Rollin' On The River... Indonesia: Bandung's Cikapundung!

From arrival to departure, my time spent within Bandung certainly wasn't boring! Small but mighty this Java city was, Bandung kept things active considering those hushed first impressions. Rollin' on what river? I could focus on the drama but this waterway was my first point of reference! Bandung's 'Cikapundung River' rolled back around like life does the same, B! 

My journey from Jakarta had been fairly long but I had set off during the early morning, I only needed one day to check out Bandung before my crater-inspired tour started. Phew! Bandung's own railway station was located fairly close to the centre, I had done extensive 'pre-trip research' to ensure that I would take in something scenic before I ended up at my 'Braga Street' located hotel. Bandung unmistakably served an European charm with winding cutesy roads adorned with flowing trees and aesthetic Art-Deco buildings. Dubbed as 'Parijs van Java' by the Dutch, this once sleepy settlement had been fashioned by the ruling Dutch during their time. I knew that I wanted to locate the 'Gedung Sate' but nothing more had been on my radar. I was taken aback by those chilled roads, the lack of towering structures reminded me of home, there was a sense of community with those houses near the train station. Those trees helped me hide from the blazing sun! Keeping my eyes on the prize, I tried to not focus on my tiredness, I needed life! 

Acting as a chilled playground away from 'Jakarta/Batavia', the railway connection made it accessible for this town to be expanded with a bougie energy in mind. Now, I am no historian but as I walked along those streets I felt as if I was back in my home continent of Europe with an Indonesian twist. I had to check my maps for a second, it was giving relaxed and familiar but I knew that wouldn't be the defining mood. Jakarta had been an attack on my senses, the roads in Bandung were controlled and chilled, crossing saved me from confirming my last rights! Lunch was most definitely on my mind but I didn't see many places open as I slowly headed towards the 'Gedung Sate'. I had already checked on instagram, a sweet or savoury 'Baby Dutch Pancake' needed to get into my life before I left for Jakarta the day after next! I was on something different, it wasn't quite the relaxed walk I had imagined because I had those pavements passing by with the quickness! Don't ever forget, it's called not 'Bandeong' anymore! B, I stayed curious! 

I've been forgetful! Bandung has a river running through its core? Yes, I literally walked across it after leaving the boundary of the train station! Please, I don't want me and Bandung to have a problem with each other! I will say her name, Bandung's overlooked water goes by the name, Cikapundung! Forgiven me, already? I was dazed from the previous nights broken sleep but I had walked over 35 minutes in order to find the governmental home of 'West Java'. Those pavements and properties near the Gedung Sate were giving more than just a manicured nature, it was very evident to see! Completed in 1924, this Neo-classically designed government building was also inspired by native Hindu-Buddhist native Indonesian elements in mind. These facts are important to recount, I was sleep walking and did not know in the moment but I do now! A former seat within the 'Dutch East Indies', its new chapter allowed a museum to be opened in part of the buildings. I didn't see the museum, I thought I knew better! Choices! Believe me, B?

I got my photos in order, I did not have time to play with! Actually, I'm just being extra because a lot of time to play with before I could check-into my hotel room on Braga Street! I appreciated the view of the Gedung Sate with photos of the red sign snapped from a central point of view. I noticed that the area behind the sign was accessible by the public but I already had my steps half mapped out. This landmark resembled a satay skewer? Yes, the 'central pinnacle' is said to look like an Indonesian skewer, one of the nations most famous dishes. Where would I head to next? I was famished by that point but didn't see the point to waste my Rupiah currency on a bougie lunch time order! I walked some more, I initially wanted to try a 'Panekuk' but Google Maps gaslight me until the point I couldn't tolerate those pointless routes. I chose to cool down and refuel at a 'Circle K' convenience store because I knew Braga Street had already made evening reservations for me! The heat of the afternoon was no joke, how I needed some air conditioning! 

The heat of the day and the lack of lunch saw me hailing a Grab directly to 'Braga Street!' I was confused about the name 'Braga' because isn't that from the Portuguese language? I knew where I was exactly because my hotel was located on the same road, I needed to keep my eyes on the prize because hotel check-in was on my mind! Braga Street was alive, people were walking down this street in every direction and the architecture did not lie because Dutch style buildings were all around! After dropping my things and freshening up, I headed back to check out the road to check out 'Asia-Afrika Street' where I saw a plethora of Dutch Art-Deco buildings, straight out of Europe they looked like! Was I really in Indonesia? Those maps were checked! Truly, the Dutch had fashioned 'Braga' with their own European style, the former name of 'Asia-Afrika Street' was in fact, 'De Groote Postweg/The Great Post Road'. I was getting hungry, I wanted to catch the last glimpse of daylight along Braga Street. A 'Heineken' logo? Yes! Jakarta had left me thirsty! 

Dusk had set in, I walked along Braga Street with my evening meal on my mind, scouring menus as I went forwards. 'Wortel?' I remembered watching 'Drag Race Holland' because a certain 'Worteltaart/Carrot Cake' had been mentioned in the lipsync! My manic Drag Race memory comes in handy in every walk of life! The Dutch had really imprinted on Bahasa Indonesia! No, I didn't want any carrots! I decided upon a swish looking restaurant that looked like a converted bank. I knew that the place would be dry, I respected that Halal nature but surely a beer with my evening meal wouldn't offend the whole place? The food served was nice, I had to make do with some non-alcoholic drinks and if truth be told it was difficult to manage that enforced sobriety! After my meal I did find a bar, with my tour the next day, I was mindful to only have the three pints. I had done my math, that had been for nothing because the menu advertised a false price. I was not pleased, that was a choice! With a long day ahead of me, sleep was needed. For sure!

Let's fast forward to the following evening, my tour had ended with a bump and a bang! My injuries weren't life threatening but I was lucky, let's unpack that drama in the next blog post. Anyhow, after I had bathed my wounds, I needed something comforting to eat. I ordered myself a 'Baby Dutch Pancake' with the quickness because it was what I needed, something sweet to cure the shock because finding a beer wasn't on the cards! I longed for somewhere liberal! I devoured this takeaway bowl of deliciousness, choosing the strawberry filled pancake with chocolate sauce was a winner! I couldn't get over how much this sweet treat resembled a Yorkshire pudding! It was so strange to be eating a sweet style Yorkshire pudding even though it was marketed as a 'Baby Dutch Pancake!' Being later on, I chose to drink a lemonade because hydration was needed over caffeination! It felt correct that, I had managed to get a 'Baby Dutch Pancake' before leaving Bandung! A goodnights sleep was needed, I had Bogor moves to make! 

In the end everything comes to an end, I woke very early the day after my tour for my Jakarta bound train. Why had I not planned a direct train down to Yogyakarta, I had decided to visit Bogor after arriving back into Jakarta. My 06:35 a.m. train from Bandung to Jakarta got me to into Gambir before 10:00 a.m., allowing me to pivot as quick as I could. I barely slept before my train back to Jakarta, you know that I had a glorious nap knowing that the terminal station was mine! With scenic views, small houses and a very lively walking street, Bandung certainly wasn't boring! The injury that will be revealed wasn't fun, nor did it make the next two stops of my trip comfortable but it was a moment that I learned I can handle a lot during my solo trips. Bandung tested my resourcefulness but most definitely the lack of alcohol was starting to get to me! Onwards to Bogor, I knew that making my own plan for that first day and second evening in Bandung would be a winner! Bandung had gotten me good, how I needed Yogyakarta already! 

Rough Waters? Yes! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure