[Please enjoy the pictures] "We just fell in love with a city," I post on
FB Saturday, after a trip to Bandung. It's our first time to the city
where we'd like to live and learn Bahasa Indonesia next year.
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The language school in Bandung |
We fly into Jakarta Thursday night. The Bramonos, our friends and the
parents of two wonderful students who stayed with us a few years ago,
meet us at the airport, dropping us at the All Seasons hotel. We're
close to the International English Service (IES, where we will attend
Sunday.) The hotel is a relaxing boutique hotel, full of modern
surfaces, glass, lime greens, and browns. The complimentary breakfasts
includes Indonesian as well as Western choices. We alternate between
guava and orange juice,
nasi goreng,
rice porridge, and waffles. The view from the restaurant deck is
spectacular, overlooking the city of trees, skyscrapers, and old
neighborhoods.
Friday, W and I explore the area on foot, stopping at the IES office to
say hi to Pastor Dave Kenney, an alum of NU. Turns out Dave graduated
from our alma mater the year before we did, so we know a lot of the same
people. (I got to know him when I was Alumni Director a few years ago.)
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Window display of Pasta de Waraku |
Afterwards, we pop into the Grand Indonesian Mall, a complex of big and small shops. We eat at a shop advertising
"Japanese Pasta,"
where my supper of prawn and pesto spaghetti is fantastic! For my sore
feet and tight neck, I splurge on an hour-long foot and back rub at the
mall's massage shop @$11. Well worth it.
Meanwhile W is cruising the mall to find a bandage to ward off a blister
(my sandal was rubbing). By the time I'm done and relaxed, he's done
and exhausted. We head back to the hotel without shopping. I do find a
Grade 6 Indonesian workbook. This write-in-text of
math/science/language/grammar/social studies should be perfect for
acquiring some commonly used vocabulary. W doesn't have the energy to
cruise the mall for Indonesian videos as I'd hoped. But our friends send
us links to some programs for listening to the language.
Saturday morning, Bramonos and Kristi (their oldest daughter) pick us up
to head for Bandung. We've been drawn to the city since we first
considered moving to Indonesia. Dave has set up a meeting with a couple
who used to live in Jakarta and attend IES. An IES branch in Bandung
would be a great asset for speakers of English, whether Christian or
not. We're exploring what that might look like.
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Bandung traffic |
It's Ramadan, the annual month of fasting for Muslims. They eat a very
early breakfast (before sun-up) and celebrate a late supper (after
sundown). The driver doesn't eat during the day, but he drives the two
hours to Bandung. Sometimes the ride takes 4 hours, say our hosts,
depending on traffic. With everyone feasting and meeting families,
traffic this weekend is amazingly light (moving, not congested as
usual).
We meet up with a delightful couple, Alwin and Maria, friends of IES who
moved back to Bandung to be with their families. They're great company
and full of good ideas about living in Bandung. We encourage them to
start a Life Group, like the one they miss since their relocation. After
a cooling drink at Chatime (Ciwalk Mall), they scoot off to other
obligations.
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Alwin and Maria join the fun! |
We browse a few of the outlet stores for which Bandung is famous. W buys
a shirt; I find a blouse for myself and a handbag for Kirsten. For
supper, we're headed to the Peak, a restaurant Bramonos enjoyed on their
last trip. We follow a winding lane up the side of the mountain. Barely
wide enough for two vehicles and in the pouring rain, we miss the
unmarked turnoff.
Instead, we pull into the driveway of a place that looks like a modern
retreat center. Indra goes in to get directions and comes back to wave
us inside. "The place requires a reservation, but we have a table," he
says. "Let's eat here."
We have arrived -- by happy "accident" -- at
Lewangwangi,
an art gallery and restaurant. We sit overlooking the city, lights
sparkling below. Fireworks climb the sky from the houses on opposite
hillsides, celebrating the end of the day's Ramadan fast.
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The gallery-restaurant of Lawangwangi |
The owner, of Lewangwangi, Dr. Andonowati, sits and chats with us. She
tells us that she moved home after 10 years at McGill University in
Montreal (yeah Canada!). She's a math professor at a local university in
Bandung. Over the years, she has purchased student art at her
institution. Her collection is varied and interesting. It's well worth a
visit, to give a feel for the artistic side of the city.
It's a long drive back down the mountain and back to Jakarta. By the
time we get home, it's 11:30pm. (Bramonos live another hour further
away!)
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Chinese food around a big table |
The next morning W and I sleep in. We intend to attend both morning
sessions at IES, but miss the first. We visit the 11 o'clock meeting. We
enjoy the music and speaking. The group says goodbye to a family who is
returning to South Africa. How touching to see the care for its
members!
Over lunch, we visit with Pastor Dave, Gigi, their daughter, and the IES
worship leader. The South African family, who join the feast, are great
fun. Their daughter is moving to the USA to attend a community college.
"Where?" we ask. Wow - she'll be studying within a few miles of our home
and church in Kenmore! It's a God-arrangement: we invite her to join us
for Sunday lunches once she arrives. As we wrap up, the guys exchange
jokes and stories that make everyone laugh.
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Bakezin, alias 'Temptation Central,' with our friends |
For dessert, the Bramonos pick us up to take us to the
Bakezin,
a dessert chain of culinary temptation. We get to see "our girls"
Kristi and Daniela. They are happily married to nice guys who pursued
them for years to win their hands. (Kristi is expecting a baby, whom we
can't wait to meet!) We're so full we can't eat a thing, but our tea is
good. We give and get hugs all around before we part.
Then Indra and Yayu are off to a traditional service, where he is
speaking. Meanwhile, W and I pack up our things in the hotel for
checkout at 7pm. Bramonos return to drive us to the airport. It's hard
to say goodbye. Knowing we'll be back in a year makes it easier.
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A teen sprayed silver,
soliciting funds for
a Bandung orphanage |
It's one thing to hear about the hospitality and personal kindness of
Indonesians. It's quite another to experience such generosity and
friendship. This family, among all their obligations and long commutes,
has helped us enjoy exploring Jakarta and Bandung in ways we never
imagined. We are so grateful!
On the flight home, W and I talk about what stands out to us. What a weekend