Exploring Bogor, Indonesia

GPS waypoint: 6°35'52.5"S 106°47'50.5"E
Location: Bogor City, West Java, Indonesia

Leaving Jakarta
For 3 days I tried to acclimatize, but Jakarta wasn't doing it for me. It didn't make sense to stay longer. There were a few looming destinations, but the closest one was Bogor. It was talked about by a few travelers I met, and it was only 1.5 hours away by a direct train ride. I had it penciled-in.

Arrival Blues
Upon arrival, it took a wait for the #3 green bus (angkot) to arrive, another wait for it to get full, until it took off. Then another transfer to #9. It wasn't easy squeezing all my bags and myself in a tight small bus when passengers' knees are already touching the ones in front of them. In hindsight, I should have just haggled and riden a motorcycle. Any move is always aggravating specially if you're carrying a heavy and bulky backpack.

at the Bogor Botanical Gardens

Lodging
At $10/night for the cheapest dorm bed, Bogor wasn't exactly backpacker friendly, specially compared to the $3 rates I got from Thailand. But Cendana Mulia Hostel is clean, decent and includes breakfast. It was a long walk or a bus ride to get around from the hostel's location. Normally, I'd be doing hotel deals to defray my cost, but being a weekend, the hotel bosses were not available. This situation means I can't stay in Bogor too long.

Bogor Botanical Gardens
This 80-hectare roundish park is the central hub of Bogor. It's huge measuring roughly 1 square kilometer in the middle of the city. Nearly all public transport ply this roundabout en route to wherever. The highlight of this park for me is the herd of white spotted deer on the grounds of the Presidential Palace. Unfortunately, no one was allowed within the Presidential Palace grounds or the palace, although I could see the herd from its perimeter border. As for interacting with the domesticated deer, I had to go outside the park, along its perimeter fence where vendors sell you carrots to feed the deer. The deers are friendly to people. I could imagine they had been there to reproduce for generations, thus their comfort level with people. IDR 25k/adult

Sights and Interesting Things
I planned on exploring these but didn't get the chance. There is the gong-making place which is just a family business that's been there for generations. Another is the puppet maker of Bogor, Pak Dase (Phone: 0251-838 3758, Handphone: 0813 8303 9282). He specializes in making the traditional Wayang Golek (puppets propped by rod).

Natura Yoga
I stopped by a yoga studio and introduced myself as a yoga practioner and offered to teach a free class. I met Amanda, the studio owner and devoted yogini. We had a conversation touching off on yoga and its community. She was agreeable to have me teach but it dawned on me that I had to leave Bogor already. Sigh! It's one of those things that could have been great but had to be left for 'next time'....should I pass by Bogor again.

Cool Climate
If there is one thing going for Bogor, it's the cool climate. It enjoys a higher elevation than Jakarta which makes it a refreshing destination from Jakarta's hot and muggy climate.

Ending Thoughts
Bogor could have been a good place to chill and relax given its proximity to Jakarta and its cooler climate. But there isn't much compelling to see except for the Botonical Garden. Not helping the situation is the crippling traffic and expensive lodging - min $10 for a dorm bed doesn't motivate me to stay longer. After 2 nights, it was time to move on.

Honestly, this 2-day stay in a place and then moving-on is a little nerve racking and exhausting - the seeming endless process of packing and unpacking, internet research, squeezing myself and my bulky backpack inside cramped mini buses, losing my sense of bearing in a new destination, getting lost, weeding out the touts, spending too much time on a bus, etc. That has been my experience beginning in Cameron Highland, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and now, Bogor. Travel fatigue is creeping up on me.

I fondly go back to the memories of Penang just 2 weeks back where I stayed for 23 days....23 days of staying put in a beautiful place...connecting to it as I would with an intimate friend. I'm sure such a place exists in Indonesia - just need to find that one gem where lodging and food is cheap, and the place offers much to see and do. As an added perk, if that place has a cool climate, bingo!

--- TheLoneRider

Next stop: Bandung, Indonesia

Bogor, Indonesia

tourist attractions

• Bogor Botanical Gardens
• Taman Safari Indonesia
• Taman Nasional Gunung Halimun Salak
• Giritirta Hotspring

yoga

• Natura Yoga - hatha vinyasa classes, prenatal, and kids yoga classes

Bogor Cost Index

• IDR 120k backpacker dorm bed incl. breakfast at Cendena Mulia Hostel
• IDR 60k drop-in yoga session at Natura Yoga
• IDR 4k normal green bus fare
• IDR 15k train ride from Jakarta to Bogor
• IDR 25k/adult admission fee to Bogor Botanical Garden
• IDR 65k bus from Bogor to Bandung

Bogor FYI / Tips

• there is no backpacker area in Bogor but it would be good to book a hotel around the perimeter of the Botanical Garden
• the main hub of Bogor is the square kilometer Bogor Botanical Garden

How to Get to Bogor from Jakarta

• take a KRL train (red tracks on train posters) in Jakarta bound for Bogor - IDR 15k/pax, 1.5 hours, 90 kms, elevation 300 meters asl
• from the Bogor train station, you can take any of the green mini bus to take you to your hostel - best to ask your hostel first how to get there using the green bus. Usual fare is IDR 4k

How to Get to Bandung by bus from Bogor

• in Bogor, take the #09 angkot (green mini bus) to "Terminal", IDR 3.5k. Board the "Bandung" bus and you'll be alighting from the Terminal Leuwi Panjang bus terminal in Bandung, IDR 65k. It's on the south end of the city. Take another angkot to take you to your hostel - best to email your hostel first to get instructions what angkot to take.

