Mother's Day Bandung and Jakarta Trip

Thanks to "Lonely Planet SEA on a Shoestring', I'm able to get myself a vacation at the most preferable vacation places besides Yogyakarta + Bali. Anywy let's proceed with the stories shall we?

This vacation was set to bring my mum as a mother's day vacation for her. So we set early the trip was set 2 weeks earlier which we booked Air Asia that costs RM675 per person (KL-Bandung, Jakarta-KL). Our flight was delayed from 1130hrs to 1440hrs. Anywy it was kinda waste since we can cover a few places there. Well dats ok thou, at least we can still fly there.

Bandara Husein Sastranegara, Bandung Airport

 So the trip from KL to Bandung took around 2 1/2 hours, we arrived @ Bandara Hussein Sastranegara Bandung Airport. Please take note that the transportation there are quite difficult unless you get yourself a taxi which will not be using meters. Bandung's Airport is 4km northwest to the city centre.

Hotel Mutiara at the central of Bandung

The place that we stayed is Hotel Mutiara Bandung which was a 3 star hotel which is located @ Jalan Kebun Kawong. There's a lot of food stalls or "rumah makan" which is a smaller version of a restaurant plus cheaper prices compare to a restaurant. There's a lot of Nasi Padang menus and their special local Sundanese cuisine which is called Nasi Timbel (steamed rice packed wit banana leaf). Usually they'll eat it dry with a few additional foods such as grilled chicken/fish + vegies.)

After we checked in, we proceed on touring the town area which we stopped by at their train station which connecting from Bandung to Jakarta. There's 2 types of trains to choose which is called Agro Gede (Executive class only costs Rp45,000) and Parahyangan (Executive Rp35,000 or Business Rp20,000). After we bought 2 Executive tickets for Parahyangan coach, we proceed walking to a nearby big building which we thought it was a shopping mall. Walking across their busy roads, full of feeder van called Angkutan Kota which just da same as our feederbus.

Once we arrived there, there's not much to do which actually the building was a big market called Pasar Baru. we turned back and find a place to have our dinner which we stopped by at a small Rumah Makan that offers Nasi Padang cuisine. We were so tired and rest for the next day whole trip at Tangkuban Perahu.

Tangkuban Perahu or "Overturned boat" releasing poison gas

Tangkuban Perahu is located 30km north of Bandung, which means "overturned boat" in English. This is a place where the famous volcano called Kawah Ratu (Queen Crater) located. There are total of 4 crater there but the other 3 was hidden and the main crater, Ratu which is the largest. There're also poison smoke which comes out from the crater.  Last explosion recorded was on 1969 which dust covered whole Bandung town area. There're 2 options to choose if you would like to go which either using cab or Angkutan Kota. For Angkutan Kota, there're total of 3 vans that need to be taken just to arrive there.

There're a small amount of entry fee that you need to pay, costs around Rp20,000 is payable once arrival. This cost consists of transport which in our situation we took cab, entry fee and insurance. The road condition was really bad so there're not much cars going up unless tour buses or local motorbikes. Once arrived halfway of the mountain, busses are prohibited to proceed which they will have take a van to continue their journey to the top.

There're a lot of sellers selling merchandise and souvenirs on top. Beware of these sweet talkers which sometimes they won't giveup that easily. Proof? They walked with us along 4km jungle tracking route just to sell a bunny fur bag~ strange huh? This is because they just work once a week plus on that 01 day, they need to get as much money as they can since they need to work on shifts.

Me and our local guide, Ceced

We've been approached by a local tourist guide which his name is Ceced, 22 years old, married with 1 child. Unbelivable huh? Anyway he approached us and told us about the route and history of Tangkuban Perahu. You're also may choose to walk by yourself if you already have the experience through the tracks. Their service charge will cost Rp300,000 per hour. It'll be more if there're big crowds especially Westerners, Koreans @ Japanese.

Green sceneries along the jungle tracking trail

The route is nicely done which it's surrounded by a lot of trees. The guide will inform about a few special plants along da way. After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at the hot spring area. There's a small hut selling souvenirs made of volcano stones, even volcano mud for skin treatment.

