Bandung

BY: M IQBAL FACHRY

Tangkuban Perahu
This dormant volcano is one of the city's most visited attractions. Take a taxi or tour bus to the
summit, which offers stunning views of Java's northern coastal plains -- on a clear day you can
even see the Java Sea. Hike down to the vast Domas crater to see boiling sulfur water bubbling
out of the ground, or stroll around the Kawah Ratu (Queen's Crater). Afterwards, you can take a
gentle, two-hour walk back to Bandung through the pine forests or visit the colorful market in
Lembang.

Dago
Dago is an up-market area of Bandung. The upper district contains classical Dutch villas beside
wide, tree-lined boulevards, and is home to the Dago Tea House, which is renowned for its
cultural shows. Dago Pakar, the most northerly part of Dago, is a great place to eat, with a wide
choice of international restaurants. Lower Dago is very trendy, with shopping malls, outlet stores,
galleries, chic boutiques, cafes and entertainment centers.

Saung Angklung Udjo

This arts center was created to preserve Sundanese culture, and features a theater and craft
workshops. Shows include traditional Angklung music with bamboo instruments, Wayang Golek
puppet shows and Topeng (mask) dancing. Take a tour of the center to watch the artisans at
work, and make your own Angklung instrument as a souvenir. The gift shop contains a huge
selection of colorful bamboo-ware and stationery.

Museums
Bandung has numerous small galleries, displaying both traditional and contemporary Indonesian
artwork. Of the city's six museums, the most prestigious is the Museum of the Asian-African
Conference (asianafrican-museum.org). This was inaugurated in April 1980, on the 25th
anniversary of the 1955 Bandung conference, to eternalize the spirit of the meeting, and promote
the ideals of world peace and international cooperation. Bandung Geology Museum
(museum.bgl.esdm.go.id -- no English-language version) is a national heritage museum,
boasting extensive displays of fossils, rocks and minerals, pre-historic animal skeletons and
meteorites.

Pasar Baru Trade Center

This is a seven-story market in downtown Bandung that sells a wide range of goods, including
apparel, textiles, handicrafts, batiks, food and souvenirs. Stallholders are happy to haggle, which
is part of the fun, and most food vendors will let you taste before you buy.

Kawah Putih
Kawah Putih is a picturesque volcanic lake at the Patuha Volcano, near Ciwidey. En route you
will pass tea plantations and strawberry farms, where you can stop to pick fruit. On arrival at the
car park, walk or take a shuttle bus up to the crater, then descend the staircase to the lake. The
water changes color according to the angle of the sun, ranging from milky white to turquoise
green, and is reputed to have healing qualities. Wear warm clothing, and take a scarf to cover
your mouth, to prevent inhalation of sulfur fumes. The lower area contains souvenir booths and
food stalls, as well as public restrooms.