Wide Angle View of The City: Merdeka Street, South

This is the wide angle view of Jalan Merdeka (literally: Freedom or Independence Street) south of the City Hall, which in this picture is on your right hand side (invisible). The tower and the high rise building on the top left corner are, respectively, Bandung Cathedral (the Saint Peter Church) and Panghegar Hotel.

Skywatch: Bandung's November Sky

This is what Bandung's sky has been like this past week. It has either been rainy or heavily cloudy. The rainy season has set in and seems to be in full swing now.

The tower in the above photo, by the way, is the minaret of Bandung Grand Mosque (Mesjid Raya Bandung) at Asia Afrika Street. And oh, the baloon next to it is an advertising baloon. It advertises "PT. Pegadaian" - Indonesia's state-owned pawn shop.

To see other great skywatch photos from around the world, please click here.

Gedung Sate #2: Southern Facade and Some Architectural Notes

This is the photo of the southern facade of Gedung Sate and its surrounding tropical gardens.

Some architectural notes of Gedung Sate:
Gedung Sate was designed by architect J. Gerber. The construction began on July 27, 1920, and was completed in four years. According to Bandung historian Haryoto Kunto, thousands of workers were involved in its construction, including a number of craftsmen and artisans who were especially invited from China to do the detailed ornaments of the building.

Gedung Sate's architecture is unique in that it combines Western architectural design and elements adopted from local and regional architecture. The tiered roof at the center, for example, is said to be adopted from the Balinese temple "meru" structure. The ornaments of the main gate at the front is quite probably adopted from Thai temple architecture. While the doors, huge windows, and some wall ornamental features bear resemblance to Indian and Spanish architectural elements.

Gedung Sate has five levels (floors). The first three floors house the different departments of the Provincial Government of West Java. The fourth floor functions as an exhibition hall and a theater where historical photographs of Bandung and West Java are exhibited and a 30 minute documentary film of the same are screened for visitors. The fifth floor, which is located right under the tiered roof, can only be accessed through a speacial staircase. It functions as a terrace where the governor of West Java entertains guests of honors for tea or coffee. From this terrace tower, one can see the majestic Mount Tangkuban Parahu (which literally means: capsized boat) in the north and other mountains surounding Bandung plateau.

Baby in the Air

Text and picture by Eki Qushay Akhwan

It would certainly be horrifying to see a baby in the air. But this is what I see almost everyday on my way to work at the Pasteur Exit of Padaleunyi toll road. This sight never fails to amaze and amuse me. Come rain or shine, the baby has always been there, waving and smiling in the air. So, one day, I deliberately stopped my car and took this picture, so that when it's (or he's) gone, I can still smile and be amused just by looking at this picture.

"Summer" Rain

Text and picture by Eki Qushay Akhwan

There is of course no summer in a tropical city like Bandung. We have only two seasons: Musim kemarau (dry season), which normally lasts between April and October, and musim penghujan (wet or rainy season) between November and March. So I did not expect that it would be raining when I set out on my motorbike to Bandung Culinary Festival last Saturday. But it did. And it was quite heavy. The sudden downpour had forced many motorbikers like myself to find a shelter from the rain. This place - a small patch of park under the Pasupati Bridge/flyover - was the choice for many who happened to be around or passing the area. While waiting for the rain to stop, I took out my camera and had a look around to see if there was anything I could photograph and share with you. Here is one of them.

Bandung Daily Photo

Jalan ABC: Bandung's Electronic Market

Jalan ABC, or ABC street, is Bandung's prime electronic market. Lining this street that connects Jalan Otto Iskandar Dinata (Otista) and Jalan Banceuy in the center of the city are shops that specilize in selling electronic goods and gadgets. Bandung's people as well as visitors to this city like to go here to shop for electronic goods and gadgets because their prices are considered lower than in any other shops in other parts of the city and because they can bargain/negotiate the price.

Jalan ABC electronic market had existed long before shopping malls specializing in electronic goods, such as Bandung Electronic Center (BEC) on Jalan Purnawarman and Bimall on Jalan Naripan were opened.

You may want to consider visiting this market next time you visit Bandung.