May 11, 2011 -- Bandung



DATE: Wednesday, May 11, 2011

LOCATION: Bandung, Java, Indonesia

AUTHOR: Mary Jane DeVault

Off with our chauffeur to Anie's house to begin our day of travel.

First stop the Bosscha Observatory, the oldest observatory in Indonesia, built in 1923. The observatory is located in Lembang, West Java. Upon arrival it appears that Dan Coughlin is mistaken as an American popular personality, school girls gather to have a once in a lifetime photo taken with him.



We locate our drivers and travel up the mountain road, stopping for a police checkpoint for our car and driver's registration. We arrived at Tangkuban Perahu Crater, translated "upturned boat". Once there, we were high above the crater and able to hike along the top edge and, if given enough time, we could have walked the entire circle. This crater was closed to the public as recently as September 1992 because of seismic activity. I also learned that on a very clear day it is possible to see the Java Sea beyond, our day was not that clear. We were approached by vendors, very hard core salesman, later learning each vendor is allowed only one day a week to sell and can sell only one predetermined item, postcards, necklaces, Kleenex box covers, etc.





Tangkuban Perahu Crater



"Vendors Row" at  Tangkuban Perahu Crater

Today for lunch is the only opportunity to treat our host. Our stop is a lovely, fancy Sindang Restaurant, not far from the crater. Myrna, our host, ordered our meal which included a fresh coconut drink, Nancy did not partake of the drink fearing the water used. That did not stop me, it was very tasty. The fish arrived so seriously over-fried that we thought it was inedible, only to discover that it’s normal to fry fish into that crunchy state and you are supposed to eat it all, including the crunchy bones. We gave our host the honor of eating most of the fish. We didn't go hungry, Phil and Bee seated next to us shared their satay and of course we had a big bowl of rice.

The third destination of the day was Ciater Spa Resort Hot Springs. This resort is owned by one of the Bandung FF Club members and other ambassadors have enjoyed the Hot Springs in the past. This beautiful resort is surrounded by tea plantations with horse drawn buggies to deliver bags for resort guests, a very relaxed setting.



Ciater Spa Resort Hot Springs



We arrived at the main entrance, parked, got out of our vehicles and started looking around. Then we are advised this wasn't the right place to park. We got back in the car and drove to the pool/swim area. Got out of the cars, only to discover it’s still not the right place, so we got back in the cars. Then, we drove to the spa/massage area, got out, found a nice seat in the cafe while our hosts check out the spa. Well, bad news, no massages available today – too many guests from Taiwan got there ahead of us and all the appointments were filled. So, back into the cars. Given the fact that we have 12 cars, we looked like a convoy. So the, it was back to the swimming pool and this time we got to stay. About eleven of us had brought our swim suits and enjoyed this great hot 42c water. This was also when we discovered that Roger has a defibrillator! At the pool bar we enjoyed some delicious pink guava juice and visited with our non-swimming friends on the other side of a low wall.

Dinner was a lovely buffet inside the restaurant. After dinner, we got back in our awaiting cars for the drive home.