HOT in Bandung

No... not that 'kind' of hot:) I'm talking about the beautiful natural hot-spring located at the foot of Mount Tangkuban Perahu in the region of Subang Mountain Range in Bandung.

As usual, I did not opt for any package tour or hired a guide. Instead, after some reading from the brochures and Internet, I took an 'angkut'-some kind of a modified pick-up truck which is used to carry passengers (Bandung's version of a mini bus, if you may call it...) to the city's Terminal Station. From there I hopped on to another 'angkut' which is bound to go to Subang via Lembang. The 'angkut' then dropped me at the entrance to Mount Tangkuban Perahu. The whole trip took about 1 hour 30 minutes and cost me only RP8000.

Note: 'Angkut' literally means 'carry'. This is another aspect of Bahasa Indonesia which I truly love. Practical, unpretentious and it does not even bother to 'glossify' words in order to make them sound good or proper or even 'politically correct'. Awesome:)

And what da ya know... the place was closed for the day due to safety reason! Apparently there had been some minor 'seismic movements' around the area of an active crater called 'Bomas'. So, naturally the officials did what there were supposed to do: closed the place and chased visitors away from the area. I was so dissappointed, devastated!

Well... me and my bright idea:(
In order to 'cool down' and console my sorry self, I decided to hang around at a nearby 'warung' (kiosk) and had a few cups of 'Kapal Api' coffee. Hmmm... they were so yummy!

But wait... my disappointment did not last that long though. I was later approached by one local who 'whispered' to me that he was willing to take me on his motorbike all the way to the mouth of the volcano(... of course for a price).

And did I take his offer? You bet I did! And what a ride that was! I would tell you more about that 'little adventure' of mine at Mount Tangkuban Perahu in another post. Now, let me continue with my story of 'getting hot' at the foot of Mount Tangkuban Perahu.

After I came down from the volcano crater, my local biker/guide/saviour offered to take me for a sight-seeing at the nearby tea plantation. And would finally drop me at 'Taman Wisata Air Panas Alam Sari Ater' (Ciater Natural Hot Spring Park) - without any additional charges. All inclusive, said my local biker/guide/saviour! Well... that kind of 'kind' offer doesn't come that often, does it? I gladly accepted his 'generous' offer:)

Anyway, the short trip to the natural hot spring via the tea estates was truly amazing! The view was superbly fantastic! And when I finally arrived at the Siater Hot Spring, I could not wait any longer to jump into those very 'inviting' looking hot pools! The entrance fee: RP9000

I was told that the pools at this resort were probably the BEST of all the hot spring pools around Bandung (yes, there are a few others scattered all around the region). Siater Resort has actually pools in which you can either just sit around and soak your tired feet or swim. These pools were fed by hot mineral springs which were created by the heat of the nearby volcanoes. All in all, the size of the park was about 5 hectares. Besides the pools, it also offered accommodation, restaurants, playground, shower & changing rooms and also lockable cubicles.

At the end of the day, I walked out of hot-spring park feeling very fresh, rejuvenated and satisfied. And then, as if in 'cue' from ' some heavenly conspiracy' in ruining the beautiful day that I had till that moment... I was told that I had to walk for some distance in order to catch an 'angkut' to take me back to Bandung. Well... surprise, surprise! I did not complain at all.

Truth is, the cool mountain air in the area had such a

special effect on me. Thus, I then enjoyed a truly nice 'leisurely' evening walk through a small village and upon reaching the end of the village, a sardine-packed 'angkut' was already waiting for its last passenger to board... ME!

Unfortunately, the 'angkut' didnt go all the way to Bandung! Instead its last stop was at a place called 'Lendeng'. And from there I had to take another 'angkut' to bring me back to the city. At the end of the day, I had enough of 'angkut' experiences that I was so tired and felt like I need to be 'angkut' to my bed in the hotel:)))