Souvenirs from the volcano stones are being sold at the stalls

Another small hut selling raw eggs and also beverages. You can buy the eggs and bring it to the hot spring and boil it. We bought 2 eggs, boiled it for at least 15 minutes and it eat fresh, very nice indeed, hehe~ In the meantime, we had our rest and put our legs inside 1 of its hotspring pool where there are a total of 3 pool which da 1st is 100 degree celsius, 45, and 40. Even the locals helped us to massage our legs with volcano mud. The mud need to be dried before you can wash them. It's a natural 'cream' to help remove dried skin, and those who have skin problems.

Sulphur stones which shines brightly under the sun

I then follow our guide since he introduced me to a place where shining rocks like crystal were produced naturally. It's called sulphur, kind of yellowish and sparkled under the sun. I got lucky since he helped me to get another 2 rocks. We proceed our way to the parking area which our cab is waiting for us.

On the way back to the hotel, we dropped by at a local restaurant which offers local cuisine called Nasi Timbel. Once you arrive, you need to choose your side dishes for them to heat it up. Then you can proceed on order for drinks and they'll give you your table number. After a while, they'll bring a cup of hot chinese tea, a bowl of water to wash your hand, and Nasi Timbel with a plate. Then you can have your dinner after the heaten side dishes was sent over to you in a few minutes. The price was affordable which we can save spending on their food. Bandung also famous with their steamed brownies with the brand Amanda. You can find them being sold everywhere along the street. There're also a famous bakery shop called Kartika Sari just

located along the road.

Cihampelas Walk

Spiderman figures

Terminator, Goku and Bruce Lee

After we had shower, we proceed to Jalan Cihampelas at their famous trademark as Jeans Street which you can see a lot of famous figure statues such as Superman, Spiderman, Son Goku, Rambo etc was everywhere along the street. There are a lot of appearals sold there with a lot of designs that you can choose. We proceed straight to Cihampelas Walk where there are Rip Curl sale was going on. I'm kind of lucky since they offer big discounts on all of its items. I bought a flip flop and a short which just costs me around Rp70,000. After a few walk around the area, we proceed to the nearest shopping mall at our hotel area called Istana Plaza. It's just the same as our local shopping mall, not much to do here besides walking around looking for cute Bandung chicks. hehe~

Train coach view on Business Class

Hill Paddy view from the train

We called it a day since we need to wakeup early and proceed our way to the train station to Jakarta. The next morning, we proceed to the train station which will head us to Jakarta to continue our trip. The station was normal, not much different from us. The train is just the same as our local KTM. Journey from Bandung to Jakarta was estimated around 3 hours but during the trip, they often stop at stations so it took us around 5 hours. You can also opt to use shuttle busses which will take you around 2 hours by using highways to Jakarta. I can't sleep during the whole journey since I really enjoyed the scenery along the way. For Executive Class, they offer fried rice and juice for sale. They gave every passenger a box which include choco bread and mineral water.

We arrived @ Gambir Station, Jakarta which my expectation was like KL Sentral but I was wrong. The place was really out of my expectation. There's a few changes that the government should do to protect their main public transportation.

We then proceed with a cab to our hotel called Ibis Tamarin located at Thamrin Road. After check in and have a shower, we proceed on walking just around the corner. There's a cyber cafe so I don't missed to check my emails and Friendster (that time) as well, hehe~ Anywy we just walked around to check what do they offer for all the tourists here, not much thou, just food stalls, shops, etc. We then proceed back to hotel to get a rest for tomorrows 'adventure'.

Gondangdia Station with "no door train" view

The next morning after we took our breakfast, we directly walked to the nearest train station called Gondangdia. We took a commuter straight to Kota Station which is nearest to Mangga Dua Mall and Ancol. Ancol is the place where the theme park is. It's kinda horror to see their commuter which have no doors, dis-working fan and lots n I mean LOTS of people. The fare was very cheap of course.

