Jul 2007 : Subang (Tangkuban Parahu)

Travel Title: Trip to Jakarta – Bandung – Subang, West Java, Indonesia 2007

When: July 2007

About The Trip:

Purpose: To catch Jazeman Jaafar in action in the Formula BMW Asia Series at Sentul International Circuit, near Jakarta.

Days/Nights: 4 Days 3 Nights

Arrangements: ~~Travel Agent~~ / Self-guided Tour

Route: Kuala Lumpur MALAYSIA – Jakarta – Bandung – Tangkuban Parahu – Bandung – Jakarta (3 nights) – Kuala Lumpur MALAYSIA

Traveling Method & Time:

Kuala Lumpur – Jakarta = aeroplane (≈ 2 hours)

Jakarta – Bandung = in a hired touring van (≈ 2 hours 30 minutes)

Around Bandung town = in a hired touring van (≈ 3 hours)

Around Tangkuban Parahu (Subang District) = in a hired touring van (≈ 2 hours)

Bandung – Jakarta = in a hired touring van (≈ 2 hours 30 minutes)

Around Jakarta town = in a hired touring van (whole day)

Jakarta – Kuala Lumpur = aeroplane (≈ 2 hours)

Details:

Tangkuban Parahu – In Sundanese, ‘tangkuban’ means upturned and ‘parahu’ means boat, and so the highland was given the name Tangkuban Parahu due to its geographical resemblance to an upturned boat. It is one of the popular tourist attractions in Subang District (less than 1 hour’s drive from Bandung city) and one of the still active volcanoes in West Java. The journey starts at the very peak of the highland and the tourists will have to walk for about 1km down to the sulphuric crater, Kawah Domas (Domas Crater). To exit, the tourists will have another 1km to walk to the foot of the hill, away from the sulphuric zone.

Kawah Domas’s last eruption was in 1983. When you visit the site, don’t forget to buy some raw eggs and boil them in the hot water spring of the crater. And if you’re a thrill loving person, you can try dip your feet in the hot water or have you face steamed too, emmm… why not?! According to Pak Kamin and Aliq, two uninvited local guides we found at the peak of the highland, Tangkuban Parahu has its own classic story to tell behind its preserved natural beauty.

The story tells of Sangkuriang, a lad who at his young age was sent away by his mother, Dayang Sumbi, for disobedience. God had granted Dayang Sumbi with eternal youth as a payback to her sadness. After many years in exile, Sangkuriang returned home. At that time, the two had long forgotten and could not recognize each other. Sangkuriang, upon seeing Dayang Sumbi, fell in love with her and asked for her hand in marriage. One day, Dayang Sumbi saw a birthmark on Sangkuriang and realized that Sangkuring was actually her son. Some people say, Sangkuring had gotten really mad when Dayang Sumbi revealed the her true self and kicked the boat resulting the boat to overturn. Another version says, Dayang Sumbi had requested Sangkurian to build a dam on the river Citarum and a large boat to cross the river, with intention to fail Sangkuriang’s plan in marrying her. Sangkuriang was adamant and took the challenge, which later on forcing Dayang Sumbi to tell him the truth. When he knew Dayang Sumbi was his mother, Sangkuriang got really frustrated that he kicked the dam and the unfinished boat causing it to overturn. The damaged dam caused a severe flood. Wow, Sangkuriang and Dayang Sumbi might have been two giants back then, eh! Hence, the creation of Tangkuban Parahu. And… errmm… what the hell happened to his father, Si Tumang?

Image Gallery: