Surfing at Cimaja Beach

Cimaja Beach in Sukabumi Regency is not a familiar name for surfers, especially for Indonesian surfer. Even the size of the waves on the beach is known to foreign tourists, no wonder if the Cimaja Beach is often visited by surfing sport lovers to challenge big waves through a surfboard belonging to them. On the beach is also often held surf event of National and International level. It is not so much to make the Cimaja Beach became one of the best surfing destinations, not only in West Java Province but in Indonesia.

The Cimaja break, a right that rises off a rocky reef, is reached by walking about 300 meters from the main road through beachfront sawah (rice paddies). This spot is consistently surf able because it has a solid and angular rock bottom perfectly attuned to south and southwest swells rising out of the Indian Ocean. Its rights peel off in front of a cobble-stone and boulder strewn beach that clatters like a series of giant castanets every time a wave set rolls in.

The distance traveled from Jakarta to Cimaja about 120 kilometers, from Bandung about 203 kilometers, and about 80 km from Bogor. Cimaja Beach is easily reached from Jakarta in about two and a half hours by car. An option worth to do considering Puncak is a tourist area when traffic jams are a nightmare of ever more horrific on weekends.

Located in the area of Pelabuhan Ratu, Cimaja Beach is growing in popularity as a surfing Mecca in West Java. The surf break here is off a rocky reef and is a consistent break and suited to the south and southwest swells that offer up 6- 8 waves. The only drawback really is the cobble-stone and boulder strewn beach. However, surfers get a 100-200 meter ride and is suited to those of moderate skills. There is some accommodation available in the form of losmens.

The main surfing season is during the dry season from April through to October. During the wet season November through to March the surf is not as consistent and you could be disappointed. One matter that is of some importance is that of the color green. According to the traditions and local custom this color is forbidden to be worn as it does offend the Javanese spirit-queen Loro Kidul. Believe it or not there have been a lot of deaths over the years of people dismissing this custom!

Having completed the challenge to ride the waves Cimaja Coast, you can continue the program treat yourself to a souvenir shop of the most amazing fishing, fish and other fresh catches. Enjoying the fresh fish that is cooked directly over the fireplace with sunsets, waves, and gaiety atmosphere around is one of the wonders that you can find on the beach Cimaja.

Grand Royal Panghegar – Bandung

Text: IrneenorrisImages: Muhammad Haziq, Irina Norris and Grand Royal PanghegarMarch 18, 2013Sources : GayaTravel

Grand Royal Panghegar - Bandung

This 52-year old hotel is one of the historical and heritage hotels in Bandung. The newly transformed and upgradedGrand Royal Panghegar has just opened its doors recently on November 2011.

The stunning Art Deco architecture brings guests to a bygone era, where one would associate with good hospitality and service. Smiling bellgirls cheerfully greet you as they open the door for guests in unison. This hotel was previously a 3-star business hotel and has since been upgraded to 5-star rating.

After renovations, Grand Royal Panghegar now boasts a total of 452 rooms comprising condotels, apartments and suites.Grand Royal Panghegar is located in the heart of Bandung’s business district, just next to the Government offices. It is also within a walking distance from the famous Jalan Braga, Bandung’s hip dining and entertainment area.

The hotel also houses many dining, entertainment and shopping outlets for guests’ convenience. More outlets are in the midst of setting up to offer more offerings to its guests.

A notable dining outlet in the hotel is May Star Restaurant, a famous Halal Chinese food chain from Jakarta specialising in delicious dim sum, live seafood and smoked duck. Be sure to try their very unique Salted Egg Pau Bun.

Meanwhile, another food and beverage outlet, Pakuan Café, offers Indonesian menu, while an American grill eatery is set to open soon.Music lovers would appreciate Paseban Deco’s live Jazz Band performances on Friday nights, or just relax and unwind at their Lobby Lounge.

The Grand Royal Panghegar houses the biggest Grand Ballroom in the city and has 13 small meeting rooms, making it the venue of choice when it comes to hosting MICE events in Bandung.

Its Amarthapura Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 2,000 standing guests and can be broken up into five smaller rooms,making it possibly the hotel’s biggest selling point.

Weddings, exhibitions, conferences and even grand birthday parties have all been done here, indicating that the hotel is an excellent one-stop venue of choice for hosting large functions.While it seems like the hotel primarily caters for business travellers, it is also suitable for leisure travellers and families with young children.

Its facilities such as the heated swimming pool, spa, Kids Corner, jogging track, gym and tennis courts are all geared for guests leisure activities, thus making the hotel suitable for anyone seeking comfortable and convenient stay when visiting Bandung.

When guests are at the hotel, don’t miss admiring the hotel’s massive collection of Wayang Golek (traditional handcrafted Indonesian puppets) neatly arranged behind the reception area, whereby each one of them is unique.

The collection aptly adds to the sense of place, reminding guests that they are visiting the great nation of Indonesia. By staying at Grand Hotel Panghegar, guests are surely in for a great experience in savouring Indonesian hospitality.

Wayang Golek - Traditional Handcrafted Indonesia Puppets 

May Star Restaurant

Amarthaoura Ballroom

Pakuan Cafe

A quick and refreshing tea walk in Bandung's highland

The view from the car's windows shifted from lines of pine trees to slowly reveal a vast green carpet of tea plantations dominating the horizon. Lowering the car windows results in a gust of fresh air filling the interior.

During especially cold days, the mountainous areas behind the tea plantation is usually covered by mist.

The scene is typical of the road spanning from the area near the entrance to the Tangkuban Perahu Mountain in North Bandung toward the city of Subang.

Should the opportunity to travel on that road arise be sure to stop along the side of the road once the tea plantations are visible, because walking through them is one of the most popular activities for local tourists.

During a recent visit, The Jakarta Post Travel explored two spots right on the side of the road that offer quick access to the famed "tea walk".

Warung stalls mark these two spots, their back doors leading straight into the plantations.

The first one is located near the road between the Ciater Resort Spa and a famed ascent dubbed by locals as Tanjakan Emen.

Other landmarks to help locate this spot is PT Perkebunan, the national plantation company, and nearby stalls offering items such as instant noodles, coffee, tea and grilled and steamed corn.

The other location is easier to find.

When traveling from Bandung, take a right turn after passing the sign for Gracia Spa on Jl. Ciater Blok Dawuan. Then go straight ahead to find stalls offering a set menu such as fried or grilled fish with rice cooked in the Sundanese style for around Rp 30,000 (US$3.06) per person.

According to a stall vendor, tea farmers usually start working in the fields at around 7 a.m. until around 2 p.m.; visit the farm at around that time if you want to interact with them. The best time to visit the place is in the morning before 10 a.m. since it tends to get too hot around mid-day and to rain in the afternoon.

It is advisable to dab some insect repellent, as well as sunscreen, before heading off for your walk among the green shrubs.

Sources: The Jakarta Post

Farm: Several farmers at the tea plantation are seen on the horizon

Mist often cover the mountainous area around the tea plantation especially during the afternoon.

A window of a roadside stall overlooking green tea plantation.

Signature snack: The stalls' signature snack: Grilled or steamed corn mostly sold at Rp 5,000 a piece.

The stalls near the tea plantation are still using wood burning flame to grill foods such as corn.

Behind these shabby warung stalls are direct accesses to the tea plantation.

Indonesia Table Top & Dinner @ Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur (4 June 2013)

JTX 2013 @ Grand Royal Panghegar, Bandung