Mesa Stila

Mesa Stila sounds like a Latin name to some of us, yet strangely enough it is a Coffee plantation mixed with colonial style resort combination about half an hour drive from Semarang Central Java. Arm yourself with traveling Tips To Carry Along as we look at this exotic one of a kind Tourism Places. 

You'll be greeted by this ancient looking train station as you enter this magnificent place, it was indeed as such in early 19th century.  It is brought here intact and now being used as a reception foyer, and as you walk through whether you wish for a stay the night or spending the time for either a meal, a cup of coffee or Coffee plantation tour. 

As we opt for the latter we're directed toward the plantation itself.

Series of pictures will drive your thought upon the place, it is a must visit one of a kind Tourism Places.......

Bandung Guest House Hotel

Arriving on Bandung, Accommodation at super budget level. New niche within Bandung Budget Hotel segment is constantly appearing. They are not in business to compete head on with other established Budget Hotel, but rather to complement by offering individual home sweet home cosy quality; the kind of warmth they have claimed could not exist at other Hotel’s “Effective Production Machineries”.

The latest player is presumably “Guest House SEVENTEEN's” located near the down town at Sumatra St. The de' Tropis Guest House is another well established player located within the city center. Then another two players located in the vicinity of city outskirt; Cassadua Guest House and Retanata Home-Stay Guest House.

Bandung Guest House Hotel typically emphasize on home quality accommodation and being smaller with up to a dozen rooms to let is comparably less busy and thus is more quiet than the ordinary Hotel in general. The Guest House is also positioned at the lower end to its Budget’s rates, but there are few players now gradually getting into upper end level of the scale due its recent popularity to even amongst expatriate guests.

As most of these Guest Houses are being managed by its own owner, their personal touch is often the key of the services which distinguish from other type of accommodation. Hence this distinctive difference excludes the fierce fully head on competition and eventually invites new entry, each with new individual differentiating taste.

For example by capitalizing many Dutch Indies Heritage Buildings from the 1930s era as well as offering convenient location to those bountiful Factory Outlets in the whole Bandung City. Such buildings are normally situated within certain areas particularly to be found in still high concentration numbers at one location that used to be known as “European District” in that period.

Ironically it was exactly the location where the European was detained in the Second World War by Japanese emporium troops at what was known as “Tjihapit Internment Camp”. SASKAVA GUEST HOUSE located at number 4 Lapangan Supratman St. is one of such Guest House with a distinctive aura of a Grand Ma’s house, offering merely 7 rooms with one large family pavilion room, each is named after every family hierarchy; Grand Ma’s room, Uncle’s room and so forth indicating its individual original usage in the past.

Technorati Tags: Bandung Guest House Hotel,Tjihapit Internment Camp,Lapangan Supratman,SASKAVA GUEST HOUSE

Jalan Riau Bandung

Riau Street or Jalan Riau Bandung is one of many popular shopping Streets out of yet a number of tourist attraction locations within North Bandung. This Northern part section had been developed by the Dutch Indies prior to 1930s period and was designed and allocated for its government offices as well as their respective housing areas.

The development was the natural evolvement from the year 1812 where large Java Cities connecting main road was established and roughly around a century later that railway was constructed, the train station and the great post road as it was called were both located right at the center of Bandung.

By extending the city to its Northern direction all government buildings could get the Tangkuban Perahu Mountain view as such that most building is indeed facing the then fantastic mountain scenery, if the building has had not received alteration at all. And by sheer coincident should you Travel to Bandung Inroad via Cipularang Toll road and exits through Pasteur gate you would end up from the fly over bridge at the Northern side of the former Dutch Indies main government building the Gedung Sate.

The Riau Street extends from Dago Street another shopping area to the great post road now A Yani Boulevard, for more info on both street whereabouts within North Bandung area including some Outlet and Hotel Lists; see Bandung Trip Map Guide.

Being one of local tourist attraction is always busy particularly during the long public holiday; getting caught in a traffic jam during this period on either Dago or Riau Street is like being stranded in the middle of a huge parade of carnival, you might as well be taking a leisure stroll while carefully selecting out which Factory Outlet that fancy to drop by.

Therefore for those who fancy dropping by to each Outlet, getting accommodation within the area would be a sensible and convenient choice as there are dozens of Hotels available. Many people are travelling in a group whose members are having different shopping interest; the group could disperse and regroup later back in the nearby Hotel. Group coordination hurdle and hassles is cut to the minimum!

Hotel at Bandung

Bandung has again been chosen to host an International convention; the Asian Parliamentary Assembly started last Monday which will last until December 10th to cover three important agenda on market integration, poverty, and corruption. Consequently for safety measures the local police have prepared 2,500 personnel to secure the fourth plenary session of the Forum to anticipate huge protests on the International Anti-corruption Day that coincides with convention today.

Some traffic piling were hampering Bandoeng’s inner part as the Police completely sealed off a number of surrounding streets including the heritage street; Asia Africa, in order to secure opening ceremonial by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

No doubt that most Hotel at Bandung is sold out. Despite of the resort city convention function ever since the 1955 Asian African Non Alignment conference and even since the Dutch Indies City Planning inception in 1920s, the city has been as vibrant and eager to entertain for almost a century, it is always busy and tightly packed on every event occasion.

Though the infrastructure is a tad inadequate during the peak season opting for Travel to Bandung Inroad via Cipularang toll road from the capital Jakarta would seem to be a viable yet convenient choice. There is a glimpse of unique local lifestyle on parade along the toll road being shown more than other transport option such as by either train or airplane. Yet your Bandung trip would be complete if returning to Jakarta through the scenery Puncak Pass, provided that you are willing to spend twice the journey time length.

Just sit back, relax and enjoy your Bandung Trip, while Yudhoyono’s opening speech lingers on;

"The different Asia is a region with full of partnership network and tolerance, peaceful and prosper region and a territory that becomes the world's growth hub,"

"Currently, we are in a time that is full of momentum and opportunities. The world in 21st century will be very different with 20th one,"

"In the transforming world, Asia will be 'more relevant' with its role increases further,"

"We are part of the solution of various problems that are complex and related each other locally, nationally, regionally and globally,"

Technorati Tags: Hotel at Bandung,Asian Parliamentary Assembly,Travel to Bandung Inroad via Cipularang,scenery Puncak Pass

Bosscha Leisure

The last day of our kids school holiday would be the trip for Bosscha Leisure. An old Dutch Indies Heritage of Observatory, built in late 1920s by the then famous tea planter tycoon Karel Albert Rudolf Bosscha who also happened to be one of great philanthropist of the era perhaps might had been close to that of Bill Gates of today. Read more on him at; Frontrunner Science Research #3; Bosscha Observatory, where we could learn a bit history of him and the heyday of our tea plantation at its height of tea commodity pricing due to its unsurpassed Malabar Tea quality as well as the background story on the observatory itself.

The Bosscha Observatory as we have known today was not as effective as it used to be, when the facility was built the nearest population was outside of the ideal 30 km radius perimeter from the facility. It was preserved to be as such until late 1970s prior to the real estate property development booming.

The facility today is fully dedicated for academic purposes and consequently getting inside to look at the huge telescope could only be done under well advanced appointment in group of 30 visitors per admittance. Nevertheless the kids could learn something from the onset of science in early century and admire the physical observatory with surrounding beautiful landscape as well as some photographic session.

There are two alternative ways to get to Bosscha Observatory; one through the Bandoeng city itself where you could stop by on the way to do a bit of shopping and culinary tasting. Or else through the Ci[pularang Toll road and exit at either Cikampek or and the one that head straight to Subang. Make yourself fresh and fully alert by also stopping by at any rest area there, though it is advisable to stop at Cipularang Rest Area Km 57 or Km 43 or Km 19.

Insofar we have managed to bring the kids to enjoyable as well as educative trip as well some interesting leather bag shopping for the Mom of course and not last but least the tasty and freshness of Bandoeng’s own culinary dishes.

Technorati Tags: Cipularang Rest Area Km 57,Bandoeng's Trip,Bosscha Observatory,Karel Albert Rudolf Bosscha,leather bag shopping,culinary cooking

Country House Hotel: UK Heritage

Rich Historic Cities: Bandung vs Birmingham

Leisure activities has been around for almost a year by now. It has been mainly catering on family time holiday in a great historic value of Bandung regency. Unique regency which was undergone redesigned town planning back in 1920s due to the then booming agriculture sector and was supposedly planned for future to be capital city. The booming was as such that an oldest Hydropower Plant in the area was already built a decade earlier by tea plantation tycoon; Bosscha.

          Today we still could see the harmonious balanced of                  oldies heritage with modern tourist attractions.

