Tag: Bandung

Indo Indo

Travel

Hey friends, family and fellow bloggers,

It’s about time I post again, but when you are enjoying your atmosphere so much, getting on the internet doesn’t seem so appealing. But, I get a free 30 minutes here at the local KFC (they are all over Asian cities) where they have three computers. How convenient.

So currently I am in Bogor, Indonesia. Home to one of the most famous botanical gardens in the world, it is what attracted me here and I have to say, there were some amazing trees and all sorts of variations of nature I had never seen before. It’s wonderful to see all the forms of this planet. I’ll be sure to post some pictures later.

Bandung

I have spent the past week exploring the town my family used to make its home for many years, Bandung. Nicknamed the “Paris of Java,” it is a charming town though it suffers now from an over population of people. Indonesia is the 4th most populated country in the world following China, India and USA.

The weather has been great, all around 67-83 degrees fahrenheit. I have visited the same places my grandparents and great grandparents used to frequent and I am getting a much better idea of what sort of lifestyle my family had lived these 70 plus years ago.

The trip shall soon wind down as I need to go back to the states for work with World Vision and assisting with some summer projects, some of which include working and sailing my boat and doing some landscaping with the family in California.

I have been hanging with local Indonesians everyday and the couchsurfing group here is the strongest one yet I have encountered. They are a fun and hospitable bunch.

Ciao!

INDONESIA BABY

Travel

Welcome to Indonesia!

It is so good to be here. I write to you from Bandung, where my family used to live before WWII. Yes, for those of you who do not know, I have Asian descent, both genetically and culturally. For most of my life, I grew up eating Indonesian cuisine and learning about the history and many stories of Dutch colonial life in Indonesia.

Now while I am not for colonialism and occupation of countries, it was fascinating to learn of how my family used to live in Bandung, Java before the war and Japanese occupation. It was utopic to say the least.

Nice homes, nice cars, social gatherings, dances, equestrian shows all surrounded by a beautiful mountain range with hot springs, waterfalls and rainforest. Paradise really.

My Oma, who lived the first 40 years of her life here still vividly remembers the times she spent here and the pictures of this time 60-100 years ago attest to the good times. She still is alive today at 100 and was very happy I am here in Bandung.

Yesterday I went to Braga street, which is a main street here in Bandung. There I had a nice sausagebiscuit (typical dutch pastry) and sweet coffee. Yes! My great-grandfather used to come here everyday and here I am, sipping on the same recipes that he had a century ago.

I am stoked to be here, it feels like home really. And my couchsurfing friend Freddy hooked me up with all his buddies here, so I have like 7 personal tourguides and hosts! Thanks Freddy! For those of you not familiar with the community of couchsurfing, get familiar. It will change your world, and if you are one of those who cannot get the time to travel, going to a couchsurfing group meet will make you feel like you are in a coffeeshop or pub anywhere in the world because of the diverse mix of nationalities that attend.

I’m going to post photos in time, but I’m soaking in the Java lifestyle. Later today I am going to visit a tea house that our family owned before we immigrated to Holland. Can’t wait.

Ciao!

Shawn