Taman Impian Ancol

Tornado ride

Once we arrived at da last station, Kota, we proceed to Taman Impian Ancol with the local Angkutan Kota. The entry to Taman Impian Ancol costs us Rp20,000 at the main entrance. It consists of housing area, condos, apartments and the theme park itself., Dunia Fantasi. The entry fee for Dunia Fantasi costs us another Rp75,000. Now this is the moment I've been waiting for. The park opens at 1100hrs (which their time is late 1 hour from us). So I proceed to the nearest attraction called Tornado. Tornado is a
ride where you sit and they'll spin like crazy. Too bad it was closed because they are having a shooting there, damn, I've missed that.

Alap-Alap roller coaster

Kicir-Kicir ride

Anywy I then 'warmed up' with a mini roller coaster called Alap-Alap. Since I'm the 1st batch that arrived early, they gave us 5 rounds compare normal 3 rounds, hehe~ lady luck was with me I think ;p Then I proceed with Kicir-Kicir which is a windmill ride, circle and spin like crazy. I kinda laughed when a boy next to me closed his eyes along da ride and the gurls in front of me keep screaming "mati gue!!!" (i'm deadmeat!!!) all the way. haha~ kinda cute thou with their language ;p

The Halilintar roller coaster

Extreme Log advertisement board

Extreme Log 4D seats

I then proceed to the main attraction, the roller coaster itself; Halilintar. It was kinda long queue but what the heck, I don't mind since this is the reason I'm here, heheh~ Anyway after 3x, I finally relieved. Another roller coaster conquered!!! After a few hours at Dunia Fantasi, we planed to go to our next destination, Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua, but there's a new attraction there which just arrived last March, Extreme Log which is a motion 3D ride. At 1st there's a lot of crowd queuing since it's quite new but around 1400hrs, the crowd was lesser so I decided to take it a shot. It was around 30-40 minutes after our turn. After the line there are 4 lanes for you to go inside a building. It's like a small room with steel pole for you to seat. In front there's a small screen which they'll show an introduction about the ride. Then when the show's over, the lights were on. Seriously I thought it was really over until I walked after the curtain, there's this seats with a large screen infront. Man, the whole ride was awesome n I really mean AWESOME!!! It was a blast!!! Hell yeah it's worthwhile to wait for that quality ride.

Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua

Anyway we proceeded to Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua after whole day at Dunia Fantasi. My mom planned to buy some clothes so she could wear on our way back home. Anyway its like a big market with a lots of appearels sold cheap. And after a few shops, we proceeded to the top floor to the food court. Then we headed back to Kota station and faced the wrath of Jakarta's commuter again back to Gondangdia Station.

We planned to find a few souvenirs for some frends but too bad, we can'f find it anywhere. Even at Pasar Mangga Dua, the search was hopeless. We then proceeded to the nearest mall at our hotel area after shower. Still none thou~ I thought they're not selling those things. There are Jakarta T-shirts but not only Jakarta, there's Singapore, Hong kong, a lot. I mean; they don't have their own handycraft stuff? We went for dinner at a local food stall. It was nicer compared to a standard restaurant.

statue monument

MONAS icon

The next day, early morning after breakfast we went for a short walk at the National Monument, MONAS (Monumen Nasional). After took a few pictures, we went back to hotel and get ready to go to the airport. The trip to Soekarno Hatta Airport was quite a long journey, around 30km from the central city. A cab costs around Rp100,000. There's 3 tolls which costs Rp5,000, Rp2,500 + Rp2,500. Once we arrived at the airport, be careful because there's a lot of "butler" which they are willing to help you with your luggage as they have their own trolley. Preferably to get your own trolley as you need to find unless you don't mind paying them for their "services".

Soekarno Hatta Airport

So the airport was just normal, as what I imagine like LCCT. But after we went to the departure hall, the view was great. We also got ourself a fridge magnet at a tax free shop.

Overall trip was great. I enjoyed myself as well as my mom. We went to places she never went before. Anyway the conclusion is, for those who haven't been there, please do so, it's packed with activities which you'll never regret and experienced~ ;)

Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta at Plaza Indonesia

p/s: Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta is located inside Plaza Indonesia, quite a distance walk as it is a lil bit hidden

for more pictures on this trip, kindly refer to my Facebook photo album:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1019302967497.2003352.1372841986&type=1&l=cbf06e7f55