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mimicik
Joined: 29 Nov 2009
Posts: 6
Location: Thailand
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 Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 11:21 pm Post subject: Bandung? |
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| I'm interviewing for a job with TBI in Bandung and looking for some more information. I have time on my side so wondering if I should hold out for Bali or Lombok or if Bandung could work. I know it's close enough to a beach for weekend surf trips, but is there much to do in the town? Close to 3 million people isn't exactly what I'm looking for (after NYC, Istanbul, and moving back home to the fastest growing city in the US...) but at least it's not Jakarta. Just looking for more info on day-to-day living and the possibilities for getting out on the weekend. Any advice is greatly appreciated! |
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hippocampus
Joined: 27 Feb 2012
Posts: 126
Location: Bikini Bottom
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:08 am Post subject: |
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Have you checked how many miles inland and up in the hills Bandung is? Do you know how horrible traffic is in Jakarta? Do you think there are many prime surfing beaches anywhere near there? Even if you could find the time to get away, I fear you'd no sooner reach the beach, sigh with disappointment, and then it will be time to head back to Bandung.
I was there 20 years ago, and found the city ineffably creepy and too cool. I visited Indonesia to enjoy warm weather, and this place was too cool for my liking at night. It was very uncomfortable attempting a cold water wash at my hotel the one night I stayed, and I left the second day I was there because somehow I found the place disturbing. Maybe it's just me. I dunno, maybe in a past life I was brutally murdered there, but I have never been to any place that gave me the creeps - except Bandung. |
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rayman
Joined: 24 May 2003
Posts: 427
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 10:30 am Post subject: |
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To give some balance, I actually prefer Bandung to Jakarta. Pelabuhan Ratu is approximately the same distance from Jakarta as it is from Bandung. You can also fly to Pangandaran from Bandung airport. There are quite a few teachers I know of that used to make these weekend trips for surfing. Most people would also find the weather in Bandung more bearable than in Jakarta. It's nice being able to walk to your front gate without breaking into a sweat.
Hippocampus, maybe you should give it another go after that 1 night, 20 years ago... |
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hippocampus
Joined: 27 Feb 2012
Posts: 126
Location: Bikini Bottom
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| Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:31 am Post subject: |
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| rayman wrote: |
To give some balance, I actually prefer Bandung to Jakarta. Pelabuhan Ratu is approximately the same distance from Jakarta as it is from Bandung. You can also fly to Pangandaran from Bandung airport. There are quite a few teachers I know of that used to make these weekend trips for surfing. Most people would also find the weather in Bandung more bearable than in Jakarta. It's nice being able to walk to your front gate without breaking into a sweat.
Hippocampus, maybe you should give it another go after that 1 night, 20 years ago... |
No (shudder) I have a premonition that if I do, I'll be murdered in my bed. (nice example of the future conditional, is it not?)
As for Pelabuhan Ratu: it's on the south shore of Java and notorious for its riptide. Superstitious locals (which is to say, everybody) think it's a sea goddess who gets so many bathers and surfers there. They say she gets especially upset if you wear green (Gods know why). So.mimicik, if yo do surf the south shore extreme caution is advisable. |
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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 2:51 am Post subject: |
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| rayman wrote: |
| To give some balance, I actually prefer Bandung to Jakarta. |
That's not balance. That's pretty much the consensus. No one I know, except for a handful of people in denial, claim that Jakarta is a better place to live.
Bandung is not perfect. It's not as cool as it used to be (from what I've heard), it's a poorly-laid out and corruptly-managed, and it doesn't have the creature Western comforts that Jakarta has. That said, it is 100x more livable than Jakarta, far cleaner and more comfortable (especially in the Dago area), and it doesn't feel at all like a big city.
Your options in Indonesia:
Jakarta - A crowded, sweltering environmental disaster
Bali - Nice and the most enlightened area of all but super-expensive with low paying jobs
Lombok - Beautiful but without any creature comforts plus awful salaries
Bandung - Great climate, some nice areas, decent wages and creature comforts |
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hippocampus
Joined: 27 Feb 2012
Posts: 126
Location: Bikini Bottom
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 2:55 am Post subject: |
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Just to weigh in on the Jakarta vs. Bandung question: I hate both places. Bandung is scarey for me, while Jakarta is just wholly unpleasant. Any other questions?  |
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alexthelion
Joined: 16 Feb 2012
Posts: 6
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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mimicik - did you end up getting a job in Indonesia?
I thought I'd jump on this thread because I am also looking at interviewing in Bandung. I originally wanted to work somewhere in Sumatra (near nature, away from big cities), but haven't been able to find any openings. I'm also wondering if I'd be happy in Bandung - does anyone live there currently? |
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chezal
Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 146
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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| alexthelion wrote: |
mimicik - did you end up getting a job in Indonesia?
I thought I'd jump on this thread because I am also looking at interviewing in Bandung. I originally wanted to work somewhere in Sumatra (near nature, away from big cities), but haven't been able to find any openings. I'm also wondering if I'd be happy in Bandung - does anyone live there currently? |
You are very unlikely to find an opening away from the big cities in Sumatra. I lived in Medan for 3 years. While it's a big smelly city I loved it as it's extremely easy to get into nature at the weekend. I was hardly ever in Medan at the weekend I spent most of my time hiking and camping an hour away from Medan in Siobolangit. There are many places to get into the wild within easy weekend reach. There is an outdoor/adventure scene in Medan (nearly all Indonesian's) but this is a great way to make friends.
On Bandung I really like Bandung however the traffic is getting nearly as bad as Jakarta. Through the benefit of working in Bandung is that you can live out in a mountain village/housing complex and still be able to easily get into work. This is what all of my friends who live there do. |
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alexthelion
Joined: 16 Feb 2012
Posts: 6
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 2:52 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the info Chezal - can you recommend any good schools in Medan? |
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vema123
Joined: 09 Mar 2009
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 1:33 pm Post subject: Better forget about Bandung |
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I happened to stay in Bandung for several years for a teaching job at a local tours and travel agency there and I heard that the traffic in Bandung is ridiculously crowded every weekend, especially on long weekends.
Talking about the climate, many people say that Bandung is not as cool as it used to be. Even during its hottest time, you can get sweat easily simply by sitting down and doing nothing! So unless you enjoy shopping fake goods in Bandung or visiting the crowded tourist area in Bandung, I'd rather suggest that you'd better forget about Bandung. |
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alexthelion
Joined: 16 Feb 2012
Posts: 6
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 3:02 am Post subject: Re: Better forget about Bandung |
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| vema123 wrote: |
I happened to stay in Bandung for several years for a teaching job at a local tours and travel agency there and I heard that the traffic in Bandung is ridiculously crowded every weekend, especially on long weekends.
Talking about the climate, many people say that Bandung is not as cool as it used to be. Even during its hottest time, you can get sweat easily simply by sitting down and doing nothing! So unless you enjoy shopping fake goods in Bandung or visiting the crowded tourist area in Bandung, I'd rather suggest that you'd better forget about Bandung. |
So you lived in Bandung for several years and hated it? |
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