On The Road... Bandung, Indonesia: My Crater Tour!

From what started as a great day filled with anticipation and excitement, I did not expect it to end in the way it did! Four stops showed me a crater with its own lake, tea plantations, sulphur mud baths and strawberry treats but let's unpack the go-karting because that was hectic! Bandung was about to pop off and I was not ready, she needed to take the wheel, I'm no driver! 

These early mornings were killing me but I wanted to squeeze every single bit out of my time in Bandung, I needed to carry on, regardless of the consequences! Leaving Bandung, I had bitten the bullet by chasing the small group tour because the price was right. I'm not a group person but when in Rome! Those hotel pick ups were reductive, I didn't appreciate wasting that time but that was the name of the game! My 'Crater Tour' had around five stops, I was most looking forward to seeing the lake but those heights aren't my bag! There was a suspension bridge that I had confirmed I would walk across, that was another choice! In the beginning, adventure sounded like a plan! Driving about 31 miles out of Bandung's centre, those lush greener settings were in full view, it was giving 'Jurassic Park Realness!' Viator had hooked me up with one heck of an adventure, staying in Bandung the night before saved the two hour journey from Jakarta! Thinking about it, that early start wasn't all that bad, those Malaysia days had taught me! Sure! 

Heading towards 'Kawah Putih Lake', our first stop of the day was going to test my agility and inherent fear of heights! Scaling the first incline was fine, I was crushing those volcanic crater steps, ascending higher and higher! Was I crazy? Quite, possibly so! 'Mount Pathua' was doing the most, I stood in a comfortable spot to marvel at the unstoppable views over the crater from what felt like the 'top of the world!' I went as far as I felt like going, the view was enough for me as I stood at the top, I wish that stringent thought process remained because you'll find out soon otherwise! Making my way down, the other people in the group were daring enough to see what was on the other side of the crater, I wasn't. I headed down to the car park because I wanted to find some food and set my feet upon firm ground. Don't get me wrong, the views were worth the climb, I regulated my fears and decided to call it a day. I felt content with what I saw! That height was just a warm up! I wanted something to eat, breakfast did not happen that morning! 

Bandung put the kettle on, babs!? After descending from the crater on 'Mount Pathua', I spent some time taking it easy beside those Indonesian tea plantations. I love a good 'cuppa' but didn't realise how serene and peaceful that plantation looked! Another one? Yes, after seeing tea plantations in China and Malaysia, I wanted to make it a hat-trick because three is the 'magic number!' I got my snaps, soaked in that view and took it easy, I found a snack vendor who sold me an instant coffee and a serving of Indomie. Simple those morning snacks were, I appreciated their presence because the lunch time wasn't quite happening yet. I found a log to sit on, it gave me the perfect view of those endless and rolling tea plantations, no tourist insight! Real talk, a few factors had taken me to Indonesia and one of those wasn't choice, that SE Asian country chose me because she knew life was serving foolishness at that point! There greener views I had imagined for that summer were in Mexico but life works in strange ways! How's that kettle, BB?

Reunited with the guide/driver and the others in the group, it was time to see the crater lake before moving on. I was more comfortable with the level the lake sat at, people were doing their thing and I wasn't mad. I got talking to some people in the group who were also from England. They had been using their annual leave and needed to fly long haul to reach Indonesia, I felt smug! My flight from Shanghai to Jakarta had only been 6 hours, I hadn't time for the four English girls who were travelling Asia, they had recently been in the Philippines. It gave 'I paid for this trip from my trust fund!' The lake? Yes, those waters felt warm with the volcanic nature of the lake, I was sure I could smell sulphur but was that the stench from the next stop? The lake definitely gave off its own fragrance one way or another. The radioactive blue waters, they looked like a whole different colour, it was a body of water like no other I had clocked in a long while! The morning had been an experience, the afternoon would be serving! 'I'm A Celeb?' No!

Bandung's 'Rengannis Suspension Bridge' was about to make me feel like a campmate on 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' The level of daring I was feeling that day was off the chain and in the end, it wouldn't bring any lasting good! Still reading? I just needed to keep looking ahead and from side to side, keeping the pace would be fine because the bridge would have an end to it! Was I nervous? I was not in a good way but knew that I needed to challenge myself because being comfortable and passing up something daring wouldn't be the mood for the day. Indonesia had me acting the fool! Spacing was crucial, keeping away from people on the bridge would ensure no unsteadiness would be felt. I didn't have an attachment attached to the bridge, I needed to rely on god and in that moment I was a believer! I didn't look down but the views that surrounded me were unmistakable. The dip in the middle and the incline at the ends were off the chain, I had serious tunnel vision because that my coping mechanism! C, 370 metres it was! 

Making it across that suspension bridge felt like a miracle had just taken place, I needed to keep in mind a trip in the opposite direction was needed! The sulphur baths weren't for me, I didn't want to get wet nor did I see any towels for rent. I had not taken any of these things with me, it wasn't something I wanted to indulge in. The irony was, I didn't think the pools looked safe, it wasn't giving relaxation at all. I waited for the time to cross back over the bridge because that would take my last bit of courage. Lunch was nice, it was served in an elevated cafe/restaurant, conversations were had, it was necessary to keep the pace of the day moving. The pace of the day was going by well, I had passed the halfway point but the shade was about to greet me before sunset had even arrived! Thus far, I had climbed up a crater, been gagged by the sulphuric smells from those water sources and traversed across a whole suspension bridge! Safety precautions? There were none! Travel insurance? I didn't know her! Better the devil? Yes and?

Noah's Park? Noah needed to demolish that park because aside from the lovely lake views it did serve, a little thing called 'Health & Safety' was none-existent! I will hold my hands up high, I made the choice to sit in that go-kart but raggedy they looked, it was a whole choice! Looking like they needed a whole refit and warning, I almost felt like I was frog-marched into doing this activity, there was no backing out. In retrospect, I had every chance to back out but we hadn't even been told that this was the next activity, it just happened. I hurtled down the course, it was petrifying, I am not adding unnecessary dramatics because it was truly unhinged. I got to the final corner, with tremendous speed I tried to slow the kart down and mitigate any calamity! My helmet saved my head but as my go-kart totalled on the final corner I was in shock! Bruised and battered, adrenaline saw me pick myself back up and tend to my wounds! I was quick to react, I wanted to speak to the manager! Karen didn't have nothing on me! Viator was informed!

Before the pre-Bandung strawberry stop added some emergency sweetness to my nosedive of a day, I was about to let 'Noah's Park' have it! I made it my mission for my wounds and grazes to be seen to, they needed to be sanitised at whatever cost! It was a whole choice, both parties needed to reflect, safety wasn't their concern and travel insurance or lack of it was mine. I needed a drink to calm my nerves! A man gave me a can or two of Bintang, I needed something to take the edge off that 'dangerous experience!' I worked on a refund and didn't wait around to speak to the manager, I am not a complainer but when something is so not fit for use, I mean it was 2025! Believe me, Viator had been contacted and my guide/driver was apologetic, I wanted some strawberries! Those strawberries quelled some of the shock from the accident, I had experienced a bit shock! Bandung had done the most, I had a whole trip to navigate, I needed to carry on! Go-kart, she better don't! Viator can stay but Banding needed to sashay away! Preach!

Bandung?...  She Better Don't! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure