And the chronicle continues, with 500 words per piece.
… felt when he regained his sight.
In Bandung, we seldom go out. You will see why. We – or at least I – sleep, eat, shower twice a day, nap, and read books. I have brought along seven books, six of which I borrowed from the library, one I could not resist buying when we were inside the Singapore airport. I was unsure if I could finish them during my one week long visit. But it was cake. Because minus the time to sleep, eat, and etc., there is a lot of time left for reading. And a lot of time to tender, love, and care for others as well.
The one thing I miss the most from this voluntary Internet blackout is my online gaming. During the first few days in Bandung, I dreamed about the game so vividly that I thought I was a werewolf. In the middle of the week, I dreamed of a brand new World of Warcraft expansion. In this new workplace, everyone lives inside a hotel. And inside the hotel, we have terminals to play Warcraft . At work, we also have extra terminals to play Warcraft. In this new expansion, not only did we have free flying mounts, but also more than ten character slots per realm. I would vote that as the best dream of year 2010, in the category of PG.
4. Public Transport
To commute in Bandung, we take the minibus. Mom – who is in fact Cynthia’s mother but in Chinese, we neither call our seniors or peers by names nor causally use the term ‘in-laws’ and hence, in my narration, I shall call Cynthia’s mother the same way as I would address her in real life, ‘mom’ – prefers to take public transport. Taxi costs little in Bandung, from a Singapore living standard point of view. But I respect her normalcy in life, happy to experience what a local experiences.
Minibuses are tiny, and old. The doors are perpetually open, and passengers hopping in and out of the minibuses anywhere they prefer. Minibuses are color coded, and the locals know where they go. The locals are kind hearted people. One time I was so eager to lead the pack and leave the minibus when some gasped and warned me of the constant stream of incoming motorcyclists zooming past our vehicle’s exit with nanometer proximity. In Bandung, to cross the road, people use human bodies to stop the traffic. I suppose there is an art to it, not just anyhow feed the body to the incoming vehicles.
5. Dust
Dust, so much dust stirs up on the streets. Even with millions of human lungs (and lungs of cats and birds) filtering the air day in day out, there is still so much dust on the streets. If I was the mayor of Bandung, the first thing I would do is to gather up the entire unproductive workforce, throw in a team of passionate citizens, …
- Continue to Part 3
11 replies on “Bandung Chronicle – Part 2 of 6”
Sounds like a great holiday to be able to read so many books! I wish I could have one like that.
I remember those colour coded minibus with no doors, it was my daily transport mode in Petaling Jaya in the early 90’s. They always asked you to “pergi belakang, belakang!!” packed like Sardine, one day it’s raining and windows are shut, I almost wanted to faint from suffocation! and another day I almost lost my footing when the driver drove away before I could get down from the bus! it’s a horrendous experience with those mini buses. 🙁
Almost forgot the days about risking my life crossing those roads. You should try the roads in Hanoi. Constant car honking that will burst your ear drums!
JoV – Ah, I suppose the minibus system is very similar then. Have you taken the minibus in Hong Kong? The experience is a whole lot different. Maybe that has to do with the wealth of the city or country.
It is an interesting experience to read one book a day. Much like what you do really 🙂 Not sure how you do it but I need to keep a journal on what I read and how I feel about the book in between reading. Or else I am very sure I will forget what I read.
Hanoi eh? I haven’t been there yet. Perhaps one day I should!
Ok Wilfrid, you should stop going to exotic faraway land (like France, Europe etc..) and go to your neighbouring countries. There is a lot of human activities and wonderful scenery to take. I highly recommend Hanoi and be sure to take the Chinese junk in Ha Long Bay. (You know the Chinese Junk like my gravatar (My gravatar is the HK junk), except you sail on Vietnam junk ship for one full day) watching limestone islands and turqoise sea, it is absolutely amazing.
Next up don’t miss Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. With your photography skills, you will capture magnificient pictures. Air Asia offers cheap fare, sometimes zero fare ( I got on board with zero fare, but pay airport tax), if not Tiger Air may offer good deals too!
JoV – I think I have seen a Chinese Junk when I was in Hong Kong some time ago! But to sail on it eh? Hmmm. This is giving me some thoughts!
Not sure if Cynthia will get sea sick though … hehehe.
I have thought about Angkor Wat too. But isn’t Cambodia full of land mines? Kind of scary to think about it.
I guess it is like this, when you are in Europe, you’d love to visit exotic places like in Asia. And when you are in Asia, you’d want to visit exotic places like Europe!
Some of my friends visit Tibet and Mongolia by the way. I think these are even more exotic. What do you think?
Eh Ek! Wrong answer. When I was in Asia, I love to visit all around Asia. Now that I am in Europe, I would love to visit all around Europe, you just wait and see! lol
I think both Tibet and Mongolia are both very enticing. I love archaeological holidays, visit ruins, temples etc. So Egypt would be next. Natural wonders is also another one I would love to visit.
