When in Bandung, one way to get to know its citizens and the city is through its parks, which offer many fun yet free activities.
Bandung city government has kept its promise to build more parks around the city. Offered with various thematic designs and concepts, they have become the locals' favorite spots to unwind in public spaces.
Fitness Park
Yearning to keep fit while traveling in Bandung? Then go visit this very interesting park on the corner of Jl. Imam Bonjol.
Last October, Bandung mayor Ridwan Kamil inaugurated the Taman Fitness park and, as the name suggests, it is designed for those who wish to keep fit and in shape.
At the park, you will find a football field surrounded by a pathway designed with stones providing a surface imitating reflexology therapy and, on one side of the park, sport equipments similar to that found in a gym.
That afternoon, a female and male team seemed to be practicing American football.
I also met two local residents, Yanti and Ivon, who came to the park as first-timers.
Yanti, who walked around on the stone pathway, said that she found the park quite pleasant.
Ivon, who lives nearby, added that she wanted to lose some weight and had high hopes that the routine she'd been meaning to do at the park would help her reach that particular goal.
The library park at Taman Tongkeng
This latest edition to Bandung's unique parks opened just last month in the city's residential area of Jl. Tongkeng.
Designed and built in dominant red and themed around the library, it offers a library corner, small playground in one corner -- equipped with a sand pit and interactive play area -- and a futsal field nearby.
According to Tini, the park's library staffer from the GSSI foundation that runs the library, they have around 400 books available, mostly children’s books.
Open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the library has an affordable membership fee of Rp 20,000 (US$1.56) and monthly events are set to be held in 2015 to enliven the park.
If you happen to come by in the late afternoon like I did, chances are you'll see a batch of mothers or caregivers wandering about with small plates or bowls in their hands feeding their toddlers, who typically still have wet hair fresh from their afternoon shower, a sight that somehow shows a hearty warm scene of typical daily life in the country.
Skate Park
Located under Pasopati bridge near Balubur Town Square on Jl. Taman Sari, the park neighbors Taman Film and Taman Jomblo; the latter is uniquely designed for singles to mingle.
When I came in the afternoon, some teenagers were seen practicing their skating skills by gliding along and trying to jump.
According to a young skater I met, Iwan, the skate park is open for everyone who wants to play or learn how to skate. In fact, he said, usually at around 3 p.m., a batch of young children from the area would gather, watching and learning how to skate.
"Usually the older boys, or anyone who's here, are more than willing to teach. Just come and join in," Iwan said.
Whether you skate or not, or merely interact with the locals, watch the skaters practicing and take photos, the park is indeed a fun place to visit.
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