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Indonesia 2024: Jakarta, Lembang & Bandung
Jakarta, Lembang & Bandung, Indonesia: 8th July- 15th July 2024
(See day-to-day blogs for more detailed routes)
Indonesia sounds like a simple country, but in actuality, it's a country spanning thousands of islands, crossing diverse cultures and religion. I started visiting the country more than a decade ago with several visits to Bali and a visit to Jogjakarta. We even had a Bali cycling trip in 2018, followed by an eye-opening recce-tour to Sumba in 2023.
This time around, we are visiting another part of the country. After the Covid Pandemic, it's revenge travelling time, and it all started with a light comment "of not going anywhere in July for a short trip". We wanted to go somewhere with cool weather, but Australia and New Zealand seems pretty far away for a casual trip. So Anne & Lynne did some search and research, and that's how we ended up visiting Jakarta, Lembang & Bandung, just "A mere 2-1/2 hours' flight away! And we will get cool weather to enjoy a nice holiday!
(Note: further below are travel tips, and write-ups on food and places along the route.)
BLOGS
Below are the daily blogs of our tour, click on the respective photos to read. It was an interesting tour, so come and have a look:
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(Next... Georgia!)
Indonesia 2024 Overall Travel Route Map
Route: Small Group (Non-cycling) Tour of part of the West Java (Jakarta, Lembang & Bandung), Indonesia:
Kuala Lumpur>Malaysian Airlines>Jakarta>Whoosh HSR Train>Padalarang>van Lembang>van>Bandung>Malaysian Airlines>Kuala Lumpur.
Zoom in for more details.
See respective daily blogs for detailed daily route maps.
(Click here for the Overall Indonesia 2024 Tour Route Map)
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TRAVEL TIPS FOR INDONESIA: JAKARTA, LEMBANG & BANDUNG
Below are some general tips on travelling in Indonesia (Jakarta, Lembang & Bandung); more detailed tips will be included in the day-to-day blogs:
1. Traffic Directions!
Traffic in Indonesia is right-hand drive, so drive/cycle on the left. The same thing applies when crossing the road, take note of the direction in which traffic is approaching!
2. Getting to Jakarta, Lembang & Bandung.
Jakarta being the capital city of Indonesia, has many airlines flying direct to its international Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Bandung is served by the relatively new Kertajati International Airport. in the Majalengka Regency. This new airport is about 100km from Bandung city, and it takes an hour or so to reach by car, so do allow adequate time to get to it.
The old Husein Sastranegara Airport which is within Bandung city has ceased operation. Click here to read more about Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and here to read more about Kertajati International Airport.
We flew Malaysian Airlines from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, and returned via Bandung buying our tickets a few months earlier when there was a promotion. We paid about MYR480 (approx. USD100) per pax for the ticket, inclusive of 20kg checked-in luggage and 7kg cabin luggage.
From Jakarta, we took the new Whoosh HSR Train to Padalarang at a fare of IDR225k per pax. We boarded the train at the Halim High Speed Railway Station. the train ride just took thirty minutes. By driving or the normal train, it would have taken 2-1/2 to 3 hours! (Note: Free entry to some local attractions, within the Greater Bandung Area, is given to the Whoosh ticket-holders.)
The old Husein Sastranegara Airport which is within Bandung city has ceased operation. Click here to read more about Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and here to read more about Kertajati International Airport.
We flew Malaysian Airlines from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, and returned via Bandung buying our tickets a few months earlier when there was a promotion. We paid about MYR480 (approx. USD100) per pax for the ticket, inclusive of 20kg checked-in luggage and 7kg cabin luggage.
From Jakarta, we took the new Whoosh HSR Train to Padalarang at a fare of IDR225k per pax. We boarded the train at the Halim High Speed Railway Station. the train ride just took thirty minutes. By driving or the normal train, it would have taken 2-1/2 to 3 hours! (Note: Free entry to some local attractions, within the Greater Bandung Area, is given to the Whoosh ticket-holders.)
Click here to purchase tickets for the Whoosh HSR Train, one should arrive at least 30-minutes before departure. Ticket prices remain dynamic and are dependent on passenger density levels, as well as the train schedule.
From Padalarang, a hired van took us around Lembang and Bandung, and transferred us to Kertajati International Airport. Those wanting to use this hired van, contact Budi Rukana at +62-813-2111-6869.
We flew back to Kuala Lumpur via Malaysian Airlines from Kertajati International Airport. Presently there's only one flight per day.
For KLIA van-transfer contact: Danny at +6010-911-5007
We flew back to Kuala Lumpur via Malaysian Airlines from Kertajati International Airport. Presently there's only one flight per day.