Though no doubt this early 20^th century booming was due to the Industrial Revolution through the invention of Steam engine, which in turn was made possible by improvement to the separate condenser invention. It was the duo of James Watt and Matthew Boulton who shaped much of the successful implementation for Steam engine production out of their workshop at Soho Foundry near Birmingham.

Birmingham today is much like the very existence of Bandung, certainly in much bigger scale at Northern part of hemisphere. It was the center of the Industrial Revolution yet has a mixed attraction of British medieval heritage with modern tourist amenities. Beautiful canal transportation system built in early 1800s (Grand Union Canal and Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line), St Mary's Guildhall (with the famous folklore of Lady Godiva located at Coventry, 30 km east of Birmingham), Warwick Castle and those charming country houses. Where as its modern facilities include amongst other; Cadbury World (Chocolate factory tour), Broomeycroft farm, Sealife Centre, the Big Wheel and Touchwood shopping centre. Furthermore in 2004 the city was ranked as the third best place to shop in the United Kingdom, being described as a "world-class shopping centre".

The St. Johns Country House Hotel

But more importantly for tourist accommodation purposes there are great number of country house hotels being refurbished recently; resembling Bandung’s attraction with Dutch Indies buildings being preserved and converted into such unique, charming and attractive Hotels. The St. Johns Hotel (formerly known as the Renaissance Solihull Hotel) is one of such rare charming heritage occupying an equally attractive historic county house estate. Its mid section consists of a traditional red brick house to which modern blocks have been extended on either side. This iconic city centre hotel is set in the leafy suburbs of Solihull just a short walk from the Birmingham town centre.

The luxury 4 star country house hotel offers a stylish and contemporary setting with extensive car parking whereby the guests could make use of the modern leisure club with indoor swimming pool. Interestingly enough it is within short distance to the Sea Life Centre, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and also Cadbury World. It is four miles from the national exhibition centre (NEC) and international airport as well as within 5 minutes walk from train station. It is also an excellent base from which to visit many of England's best loved tourist attractions, including Warwick Castle, Coventry Cathedral, the Cotswolds and Stratford Upon Avon.

The St. Johns country house Hotel is also very handy for shops; being nearby to the local shopping precincts with lots of choice including large John Lewis, M&S as well as eating places and trendy bars. Highly trained professional staffs are indeed complementary to the great facilities of The St. Johns Hotel which preserves the virtues of dedicated conference, training and quality family time venues. This is consistent with 7 very simple values introduced by its owner Principal Hayley rigorously applying to its other 21 country house Hotels across the UK.

Next Leisure Activities Article is what you have been waiting for: The All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) Saga…. (At White Crater)

 

Technorati Tags: The St. Johns Hotel,country house hotels

Kawah Putih Crater Lake, Rancabali

The white crater dominating the view with some bluish appearances on some part adds exceptional dimension which tantalizes our sight; a contrasting picturesque to that of the crowded factory outlet. Certainly a more refreshing one! It took us two and half hours to get here and by the time we arrive at midday noon our stomach started to cry for immediate attention, the bitterly cold 500 meters walk could wait.

You actually have an option to bring your own car to the peak, yet should you hesitate there is an open air small pick up available at a cost. The second options allow you to avoid costly damage onto your sedan’s undercarriage; it’s a peace of mind!

I would estimate the temperature that day was slightly below 20 degree Celcius as you could tell it bites at 2,300 altitudes above sea level. Bandung (750 meter above sea level) average temperature in July is one of the lowest annually at 22.9 Celcius. Hence a wind jacket is an essential outfit of the day; however once you stroll down the crater your body heat suffices comforting warmth. Perhaps it was just due to a momentarily cloudy sky and blowing winds.

Circling around the car park there are plenty of food stalls to choose for a warm and decent meal. But if you are worried about its hygiene you should stop earlier at large restaurant there are plenty of them as well. We settled for a nice Bandung’s own culinary Mie Kocok or literary “Shaken Noodle” accompanied by none other than hot tea drink.

Now the fun began; as we ascending into the crater we were greeted by traditional Sundanese tembang accompanied by Kecapi musical instrument (Zither Ensembles). The ascend was quite steep yet it allows a panoramic view of the crater itself as the sound of traditional instrument echoing heightened the Western Java’s unique atmosphere. The crater was found in 1856 by the famous German botanist Dr. FW.Juhnghun, who introduced the Malaria Pills industry to then the Dutch Indies. Hypothetically the Dutch then mined its sulfur-rich sediments for Sulfur production which contributed 90% of all Dutch Indies till the Japanese invasion.