Angkor Wat is safe because it’s tourisy. You have to go outskirt to find mine fields. My husband and I actually visited a village which housed an exhibition and teaches awareness about land mines. So we actually saw all grades and types of defused land mines, hand grenades in exhibit and talk to some land mines victims. Don’t wander off uncharted territories and you will be fine.
C’mon you play war craft, surely you are brave in the real world too? 😉
If I live my life again I would like to be a war correspondent. Now, I can only hope to visit past war zones, like Sarajevo, Krakow, St. Petersburg (I have visited Cu Chi Tunnel in Vietnam by the way) and wouldn’t mind Jerusalem.
JoV – I think I have done my share of traveling around Southeast Asia. I couldn’t have covered Japan, Korea,and Taiwan when I was in Hong Kong because I was still a poor student back then. After started working in Southeast Asia, my initial years of travel were mostly around this area. Now that I have a bit of savings, I don’t mind venturing into places not too far away (like US or Canada), like Europe. Especially since now I am studying Spanish, it would probably make more sense if, say, I visit Spain again this year. Different regions in Spanish perhaps.
In general, I prefer free and easy holiday. One that I can take the car and free to roam where I want to. Hence places like Cambodia would be tough. Egypt also may not be as easy. But more developed countries like Western Europe and North America and Australia / New Zealand, free and easy is very doable.
War correspondent eh? You are very adventurous!
Hi Wilfrid / Jo, not that I enjoy reading this post, I also enjoy reading both your comments too. Make me want to chip in too. 😀
Two persons with two different traveling preference but share the same passion about reading and books….. Traveling is a very expansive hobby but most people are still doing it because the end results, despite lesser bank account balance, are very rewarding.
I don’t think free and easy is that “easy” too unless you are talking about purely sun taning at the beach. The last time I did a free and easy trip in Hong Kong I walked until I dropped. Literally, I have to squart on the side walk for a break. Same thing in Tokyo and I booked a free and easy trip to Hanoi expecting the same experience only to find myself canceling it because I was pregnant. I felt so bad that I have missed the beautiful Halong Bay, the Chinese Junk ride experience that Jo was talking about. Heard the local food they served on the boat was delicious though they look plain.
I am not a bad fan of vacationing at hardship countries too but on the contrary, vacationing in NA can also be a hardship if you have choosen to hike and camp at the national parks. 😀 My sister in law used to work as a volunteer in Mongolia. Based on her sharing, I have concluded that there is nothing much to see in that country. Well, to be exact nothing much I like to see but I still want to visit Mongolia one day, to meet the girl I have sponsored through Worldvision.
Different reasons draw us to different places but it is amazing how we are all connected. 🙂
…i was trying to say I am not a big fan of vacationing at hardship countries….
J – Absolutely agree with you. In fact, I often joke with my friends that free-and-easy is neither free, nor easy. Despite how we call it free-and-easy! I can certainly relate with your walk-till-you-drop trip to Hong Kong. I have experienced the same, ha ha ha.
I have visited America. And I find that having to deal with the long distance driving is perhaps one of the hardest thing to do. Some days, I have to drive more than 12 hours. When I finally got to get off the car, I felt like floating in air. Perhaps not something I am used to?
Wow, you have sponsored someone in Mongolia! I think you ought to pay Mongolia a visit one day 🙂 I have got absolutely no idea what is there to see there (maybe your sister-in-law is right). Perhaps to visit places like Mongolia is about seeing the culture of the people.
For such a huge country like America, 12 hours drive is pretty normal but I know what you mean when you said you felt like floating in the air after the journey. I am not used to that myself. What most people do here is they break their journey and make it into a trip. They have one overnight or even multiple night stops along the way….so driving to attend a wedding that is 15 or 16 hours away sound pretty normal over this part of the world.
My sister in law has experience staying in a ger for a year and she took a trip, riding on camels and horses across the desert and you are right mostly experiencing the culture, visiting some temples in desert, appreciating the desert, watched how the local slaughter a camel that has died during their trip and made that into a meal, drink goal milk (well, she got that everyday) and most time just traveling through the desert. The City is better. Surprisingly people there is open to trade in US dollars and things there are extremely cheap, including salary of course. I think she was only paid USD1500 per month but still her buying power is better than a lot of people. Heard those in the villages have very interesting culture like partnership is not practically exclusive and some people trade spouses but in general the Mongolian are very kind and warm people.
Mongolia is located at the north of China so one could take a train ride to Northern China such as Beijing and Har Er Bing. Also, journey to the silk road starts from somehwhere in Mongolia if I have not mistaken. Well, just trying to recall what I remember, please don’t hold my words for it. 😛
J – From your comment, Mongolia does sound like an interesting place to live! Wow. Trading partners?! Some culture is so exotic. Did ou know that in Chile, before the arrival of the Spanish, the native Indian men would “steal” the girls they intend to marry from their home, with the help of their friends. Literally remove the girls from their home. And then if things work out, they would then propose to the girl’s family.
One time, my friend and I wanted to quit our jobs and spend some time in Silk Road. I heard it is beautiful. That plan did not materialize, lol.