. By the time we reach Bandung it was still early and we did more shopping. Every one bought lots of branded clothes. My wife as usual go for the handbags and purse.
We stop at one of the sea food restaurant for dinner.

Day 4:
We packed up ready to return to KL. To ensure we do not carry excess baggage, each luggage are weighed using bathroom scale that we brought along. On the way to the airport, we stopover at Kartika Sari to buy local delicacies to bring home. We flew out from Bandung on Air Asia to KL.