Known for it’s amazing colonial architecture, Bandung is continuously evolving into a modern city right before our eyes. It’s one of the most visited cities in all of Indonesia. It’s trying to rival the cities of the modern Western nations of New Zealand and Australia which are just off to it’s eastern coast. However we see that it’s also trying to be contemporary, and rise above its neighbors in many ways. You get a sense that the lifestyle of the residents is truly being studied and catered for. It’s one of the best places to visit purely for this reason because you get to witness how the city is also trying to adopt a more Western approach to it’s infrastructure. Thankfully however, it’s also not going to forget it’s heritage anytime soon. One of the must-do things is to visit some of the more traditional Indonesian buildings like the temples. But just how is it becoming more modern?
A tectonic simulation
As many of us know, Indonesia is situated in a place on the earth that has many natural challenges. It’s one of the few places on earth that has volcanoes, earthquakes, cyclones and tsunamis. This is a great place to learn if you’re a scientist and hence why the Geology Museum is definitely one thing to keep your list of things to experience in Bandung. Inside you will find a life size skeleton of a mammoth. The huge tusks and even bigger spine is something to behold in person with your own eyes. There’s lots of information about the nature of the islands but one thing you must try is the earthquake simulator. For those that don’t live in a country where you get many tectonic plate movements, this is something you’ll never forget. The first time you can feel the ground beneath you move at a great pace and vibrate, you’ll form a newfound respect for mother nature. It’s not dangerous at all so you can bring along your children if you want to also.
A place to stay
As aforementioned the city is full of colonial architecture. What you see in the heart of the city is really a mixture of post-modern and art deco. It’s a great take on these styles but it has it’s obvious twist to it. However when you have come this far, maybe staying in the epicenter of the city is not really what you want if you’re looking for quiet. Check out rumah dijual di bandung houses which you can buy and or rent. Depending on the size you require for yourself or for your family and friends, you can choose from the different kinds of neighborhoods and home styles. The common kind is that of 2 or 3 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms. Much like you see in amazing cities like London and New York, modern urban block homes are available too. They wouldn’t look out of place in Tokyo, Paris or Madrid because they have adopted the Western style completely.
Exploring the ancient world
Indonesia has been the set for countless movies. It’s a land that mixes exotic landscape with ancient mystery. It’s a good thing then that Ratu Boko is still remaining a focal point for the city. It’s an ancient palace made of a hardened black rock. It was a fortified settlement for the ruling family of the country in the latter part of the 8th century. Some say that the site is even older than that but the mystery remains unsolved. There are three staircases that lead up to a plinth which you can experience as there are no off-limit sections. Some believe that the fortification was used as the main residents of the ruling family as there are around 4 gates in total to which you can exit and enter. This would mean that supply lines were coming from all around the country. All around the site is a large flat terrace which makes this the perfect site to built a stronghold from as you could see any hostile forces approaching. King Boko is now a folklore figure and the locals have many different tales about how he lived and what kind of impact his reign had on the city of Bandung.
Bandung is an incredible city that is in the midst of a transformation. You can see how much the architecture has changed over the years. It’s one of the first cities in the continent to adopt modern Western urbanized architecture and house-building techniques. The museums and shopping malls are pretty much on par with any neighboring nation too. The earthquake simulator is something you have to experience while you’re here.