1920s marked the era of significant growth of Bandung city development as well as the center for many agro industry sectors including tea, coffee, rubber and cinchona (natural resources for Malaria Pills) plantations. Today the Kawah Putih has been established as one of West Java Ecotourism park, therefore since its inception in 1991 cleanliness is strictly monitored. No loitering allowed within the crater area!

Technorati Tags: bandung family time,white crater

Roemah Nenek

It was late evening on the last day of 2008. We had been passing around this Grandma's House a couple of times. Its title alone intrigued us. Did it serve the kind of dishes which our Grandma used to provide us? Did it only sell its old colonial building concept?

As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed by the buzzing of new year's eve preparations. There was a sign post indicating people to line in at the entrance gate. Yet it was too early for any queue in, that we could grab just any table we like. The obvious choices were outside at front court for smoking section and vice versa inside the house. We were a platoon in numbers so we did take the available large tables outside.

The house itself was a typical 1930s colonial building. A reminiscent of "Art Deco" architectural style with equal antiquated interior decorations. For further heritage traits description, please click here! For a real leisure activity tip, read on!

I have deliberately designed two separate sites for these purposes! The Journey of Preserving Heritage Building (For those who interested in Heritage traits description) and this site for leisure activities tips. Pressing on .....

We all sat nicely as orders coming in. They were Soto Bandung, Strawberry juice and two pots of tea. One being lemon flavoured tea while the other is a plain one. The younger generation ordered Western culinary dishes, apparently they took longer to prepare.

Ribs steak, omelette, french fries and those desserts! On top of these, the growing kids were also ordering a variety of local dishes.

The first casualties were french fries for their appetizers, then the main course which were essentially anything with rice. Then....

Desserts...

Candlelight tables!

 

My half attacked steak

 

Live music

 

Toddler mocking around while awaiting for order..

 

Some one was still hungry enough impatiently grabbing Pizza while a picture was being snapped!

New year trumpet.......

 

Lush surrounding environment with rows of hawkers at foreground....

Technorati Tags: family quality time,culinary,bandung

An $ 80 dent to the wallet. For such nuance and delicious dinner to feed platoon of 10 including 4 commandoes, it is a memorable new year's eve!

Though it was not close to our beloved Grandma's (Mine not these youngsters). We finally had the answer!

Arriving on Bandung : Accommodation

Finish your breakfast @Cisangkuy st? And your children need bargain clothing as the one that they are wearing get dirty due to the horse riding? A few hundred meter away at Supratman st. you will find an outlet "Cargo".

Now it is the time to check on accommodation. There is a nice and lush colonial style hotel nearby "Bumi Asih" at Banda st. in the other direction next to Gedung Sate. Banda st. is parallel to Cisangkuy st. Bumi Asih website is just recently refurbished.

Further away heading for Riau st. by taking the first right turn from Banda is another budget, clean and quiet hotel "Progo" at Progo st. Along the Riau st. there are further hotels, both budget and 3 stars. Among others; Santika and recently Grand Serella (opened in 2007) etc.

By following this direction, I have made up my promise in offering you the second less congested route to Riau st. And directly driving from Pasteur toll gateway.

Driving further from Cisangkuy, following the main road as you pass the lush park as entering Cilaki st.; To your left is Wisma Cilaki, a cheaper home stay alternative. On the other direction following Supratman st., Hotel Mitra, Corsica, Barito and so on. Both Supratman and Cilaki meets and merging at another park "Supratman", formerly Ciujung. During the Dutch Indies era known as Houtman Plein.

The whole encompassing area mentioned above was once known as part of the "Old European District" in 1930s.

Every year there are hundred additional rooms being built, in 2009 alone it is estimated to be 1,200 rooms. This figures are officially from the relevant municipality as they announce 7 new hotel establishments plan. It is unknown though the recent effect of Global downturn crisis to this plan!

Customer wise expect fierce competitive pricing of room rates. Either way room rates is getting more and more affordable especially during low season, that is week-days. However during long national holiday rate is hike up markedly as it is difficult to get a booking. Home stay option is quite abound, one family may rent a whole house. You may search them through Internet, some are being advertised in English.

It is worthwhile to mention that there are certain nieches of hotel type suitable for nostalgic stay. For example; Art deco style Grand Preanger (Charlie chaplin was here), Savoy Homann. Smaller and thus more of homely type of stay; Sawunggaling, De Tropis guest house and recently on trial running Saskava guest house.

