Bandung : Orchid Forest & Braga Street

October 26, 2023

Bandung : Orchid Forest & Braga Street

First day : Orchid Forest Cikole

Hi,welcome back. It's been awhile since my last update. Today, I would like to write about my trips to Bandung, West Java. I think most of you have visited this city hahahaha but for me it was my first time. And this city has become a part of my bucket list. It always has been.

So, the first journey begins from Yogyakarta Train Station. We (my friend and I) took a night train. We arrived at Bandung Train Station in the morning. Then we ordered a car to go to our Hotel. Actually we decided to check into the Hotel considering that we can start to explore right away. We had plenty of time to sleep on the train. After taking a shower and getting the motorcycle to rent, we decided to go to the Orchid Forest Cikole in Lembang, west Java. But before that we went to grab lunch time in Warung Nasi ibu Imas, which we considered a must try place during our visit to Bandung this time. This restaurant was so crowded with a lot of people having lunch here and mostly they are coming from another city just like us.

At the Train Station & Our Hotel Room

We finished our lunch time then we started to go to Lembang. It took approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from Bandung to Lembang. The roads were extremely hard for me because they went back and forth but I believed in myself that we were going through these difficulties. Finally after 1 hour and more we arrived at the Orchid Forest Cikole. We bought 2 tickets for 50K for each adult. Actually the place was big and so green with the fresh air that we craved for.

Warung nasi Ibu Imas, Bandung

There were two main places that I wanna see badly, Golden Pine and the Orchid Glass House. We would like to have good tea and some pastry in the Golden Pine but there were 14 queues. So we decided to buy gelato then got permission to enter the Golden Pine to see a lot of beautiful flowers inside. We were so lucky, then we took a glance inside and took some video to that place then we said thank you and left.

Golden Pine

Then we strolled to the other side for a while before going to the Orchid Glass House. The glass house was full of all kinds of orchids and other plants with waterfalls that makes this place so earthy and peaceful. We took a quick tour and there we came into the planting place , orchids & cactus store. We could buy the orchids and other plants here but we decided to not buy it hahahah.

Orchid Glass House

Honestly, Wood Bridge became the one place I wanted to visit but because we were too tired and we should go back to Bandung before dark. So we skipped this time. There was a Free Shuttle available to bring us back to the Entry door from this end of the tour. And we took it of course without hesitation hahahaha.

In the middle of the roads, we see a route to Bosscha, the modern astronomical observatory in Lembang which belongs to the Bandung Institute of Technology which is located in Lembang. But it was already closed because it was late afternoon. I was so sad but that was okay, I will visit Bosscha next time. Hopefully.

Second day : Braga Street

Braga Weg, Bandung

After having a really good sleep last night. After breakfast in the Hotel & waiting for my friend who went to the Cathedral to pray. We decided to explor e Bandung City. We parked our motorcycle along Braga Street. The first shop we went to was Bakmi Tjo Kin, this bakmi was really famous and legendary in Bandung. We ordered Bakmi Manis Bakso, Bakmi Manis Ayam Rica-rica, and Wonton with Chili oil. The restaurant was located on the second floor along with Kopi Djawa Resto & Bookstore. The queue was quite long because it was saturday. The food was good, the noodles were tender but it was just too sweet for us. I think we need to order the savory one next time hahaha. And the price was affordable, not too pricey nor cheap in Braga Street.

Bakmi Tjo Kin, Braga Street

Jurnal Risa Coffee

After eating, we strolled along Braga Street. We went back to the first shops on the street, took several pictures, and enjoyed the ambience as a tourist. The street was crowded as it was because this street became one of the tourist attractions when I visited Bandung. We stopped at Jurnal Risa Coffee, this became one of my list also. We ordered Iced Salt Caramel ala Peter for me, Es Susu Pandan for my friend & Carrot cake for us. We enjoy a little time & fresh air inside the Cafe. And surprisingly the Cafe was smell so good. The woody smell like Cheddar & Bergamot that I really loved (cries). After finishing our coffee, we went out again to stroll to the other shops hahaha. We stopped at Cantina, the famous ice cream in Braga Street and we bought one cone of Mint Chocochips Ice Cream for both of us because we were actually too full.

Sweet Cantina & Kopi Djawa

Then, we went to the Merdeka Building and Asia Afrika Museum. So sad that the Museum has already closed at 3:00 PM. But that was okay. I can still witness the Museum from the outside and took several pictures. Actually the Asia Afrika Street was full with a lot of people gathering along the street. There was cosplay as the Urban Legend devil in our country, the Japanese Manga, Marvels and many others. We went for dinner, we ate Mie Kocok Bandung near Alun-alun Bandung before going back to our Hotel. It was really a fun day spent in Bandung City.