May 8, 2011 -- Bandung

DATE: Sunday, May 8, 2011

LOCATION: Bandung

AUTHORS: Lesley Pratt & Janet Gow

After our late arrival last night, the call to prayer from several mosques near by, rudely awoke us around 4.30 am  - days start early in Indonesia!

However, we had had a good sleep - in our self contained unit across the yard from our host's house. Our host was Mrs Harmini, who is a widow. Also living next door were her son and his family, and her daughter lived very nearby. We were both glad our unit included a western toilet and learned to use the spray or bucket of water with `saucepan` to wash/shower. They rarely have hot water. Furniture was limited - Lesley slept on a mattress on the floor upstairs, (not uncommon) but no other furniture! whilst Janet slept on a fold out settee downstairs - but had no bedding. We did ask for towels and Janet managed a bed-cover. Janet did have a table, chair and a sink as well as the large drinking water bottle upturned and with controls for very hot water (ok to make tea) and cold (but always lukewarm) water.

Our busy program had been planned to have the first day free with hosts. However, some hosts decided to get together, and four cars set off at about 9:00 for the Tangkuban Prahu volcano, a two hour drive away.  It rained hard but there was much interesting scenery to be seen en route. The rain stopped just as we arrived at our destination. We parked the cars and coped with the local toilet facilities.



We all transferred into the back of an open-sided truck to arrive nearer the actual crater. An interesting drive up through the forest. We then walked down many steps to the rim of the crater, which is now filled with sulfur water. Years ago, the centre of the volcano collapsed under the weight of the built up ash and instead of the usual conical volcano shape, it has a flat, elongated summit with a huge caldera. Tourists were being offered face masks, as the crater,  an impressive sight, still emits sulphur fumes .



The beautiful, milky-turquoise sulfur lake at
Tangkuban Prahu crater.



A local entrepreneur with good photographic equipment sold many of us photos of our group, which he had just taken. We stood around and waited as he printed the photographs. The marvels of modern equipment! 

We then climbed back up the many steps to find our truck, and as the rain came pelting down again, we soon stopped to let down the plastic sides of the truck.



Even the horses needed raincoats.

En route, back to Bangdung we stopped for lunch - rice and kebabs - the start of three rice meals every day!  (Good for Janet and I to lose weight on a rice diet!) 

In Bangdung we visited the home of the Surachmans, where Maria and Leyla were being hosted. For Maria this had been a special day. She had arrived in Bangdung armed with details of the hospital where she had been born and the house in which she had lived as a small child. With the help of her hosts, she was able to locate both and people at the house (now a business) were able to talk about some of her family.

Mr Surachman is a Pediatrician, plays the violin, sings and owns several properties, including a restaurant where we ate later in the week. He also designed the splendiferous house - and the many rooms amply catered for the Naming Ceremony of his small grandchild that afternoon. The house was filled with guests, family and friends and most of the FF ambassadors.  A truly welcoming and interesting experience for us all.

The view from an upper balcony.

Other FF members also had other interesting experiences during the day - we felt so welcome everywhere.  And so, the back to our temporary homes, tired but exhilarated by our first day's experiences.