There are further list of hotel available if you click any of the hotal above a few will take you there. For hotel reviews you could consult tripadvisor. Here many visitors are gladly sharing their experiences of staying, click on either Sawunggaling or De Tropis.

*Relevant articles in the past :

• Bandung map guide @ "Old Indische European District"
• why-paris-van-java
• Adventurous leisure
• shopping
• gifts
• mighty-detroit-succumbs-to-dc

Perceived values on Bandung

The purpose of this blog is merely to capture my thoughts and experiences on a particular aspect of leisure activities. Great emphasis would be on Bandung regency has to offer to ordinary visitors like most of us.

There are great numbers of information on similar subjects available on the net. Some of them have invaluable knowledge which is highly relevant to my blog's objectives. I will from time to time put a thorough effort on research for any useful guide on what to do and how to do. Only then such guide and recommendations on Bandung-Leisure activities are presented through link access.

Hopefully the blog would acts as a hub info centre, a kind of one stop guide. And be assure that you all be the judges, we'll see..Let's review what has been achieved so far from the inception of bandung-leisure :

1. 
   Perceived values offer by Bandung. Profile of regular/ frequent visitors and what is their main intentions..(more)
   
   
2. Horse Riding. Personal experience emphasis on family quality time.
   
   
3. Why Paris van Java ? Personal opinion as the main attraction of Bandung's charm. Though, it describes important historical aspects.
   
   
4. Adventurous Leisure. Personal experience emphasis on family quality time. Whilst entertaining, it also has education values for your kids.
   
   
5. Another Leisure Story. Personal experience in general on what to do, accommodations and good link access.
   
   
6. Leisure Guide. Map guide on Northern part of Bandung depicted on 1930s "Old European District" Map.
   
   
7. Bandung Paris van Java. Personal experience in general on what to do, Bandung's location and its charming characteristics
   
   

These are the seven steps I boldly attempt not necessarily in orderly fashion. The last two steps are in fact the very first attempt for me as a newbie. These two steps also appear on my other subject on another blog under the theme of Heritage Preservation.

None however reflecting my background nor profession. Though as often as it requires, I will put out something from those two as well as any other interest and passion just for an intermezzo. We all do need to relieve the outburst of safety valve within here and then....

Back to the main subject, I propose to lay an outline for the coming articles in framework manner as follows :

1. Short review of food places ;
2. Guide on how to get to
3. Drive guide
4. Hotel reviews
5. Token, souvenir or gift reviews
6. Shopping review

Since they all require exhaustive time consuming preparations as well as "beyond me", sort to speak of. I will present them in a leisurely manner. Just inline with the theme. Else, another proposal of mine to alleviate the above hindrances : is to also present some Marketing aspect (see Perceived values offer by Bandung-Leisure). And perhaps some other aspects that might be "Within Me".

Why Paris Van Java ?

Technorati Tags: Dutch indies building

Do you know why that Bandung was designed and developed as a beautiful city as those of european major cities ?

In 1916 the Dutch Indies government decided to shift their capital city from batavia (now, Jakarta) to Bandoeng. They commissioned a number of well known architect to design ; town plan, parks, government buildings, government officer housings. You could still see the evidence today. Though a large proportion of those buildings have gone, some are being revamped into well known outlets. One example is the Heritage outlet, see our Leisure Guide to locate this Factory Outlet. That is why driving around Gedung Sate is such a pleasure, there are quite a number of old houses still existed.

Are you still with me ? Should I bore you, you could skip this article and proceed to look at the excerpt of Bandung History below,

Problem with your browser ? Head to this link :
http://picasaweb.google.com/saskava.van.amboeloe/BandungLeisure#5264648169302048466

The impact of colonial design is being regarded as the embarking footstep into current Indonesian architectural basis. These Dutch architect did not just copy the trend of their era, but also some manage to blend european style with the traditional one. One being the case is ITB's building.

Such contributions by prominent architect in early '20s like among others Ghijsels, Mclaine Pont, Aalber, De Waal, Schoemaker, H Thomas Karsten and many others had earned Bandung in 1930 nicknamed : "Paris van Java". Hence, we all know by now the beauty, the charm of Bandung's attraction is due partly to these circumstances.

Further reading on characteristic of colonial building is available. Hit the link on my blog lists under the heading of Heritage Building.