Things to do, Places to go in Bogor

1. Bogor Botanical Gardens -
2. Sundanese puppets by Pak Dase -
3. Taman Safari Indonesia Cisarua -
4. Bogor Palace - summer palace of the president inside the Bogor Botanical Gardens with herds of white-spotted deer
5. Mount Gede Pangrango National Park -
6. Pura Parahyangan Agung Taman Sari Gunung Salak -
7. Taman Nasional Halimun Salak -
8. Cilember Waterfalls -
9. Nangka Waterfall -
10. Ratu Crater Gunung Bunder Bogor -
11. Giritirta Hot Spring and Spa -

Popular Destinations In Java

• Jakarta - big city, capital of Indonesia
• Bogor - 80 hectare botanical garden, cool climate
• Bandung - visit 2 volcanoes, Tangkuban Perahu and Kawah Putih
• Tangkuban Perahu - volcano 30 kms north of Bandung
• Kawah Putih - white crater lake, 50 kms south of Bandung
• Ujung Genteng - beach, surfing
• Pangandaran - beach and surfing
• Yogyakarta - palace complex of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, Borobudur Temple
• Malang - 2nd biggest city of Indonesia, cool climate, colonial architecture, grand mansions, volcanoes
• Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park - national park, 2 active volcanoes
• Kawah Ijen - expansive volcano system, night time blue flame

Indonesia Blogs by TheLoneRider

Jakarta, Java

1. A First-timer in Jakarta June 23-25, 2016

Bandung, Java

2. Visiting the White Crater (Kawa Putih) of Bandung Jun 28, 2016

Bogor, Java

3. Exploring Bogor, Indonesia Jun 25-27, 2016

UBUD, BALI

4. 21 Days of Abundance, Yoga and Friendship in Ubud June 30-July 21, 2016
5. Hatha Yoga with Andrea Paige at The Yoga Barn July 21, 2016
6. Roll and Release by Rusty Davis at Radiantly Alive Yoga Studio July 20, 2016
7. Kundalini Yoga with Ketut Bandiastra at Taman Hati Yoga Ashram July 20, 2016
8. Kundalini Meditative Movement with Sandeh at White Lotus Meditation Center July 19, 2016
9. Andrea Paige - Health Crusader and Yogini July 18, 2016
10. Power Yoga with Ni Made Murni at The Yoga Barn July 18, 2016
11. Vinyasa Yoga with Daniel Aaron at Radiantly Alive Yoga Studio July 17, 2016
12. Mass Cremation (Ngaben) in Ubud with Louisa July 16, 2016
13. Mysore Ashtanga with Laruga at Ubud Yoga Center July 15, 2016
14. Kalimasada at Yayasan Segara Giri July 14, 2016
15. Hiking Campuhan Ridge July 14, 2016
16. Vinyasa Flow with Nina at Intuitive Flow Yoga Studio July 14, 2016
17. Laughter Yoga with Kadek Suambara at Ambar Ashram July 12, 2016
18. Dance til you Drop at Bollywood Night with Punnu Wasu July 11, 2016
19. Mayan Calendar Readings by Vasumi July 10, 2016
20. Yoga Pranala with Chiara at Intuitive Flow Yoga Studio July 10, 2016
21. Visiting the Elephant Cave (Goa Gajah) July 9, 2016
22. Pranawayu Yoga with I Ketut Bandiastra, S. Ag at Taman Hati Yoga Ashram July 7, 2016
23. Astrology Talk at The Yoga Barn July 6, 2016
24. Yoga with Sasha Lang at the Ubud Yoga House July 6, 2016
25. Ananda Mandala Meditation by Punnu Wasu at The Yoga Barn Jul 4/5, 2016
26. The Wild Monkeys of the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary July 7, 2016

Reader Comments:

Lora Frances Lorente

»» next Traveling story: Visiting the White Crater (Kawa Putih) of Bandung
»» back to Traveling
»» back to Homepage

ARCHIVE 2024: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC

1970 | 1973 | 1975 | 1976 | 1979 | 1981 | 1996 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ALL BLOGS

Yoga

---

YOGA by Gigit

Siquijor, Philippines

LEARN ENGLISH

Cebu, Philippines

DONATION BANK

Donation Bank
for TheLoneRider

WEB HOSTING

WARPED
unlimited web hosting for $5/month