City of Rain Bogor

Bogor, 60 km south of Jakarta and 120km from Bandung, is most famous for its botanical gardens. In the days before independence, however, this was the most important Dutch hill station, midway between the mountains and the heat-ridden plains. Governor-General van Imhoff is credited with its discovery in 1745. He built a large country estate which he named Buitenzorg ('Without a Care'), but it was not until 1811 that it was first used as a country residence by Sir Stamford Raffles, during the British interregnum, and not until many years later that Bogor became the semi-official capital.

Bogor has become an important centre for scientific research, including botany, agronomy and forestry. Though Bogor stands at a height of only 290 metres it's appreciably cooler than Jakarta, but visitors in the wet season should bear in mind the town's nickname: the 'City of Rain'. Bogor has probably the highest annual rainfall in Java and is credited with a record 322 thunderstorms a year.

BOGOR PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

In the north-west corner of the botanical gardens, the summer palace of the president was formerly the official residence of the Dutch governors- general from 1870 to 1942.  The huge mansion was destroyed by an earthquake and a new palace was built on the site a few years later in 1856. Following independence, the palace was a much-favoured retreat for Soekarno, although Soeharto has ignored it. Today the building contains Soekarno's huge art collection of 219 paintings and 156 sculptures but the palace is only open to the public by prior arrangement.

BOGOR BOTANICAL GARDEN

At the heart of Bogor are the huge, world-class botanical gardens, known as the Kebun Raya (Great Garden) covering an area of around 80 hectares. They are said to be the inspiration of Governor-General Raffles, but the spacious grounds of the Istana Bogor (Presidential Palace) were converted to botanical gardens by the Dutch botanist Professor Reinwardt, with assistants from Kew Gardens (London, UK), and officially opened by the Dutch in 1817. It was from these gardens that various colonial cash crops such as tea, cassava, tobaco, and cinchona were developed by early Dutch researchers during the so-called Forced Cultivation Period in the 19th century. The park is still a major centre for botanical research in Indonesia.

The gardens contain streams and lotus ponds and more than 15,000 species of trees and plants, including 400 types of magnificent palms. The gardens' orchid houses are reputed to contain more than 3000 orchid varieties and are open to the general public. Admission to orchid houses is Rp.1000. North of the main entrance to the gardens is a small monument in memory of Olivia Raffles, who died in 1814 and was buried in Batavia, and further north, near the palace, is a cemestry with Dutch headstones.The gardens are open between 8 AM to 5 PM. The entrance fee is Rp.5000 on weekdays and Rp.4000 on Sundays and holidays.

BAG STORES IN TAJUR, BOGOR

In Bogor, precisely in the area Tajur, there are many shopping areas selling various kinds of bags, shoes, and other personal equipment. Region in recent years started to grow, always visited by buyers from all walks of life. Every weekend or school holidays, the area is visited by many visitors from Jakarta and surrounding areas. There is also a stopover here on his return from the tour in Puncak.

Various kinds of bags with different styles and sizes pegged to the price is pretty cheap, like bags ranging from 20,000 school children, office bags from 25,000 bags from 15,000 women, - and luggage bags ranging from Rp. 20.000. There is plenty of choice of sizes and models according to the trend. Brand was diverse, ranging from a branded to unbranded abroad. Tajur bag is already quite well known, especially for the citizens of Jakarta. Even some handbag stores in Jakarta to buy from here. In addition to handbags, there are also shoes, clothes, jackets, wallets, belts, and so forth. 

To go to this area is easy, as seen from the location that is not how far away from the terminal Baranang-noon, Bogor toward Ciawi. When from the summit, you can get through the market Ciawi grab a straight path toward the city of Bogor.

Nature and Culture in Harmony Saung Anklung Udjo

Established in 1966 by the late Udjo Nalagena (1929-2001) and his beloved wife,Uum Sumiyati, Saung Angklung Udjo was built with purpose and dedication to conserve  West Java's Sundanese traditional art and culture. It was Udjo Nalagena who brought the passion and principles which made Saung Angklung Udjo a place where Sundanese art and culture thrive and gained proper respect worldwide. His efforts to introduce and promote angklung finally paid off when UNESCO inscribedAngklung in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List in November 2010. His love and dedication for Sundanese art is manifested in this beautiful and tranquil complex, consisting of performance hall, a bamboo handicraft center, and bamboo instrument workshop.

A group of children joyfully line up in traditional Sundanese costume, welcoming all visitors as they walk into the green bamboo hall of Saung Angklung Udjo Villagein Bandung, West Java. Simply translated as Udjo's House of Angklung, this one-stop cultural workshop offers a complete experience around angklung, Indonesia's traditional musical instrument made of bamboo.  Angklung consists of one single note, creating a soothing chord.  It produces sound when it is shaken rapidly. An ensemble may consist of 3 or 4 players to a full orchestra playing the angklung repertoire.

Saung Angklung Udjo adopts the philosophy of easy, affordable, educative, attractive, massive, and cheerful performances that are essence of their ultimate show called "Kaulinan Urang Lembur"or villagers' playtime. The show is packed with spectacular short performances, commencing with wayang golek (wooden puppet) show, helaran (agricultural harvesting celebration) rites, traditional dances, kids games, introduction to angklung, angklung orchestral performance, interactive angklung performance that involves visitors playing angklung, and arumba performance.

 

HOW TO GO THERE

    

Nature of Tangkuban Perahu Mountain

Tangkuban Perahu sitting with elegantly dominates the panorama of northern Bandung. Mt Tangkuban Perahu is one of the volcano is still active in West Java. Located at an altitude of 2084 m above sea level, this uniquely shaped mountain has attracted many visitors for decades who came to look more closely at the crater, enjoy the panorama of the valley around it, as well as more familiar with the story of the famous people, Sangkuriang.

Based on the legend, the mountain is formed due to anger Sangkuriang who feel failed to grant the request for a large boat from the lake and Dayang Sumbi (a story of forbidden love between a child with his own mother). Then kicked the boat that has been created and fallen tertelengkup (in Sundanese nangkub tongue) in its current location - which was the origin of the name Mount Tangkuban Perahu. According to the geological history, Mount Tangkuban Parahu formed from recurring activities Volcano eruption in the Sunda prehistoric times. Note the last eruption in the second century was in 1829, 1846, 1862, 1887, 1896, 1910, and 1929.

From the top of the tower in the city of Bandung Gedung Sate, you can see very clearly the physical shape of Mount Tangkuban Parahu that really resembles an upturned boat.

   

   

Introduction of West Java

West Java Province is located at part of western Java Island. The enchanting of Sunda land stretches from Sunda Strait in the west to the borders of Central Java in the east. The locals' people know West Java Province as the Land of Sunda. The region is primarily mountainous, with rich green valleys hugging lofty volcanic peaks, many of which surround the capital of West Java province. 

The history of West Java is a story of trade, spices, and the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms. In the late 1500's the region was ruled from mighty Cirebon, which still survives as a sultanate today, although a shadow of its former glory. West Java was of the first contact points in Indonesia for Indian traders and their cultural influences, and it was here that the Dutch and British first set foot in the archipelago.

Geographically, West Java Province is situated between 5 50'-7 50' South parallels and 104 48'-104 48 East meridians.

West Java Province is bordered of:
North side: Java Sea and Jakarta
West side: Banten Province and Hindia Ocean
South side: Hindia Ocean
East side: Central Java Province.

This strategic geographical condition is an advantage for West Java particularly in communication and transportation. Northern region is plain area, while southern part is a hilly area with beaches, and the middle region is mountainous area. But after the establishment of Banten Province, the size of West Java becomes 35,746.26 kilometer square.

West Java has tropical climate with temperature reaching 9 degrees Celsius at the Peak of Mount Pangrango and 34 degrees Celsius in north beach. The average rainfall is at 2,000 millimeters per year, but in the mountainous areas the rainfall could reach 3,000 to 5,000 millimeters per year.