For KLIA van-transfer contact: Danny at +6010-911-5007
4. Getting around Jakarta.
At Jakarta, and within Bandung, we got around by using the Grab ride-hailing app. Alternatively, one can also use Gojek. When hailing rides to head for the CBD area of Jakarta, do note that an odd-even traffic entry policy is practised for private cars including ride-hailing cars (ie Ganjil-Genap ruling). Taxis are exempted.
Within Central Jakarta (and perhaps some outskirts), autorickshaws called bajaj (pronounced baj-ai) are a convenient way to get around, do negotiate a price before boarding though.
Within Central Jakarta (and perhaps some outskirts), autorickshaws called bajaj (pronounced baj-ai) are a convenient way to get around, do negotiate a price before boarding though.
5. Immigration & Customs Requirements
Submission for customs e-clearance is advised for getting past the airport customs without a fuss. E-submission can be done before leaving for Indonesia. Click here for to access and fill up the Indonesian E-CD (Electronic Customs Declaration) forms for approval. Upon successful application, a QR Code is given, save this to your phone and show it to the customs officer upon arrival. With a quick scan, one is cleared to enjoy one's holiday.
OR upon arrival, one can scan the QR codes posted along the arrival halls & corridors and fill up details accordingly and an individual approval QR code will be given.
OR upon arrival, one can scan the QR codes posted along the arrival halls & corridors and fill up details accordingly and an individual approval QR code will be given.
Immigration entry is via digital gates which scan one's passport and take a facial photo, so put on your best smile 😊.
6. Accommodations
At Jakarta, we stayed three nights at the YELLO Hotel Harmoni, booking two rooms for two nights without breakfast & two rooms for the third night with breakfast, because we must leave early to catch the Whoosh Train). They upgraded us to a Family Suite on the 29th floor for the first two nights with a great view of the city. It came with a living hall & dining room. The hotel is located in the Harmoni locality within Central Jakarta.
At Lembang, we stayed two nights booking two rooms at the Sapulidi Resort. (GPS: -6.81255, 107.59823). Although the rooms were older, the resort is located in a very green setting with some rooms facing a small lake. It also has an excellent restaurant - Tuangeun Restaurant.
In Bandung, it was two rooms for two nights at the Kedaton Hotel (GPS: -6.91550, 107.60784) near the renowned Braga Street. At a central location and was within easy walking distance to the older parts of the town. A tip here, rooms facing the city has good views, but is noisy as it faces the nightlife district with acitivities lasting up till 4am. The rooms on the other side are quieter but have no views.
At Lembang, we stayed two nights booking two rooms at the Sapulidi Resort. (GPS: -6.81255, 107.59823). Although the rooms were older, the resort is located in a very green setting with some rooms facing a small lake. It also has an excellent restaurant - Tuangeun Restaurant.
In Bandung, it was two rooms for two nights at the Kedaton Hotel (GPS: -6.91550, 107.60784) near the renowned Braga Street. At a central location and was within easy walking distance to the older parts of the town. A tip here, rooms facing the city has good views, but is noisy as it faces the nightlife district with acitivities lasting up till 4am. The rooms on the other side are quieter but have no views.
7. Places & Things of Interests
There were many scenic and interesting places of interest, but one should not miss the following (Note: click on the GPS coordinates for a directional map to the respective places):
c. The Lodge Maribaya (-6.82941, 107.68746), for beautiful hill sceneries with pine trees & interesting activities like Sky Zip Cycling.
6. Food
There is no lack of good Indonesian food, both Javanese & Sundanese, one should not miss the following:
- nasi timbel;
- Sate, grilled meat slices on wood skewers, served with peanut sauce.
- Kuih Bingka Ambon from Bandung.
- Bandrek Tea, a local tea infused with strong ginger flavours and sometimes served with young coconut flesh.
8. Communicating with Each Other
When travelling in a group it's important to be able to communicate with each other, especially if one gets lost from the rest. We bought online China Unicom pre-paid 8-days 16GB (2GB per day) phone sim cards through Hello 1010. It was delivered to our home/office within a few days, and we installed it into our phones upon arrival.
Most hotels, motels, homestays, restaurants, and airports have free Wifi; but do note that public free wifi may not be secure and registration may be required. But one can save on one's mobile data by using these, especially for uploading or downloading videos.
9. Communicating with Locals
At favourite tourist destinations, locals may speak fairly good English. At the smaller towns, locals speak some rudimentary English, so knowing some basic Bahasa Indonesia will come in handy and also warm one up to the locals.
10. Weather
Average day temperatures in Jakarta in July is around 33°C, while mean night temperature is around temperatures 23°C. While in Lembang it's much cooler with day temperatures in the low 20s and night as low as 12°C. Bandung is not as cold, but it still has comfortable day temperatures of the mid-20s and slightly cooler nights.
Useful weather forecast sites for Indonesia is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.
11. Navigation
I used MapMyRide to track our routes and stops. Geo-tagging of places of interest was via FaceBook or Google Maps.
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