13°C in Ciwidey, a nature promise with Lembang

The epic story starts from a betrayal from Grabcar, where we couldn't get any car to pick us up to the airport in the morning. At last resort, we called up a taxi which arrived 30 minutes after. Unexpectedly while we were en route, uncle missed a turn to reach the airport which leads us to take another 30 minutes to arrive at the airport. We didn't blame him, for I think he was too tired driving from the highway that never seemed ending. I prayed in the car in hope that we wouldn't miss our flight and called the airline to take note of us but to get a reply saying that we probably couldn't make it. When we arrived, all we could do was just to sprint throughout the airport, taking a train to our boarding gate and arrived just in time for the final call. A delay of perhaps another 5 minutes would render us missing our flight. And that is the beauty of not having to check in your luggage at the airport since we just had handcarry with us. 🧳🧳🧳

✈The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bandung takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.

💸 From the airport to our hotel (at city center) takes around 65,000rp. That's actually the approximate average rate from the airport to your hotel at the city centre. (MIGHT VARY, this is just for reference!)

💡TIPS: do install and keep a few apps in handy like OVO, Grab, any translator app and also a map app. OVO is highly recommended because you can take car/bike rides at a much more cheaper rate when you have promotions in the Grab application (sometimes even up to 50% or more). Using OVO to dine/shop in places could also gain you some cashbacks! Really worth it!

1. Gormeteria

📍Address: Jalan Pasirkaliki No 176, Bandung 40173, Indonesia

Probably the anxiety and running had burned up some of the calories and drained up my energy. After we settle at our hotel, we headed to Gormeteria to refuel ourselves.

Es Podeng cake slice and Thai Tea Layer cake 

Highly recommended by many people, this restaurant has a lot of pretty instagrammable corners for selfies and wefies. But yours truly was too tired for the photos. (I prefer the nature more!)

This place doesn't exactly offer many choices for vegetarians so I opted for desserts. Le fam went for:

Main course
Aglio Olio Spaghetti 60,000rp (approximately RM18.00)
Tuna Tataki Pasta 65,0000rp (approximately RM20.00)

Dessert
Es Podeng Cake 41,000rp (approx. RM12.00)
Thai Tea Layer Cake 41,000rp (approx. RM12.00)

Drink
Hot Ginger Honey Tea 32,000rp (approx. RM10.00)

So overall, my family love it! For me, I think the desserts were still okay. 

2. Ranca Bali

📍Address: Ciwidey, Bandung

Located at the south of Bandung city, it takes around 2 hours to reach Ciwidey. You might want to rent a car with a driver here (you can get many sources online!). I'm a fond of nature, therefore its one of my favourite place eventhough I would freeze myself here at 13 degree Celsius at 6am in the morning here. Our first stop was this tea plantation, and I can't help but to fall in love with this place which has been around for 200 years ever since the Dutch colonials set their foot here.

The plantations were really huge, and they were akin a labyrinth in this valley.

💡TIPS: It gets pretty warm in the afternoon despite the really cool weather in the morning. Do depart a little earlier, I promise it's worth waking up early for!

3. Glamping Lakeside

📍Address: Ciwidey, Bandung

After visiting the tea plantation, we visited the ship perched at the side of a lake called Situ Patenggang. Since the early bird gets the worm, we got the whole ship just for us with absolutely nobody to interfere in the photos = no crowds!

The scenery is magnificent. It's definitely worth to come here!

💸 Entrance: 20,000rp/person (approx. RM6.00)

Stealing some vitamin D and just to warm up myself in the freezing cold morning (no joke!)

4. Kawah Putih

📍Address: Ciwidey, Bandung

The recent drought has dried up most of the lake.

Known for the tiffany blue sulphur lake, kawah putih is actually the remained crater of a dead volcano. And due to the sulphur, the air is reeked with pungent smell. Do bring along a mask although sometimes they do provide at the entrance.

💸 Entrance: 75,000rp/person (approx. RM22.00) for foreigners, 150,000rp (approx. RM50) for the car to drive in 🙃

5. Ranca Upas

📍Address: Ciwidey, Bandung

This deer is a little old, hence it's more cooperative 🦌

💸 Entrance fee: 15,000rp/person (approx. RM4.50)

To buy carrots to feed the deers you will need to pay an additional 10,000rp (approx. RM3.00) for a small bundle. Yeah, good business. We even pay the food for the deers 🤔 Be careful not to step on the golds on the field 💩.

6. Sapu Lidi

📍Address: Jl. Sersan Bajuri, Kompleks Graha Puspa Cihideung, Lembang

As planned, wanted to bring le fam to try out some local Sundanese food. My favs were none other than TEMPEs and TAHUs.

We sat in the amidst of the paddy field. Such amazing view isn't it? 

p/s:The chicken belongs to our driver 🙈

Gross price of our order

Tempe 34,0000rp (approx. RM10)

Tahu 23,500rp (approx. RM7)

Sambal Kangkung 16,500rp (approx. RM5)

Fried Chicken 21,000rp (approx. RM6.50)

Lalaban 11,000rp (approx. RM3.50)

Rice x4 28,000rp (approx. RM8.50)

7. Vipassana Graha Theravada Temple

📍 Address: Kolonel Masturi no. 69, Lembang 40391, Indonesia

After having our hearty meal, we decided to drop by a temple which is just located nearby Sapu Lidi cafe. There were many beautiful pagodas here, all mainly in white match with golden touchings.

It's a really great place to meditate too besides a worshipping place for Buddhists.

8. Terminal Wisata Grafika Cikole

📍 Address: Jl. Sindangbarang Raya Tangkuban Perahu, Lembang 40291 Indonesia

You can come here for outbound activities or just chill out with these beautiful camping grounds.

💸 Entrance fee: 15,000rp/person (approx.RM5)

But I just come here for narcissistic *macam yes* photos, not for adventures yet *opppss* (I mean, when your mom doesn't want adventures hahah)

9. Cikole Orchid Forest

📍 Address: Jl. Raya Subang, Cikole, Lembang, Indonesia

💸 Entrance fee: 35,000rp/person (approx.RM11)

It's really a good family place to walk around and enjoy the breezy air with many pretty flowers and scenery. Your ticket includes also a trip of flying fox so yeah get your pants ready!

Forgive me for the gray tuning because someone set some filter on my camera without us realising it.

10. Terminale Gelato
📍Living Plaza Dago, Jl. Ir. H Juanda No. 61-63, Bandung Wetan

And I will save all the crap and leave it the pictures. To all ice-cream lovers, this will be your paradise! I personally recommend mint chocolate and whisky!! nyehehe

We ordered Pistachio almond, Chocolate Mint and Whisky flavoured gelatos

💸 _{^{45,000rp (approx. RM15) for 3 flavours}}

Been fighting with the bad wifi and lagging computer to make this post. Please tell me if you enjoy this post so I can blog more! You may dm me if you happen to have any enquiry too.

Thank you for wasting your time here but anyway hope you really enjoy reading my post 😀,

Love, S.Y