Indonesia – Postcard from Java
After 1 night in Jakarta, a fabulous 3 hour panoramic train journey took us to the city of Bandung, West Java and after good night sleep we got over our feelings of jet lag. Today, our first day exploring the region’s amazing places, the highlight, White Crater, a volcanic crater lake. Other sites …. tea plantations, rice fields, volcanic hot pools and a walk across what is claimed to be the longest suspension bridge in South East Asia.
Kawah Putih – White Crater
Kawah Putih – White Crater
Kawah Putih – White Crater
Our time in Bandung is done, heading back to Jakarta now. Bandung is not a particularly interesting city, with really just one cool street and a handful of art deco buildings however the surrounding countryside is wonderful. Took a trip out to Tangkuban Parahu volcano, Rainbow Waterfall and a colourful cultural show. Also visited a civet coffee farm and tried the civet coffee, unusual in itself as the civets eat the coffee berries, natural enzymes process this in the stomach then they poo out the beans. The beans are then processed as normal to create a very low caffeine content. Although it has health benefits, the coffee wasn’t really to our taste.
26 Comments
Lookoom
Thanks, that gives me an idea of what there is to see!
Phil & Michaela
Hi there, thats great, hope it helps with your choices when you do visit😊
Lookoom
Exactly, I had to cancel my trip to Indonesia in April because of the situation in the Gulf, where I was due to stop over, but that just means I’ll be able to enjoy it more when I visit later.
Phil & Michaela
Yes Phil said. We flew in via Istanbul, hope you get to resurrect your plan soon
restlessjo
That does look like a l-o-n-g bridge! Happy travels, you two xx
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Jo, it was fun to walk across 😄
Lynette d'Arty-Cross
Wow! Fantastic pictures, especially of the two of you and of that very long suspension bridge, too!
Anonymous
Fantastic to find this in the morning mail! Great to see the photos – most of which showed areas not seen before. Have to laugh over the civet coffee which does keep on coming up and does not make my favourite drink too attractive. Just love the volcano and rice field photos . . . fun to know you two are ‘above’ me now . . . well, you were to my E and NNE before . . . soon time to land here 🙂 !
Phil & Michaela
Well, you never know, one day 😉
Eha Carr
Trying to post for the second time! Great to see you just ‘above me’ with those wonderful photos. Have never been or even seen some of the places to which you have already managed to go – wonderful photos especially of the volcano and rice fields. Am grinning over the civet coffee which makes some hearing about it for the first time kind’of ‘go off’ their favourite beverage . . . be well . . . you have a long trip planned . . . am surely looking forward to ‘sharing’ each part. . . .
Phil & Michaela
I think it is going to be a very varied and interesting trip 😃
Diana
Beautiful!
Miriam
All looks and sounds wonderful, except for that civet coffee!
Phil & Michaela
I know 😂
WanderingCanadians
Beautiful captures, especially of the White Crater. Hopefully the suspension bridge wasn’t too wobbly considering how long it looks!
Phil & Michaela
Thank you 😊. The bridge was actually quite stable and easier to cross that it looks, we have done other shorter ones which were more wobbly
Helen Devries
A super introduction to a region unknown to me…..
And as for that civet coffee….just wondering if the squirrels that plague us here could perform the same function…..
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Helen. I’m sure if the squirrels could do this too, it would be an equally unusual taste, think I will stick to a regular coffee bean 😆
Toonsarah
The landscapes look amazing, as does that bridge! I’d be curious to taste the coffee but I don’t think I’d be expecting to enjoy it even before reading your views on it 😀 I do think the civets look very cute however!
Phil & Michaela
Hi Sarah, yes the landscape has been spectacular with far more to come, planning on visiting more volcanoes further down the line, the adventure is just beginning 😄
Alison
Gorgeous photos. We’ve been to a civet farm also. Strange process for sure. That bridge did long extra long. You’re both looking well
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Alison. Yes strange process but they are such cuddly creatures. Actually the one we held is a pet and doesn’t eat the beans, there are actually 2 breeds of civet and only one of them eats and process the coffee beans. 😃
grandmisadventures
Incredible pictures from Indonesia! I love the colors of the white crater 🙂
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Meg. The landscape is just amazing, more to come on this trip 😊
The Flask Half Full
The fact that civet coffee exists makes me think that at some point in history, there was someone who looked at civet droppings and thought, “You know what? I think we’ve been throwing away the good part.” 😂 How’s the weather? Are you guys melting??
Phil & Michaela
It has been hot but not too humid so far, I am sure that will change 😆