bandung, I shall come again

At Kawah Putih. It was a volcano like Tangkuban Perahu. I didn't touch the water even though I wanted to.

'We are torn between nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange. As often as not, we are homesick most for the places we have never known.' 

- Carson Mccullers

To be honest, when I packed my bags for my trip to Bandung, Indonesia, I didn't feel a thing. And I even sighed that we were going to stay for five days, which is a very long time.

But considering the fact that I didn't let myself having a long vacation last year, I didn't think about it that much. Only a bit anxious about my cats and kittens.

We took our flight very early in the morning. Bandung was cool and it's raining season in West Java. So everywhere is wet, but just nice. Imam fetched us from airport and became our travel guide until the end (well, since he's from there).

The first time I went there was 2007, and the only place that excites me was Tangkuban Perahu. I am not kaki shopping so I despise Pasar Baharu. This time we went to two institutions in Bandung, one is some sort of art school and the other is Uni Islam Bandung (Unisba) and Kawah Putih which is near to Tangkuban Perahu.

Most of our time spent for shopping. Cihampelas looked very different from before. I had to say Bandung is developing fast. Even ITB looked different. But maybe my memory of those places wasn't good.

I love love love Kawah Putih. Even though the place was soggy and cold, but I love it. I want to go there again. But I was quite disappointed when they canceled our trip to Tangkuban Perahu for the sake of shopping. But it's okay.

And Saung Udjo is seriously, the coolest place. That place is like Mecca for angklungians. Compulsory to go. I had a blast there. And now I understand why many foreign people like angklung. You shall find out if you go there, I am not gonna spoil it for ya ;)

And Imam always wanted to entertain us, he even invited street performers to play songs for us in our bus and we, as normal cultural club students, sang with them while waiting for others. That was so sweet of him, and yes, those street performers are good with their guitars.

I had a feeling I'll come again soon. Next time I want to stay somewhere rural and cool, somewhere that could persuade me to explore Sundanese language and its culture. Travelling should be more of eye opener, that way you'll be richer without spending too much money for clothing and things to impress people.

I hate to go back to work tomorrow. Lord, give me strength.


p/s: I had cream bath treatment for my hair and it only costs about RM30. plus back massage. awesome.