WaYnE's WoRLd: March 2008

Well, I do believe that this is the first volcano that I’ve been to. For those interested in visiting Indonesia, I would recommend Bandung. It is the place to visit and has plenty of hotels and service apartments. The traffic is a lot better compared to Jakarta and the air is so much cooler and cleaner. Although it’s just below 1000 meters above sea level, the locals are wearing jackets and sweaters as if it’s 16 degrees! Weird. Unfortunately it’s been raining almost every day since I’ve been here. Besides the Volcano (Tangkuban Prahu – with it’s interesting story) and the hot springs, I was told that there is another volcano nearby which is much better than this! I’m making plans to go there this weekend. Good thing I have the company car and driver to bring me around on the weekends. He he he…

READ The ‘Highlighted Interesting Story’ about Tangkuban Prahu
The 1830 meter high Tangkuban Prahu volcano is one of Bandung 's main tourist attractions. With its 5 craters of which at least three are still active, it makes for a spectacular sight. Unfortunately, the smell is equally spectacular, the sulphur mostly resembling rotten eggs. The volcano can be reached in less than one and a half hours from Bandung and is approximately 30 minutes from the scruffy horticultural town of Lembang . To get there, take an angkot (minivan) to Lembang and change to another angkot that says Tangkuban Prahu.
The area of which the Tangkuban Prahu volcano forms the heart has been given the name Parahyangan , which translates to ‘home of the spirits' and is considered the spiritual origin of the Sundanese. Legend tells that in the past, a young boy by the name of Sang Kuriang fell in love with his own mother who he hadn't seen for many years (because he'd allegedly killed his father and was kicked out of the house). The mother, upon finding out the awkward family ties between her and ‘her lover', tries to get rid of his affection by giving him the impossible task of building 1000 boats in 1 night. If that wasn't hard enough, she also undermined his attempt by making the roosters cry too early. The son fails and will never be able to marry the love of his life. In anger and frustration, he kicks one of his newly built boats which turns upside down and grows into a mountain. That explains the name Tangkuban Prahu, which means ‘upside down boat'.
The park is a huge area with forests that make for great hikes to the craters. The main crater, kawah ratu , is lined with a selection of tacky tourist shops selling miniature ninja puppets, bonsai trees and hats made out of rabbit fur. This is also where most of the street/mountain vendors hold office with their strawberries and raspberries so be prepared to be followed around with those relentlessly.
The small information centre has a model of the volcanic area and some brochures, but the best way to enjoy the Tangkuban Prahu is to take a walk around the crater. There, the tourist traps are absent and the views of the bubbling mud and steam are quite impressive.
It is possible to walk down to the main kawah ratu crater in record speed of two hours, but make sure you wear appropriate shoes since the ‘road' is rocky and slippery. An alternative route would take you to kawah domas , a crater with a small sulphur mine that can be reached in about 30 minutes and where the main attraction is boiling eggs in the 94-98 degree water.
Admittance to the park is Rp.35,000 for foreigners and Rp. 12,000 for locals, the underlying assumption being that most foreigners are loaded. So unless you look distinctly Indonesian, expect to pay up. Sometimes ‘negotiating' with the staff will bring the price down a bit.