Bandung, West Java

Along with Jogjakarta, it is another town that I thought was a must-see. It’s Baguio of Indonesia, with relatively cold weather and some other similar things to do, like cheap shopping.

I took a coach from Bogor. I was scared at first of being in a car with 3 other strangers. I was of course mistaken as Indonesian. After they were so comfortable talking to each other, the guy in the front seat turned his head to me and talked to me in Bahasa. I was humbled by the turn of events when they shifted the conversation to English and the whole trip turned out to be a Q&A about Christian Bautista, Aiza Seguerra and my itinerary. We had a short stop and the three of them bought me an Indonesian food and drinks. Indonesians for me are the most hospitable people in Southeast Asia – everyone seems to be friendly and likable.

Bandung was a surprise. I was not expecting anything spectacular; my friends said it’s just another haven for Indonesian shoppers. Old Dutch buildings are just everywhere; colorful graffiti spotted in every corner, same with tempting gallery shops – the whole town is an artist-hub.

Like the Balete Drive in Manila, Bandung has Cipaganti Street, which, although filled with motorcycles and cars waiting for the traffic go signal, I enjoyed the spectacular setting of Dutch mansions. It was like walking through a live gallery of billionaires’ homes. Also, I noticed women with Hijabs driving a motorcycle with their high heels on.

Other than cheap shopping around Jalan Riau and Cihampelas Walk and a great variety of Indonesian food (I loved bakso, a big meatball soup, and their Kampong fried chicken), affordable healthy body massages, and a great nightlife around old street Braga.

I was really captivated by Bandung’s natural beauty; just a 2-hour motorcycle drive from the city is the heavenly Tangkuban Perahu, a breathtaking active volcano. I felt like Che Guevara freely enjoying a motorcycle ride, passing by the green hills, valleys and huge trees, breathing in the mists and the natural perfume of nature. Along the road, it was like almost kissing the clouds.