September
25, 2024, is the birthday of the 688th City of Bandung. This city where I
was born and raised has a unique fact. What are the unique facts of the
city of Bandung that are interesting to listen to?
As
a Sunda Pride adherent, it is not strange that when meeting Sundanese
people in the region, all Sundanese people will claim to be Bandung
people when they come from Cililin (West Bandung Regency), Cimindi
(Cimahi City), or Rancaekek (Bandung Regency). Bandung Raya does cover
the four districts/cities.
Ancient Lake
Speaking of the geological history of Bandung, we will also talk about the Bandung basin formed due to the eruption of Mount
Sunda. Mount Sunda is a mountain with a height of 4000 m that
erupted between 210,000 and 105,000 years ago. The eruption formed an
ancient Bandung lake that then dried in the form of a basin, which is now
the plain of the city of Bandung.
Traces
of the ancient lake that has disappeared can be felt by Menong when
going to enter the area of Bandung Raya. If Menong's friends visit
the city of Bandung by land (from the direction of Cianjur Regency,
Subang Regency, Sumedang Regency, and Bandung Regency), Menong's friends
must take a winding road across the mountain and then downhill as they descend the valley when going to enter the Bandung Raya area.
Prehistoric
tools such as cutting tools (knee) and hunting tools (arrow eyes) are
found in the Nagreg area, Bandung, and Citatah, Padalarang, West Bandung
Regency. The stone element of the maker of the two tools is certainly
derived from the same element, even though the locations of the two are far
apart.
This
is a unique fact that proves the Nagrek and Citatah regions are on the
edge of the lake, which is where prehistoric humans are active even when
Lake Purba Bandung has not dried up. Another piece of evidence was the
prehistoric human skeleton found in Pawon Cave, Citatah.
From
the direction of Cianjur Regency, Menong's friends will pass through
the limestone area in the Citatah area, Padalarang, which is known as
Stone Garden tourism. The road along Citatah-Padalarang turns on
the lime valley before finally declining in the Situ Ciburuy area.
This
limestone mountain is proof that before the formation of Bandung Lake,
the Greater Bandung area and parts of West Java were at the bottom of the sea
in the early Miocene era (22.5–17 million years ago). The seabed
becomes a landmass that forms the limestone of Citatah in West Bandung
Regency. Now this area is one of the geopark tourist destinations known
as Taman Batu (Stone Garden).
Another case is when Menong friends enter Bandung Raya through Lembang, one of the
favorite destinations of domestic and foreign tourists. Did you know
that the Lembang area was formed from the earthquake movement in the
last 3,000 years? Area
Lembang
is famous for the Lembang fault, a break that stretches for 29 km from
the foot of Mount Manglayang in the Jatinangor area, Sumedang Regency,
to Mount Kapur in Padalarang to form a giant natural wall. Although
known for its natural beauty, the Lembang area holds a great danger at
any time there is a tectonic earthquake due to the shift in the Lembang
fault.
Culture
The
Sundanese Tatar Society is known for its Sundanese culture that is
thick with a religious and friendly society. In the midst of the
onslaught of the era, the Sundanese culture still gets a special place
for the Sundanese tribe, which is the majority tribe in the Greater
Bandung area.
Although
no longer using the bare ribs as before, Menong's friends can still
hear Sundanese as the language of instruction in Bandung Raya. Some
words from the Sundanese language have been absorbed as the national'slang' language,
such as "singles," which (formerly) meant "old virgin" and is now meaningful as
a person without a partner. Or ‘ngabuburit’ as an activity to wait for
the time to break the fast.
Unfortunately, the typical names of Sundanese, like Asep, which is varied into Atep, Acep, or Ayep, and Euis, which is Iis, Eulis, and Lilis, have
begun to disappear, replaced by Arabic or western names. Even so, the
nickname of the millennial generation is still dominated by the typical
Sundanese name, like one of my friends named Mahatma, who is often called
Mamat.
One
unique fact of the city of Bandung that is often discussed in medsos is
the absence of a culture of 'clushance' or any riot on the highway.
When the red light turns green, there is no loud horn or grumpiness because
everyone will be patient waiting for their turn forward. No wonder there is a joke for people who are impatient in the streets: "Sakirana riot mah, indit weh ti Kamari" (if it is in a hurry, just go from yesterday).
Culinary
Bandung
is a culinary tourism paradise, from old-school culinary to culinary. I
don’t know why tourists make culinary experiences the main destination when
visiting Bandung. Maybe from its diverse variants, the taste is quite
good and the price is affordable.
The
menu is a snack that is commonly found in the city of Bandung. Call it
cilok (aci di plug), cimol (aci dikmol), cilung (aci rolled), cilor (aci
egg), and others become prima donna. More innovations developed in
accordance with the current trends, such as cireng with mozzarella, seblak prasman, or batagor blanket.
Menong's
friends can visit the Gempol area to enjoy the legendary Kupat Tahu
Gempol, Alkateri lotak on ABC Street, Cimandiri satay behind Gedung
Sate, Surabi Enhaii on Jalan Setiabudi, Kolak Kalipah Apo, Mi Kocok near
GOR Saparua (Halmahera street turn), cuankie in Lansia Park, or Cihapit rice stall in Cihapit Market. However, prepare excess funds because in this region, the price is pegged to tourists.
 |
| Alkater Lotek, Rp. 17,000/portion |
I
personally prefer more snacks, like the common people who are cheap.
Menong friends can try baso at the intersection of Diponegoro
Road and Trunojoyo Road, which costs only Rp. 3,000/pcs or Lomie on Jalan
Ciliwung with a price of Rp. 15,000/portion, Cipuk (aci kurupuk) on
Jalan Kebon Seeds at a price of Rp. 1,000/pcs, chicken thumbs in front
of Al Manar Mosque, Jl Puter with a price of Rp. 1,000/pcs or Batagor
Ding's at the border of the city of Bandung and Cimahi (Jl. Sudirman) for
Rp. 7,000/pcs
 |
| Lomie Tasty |
This
unique fact of the city of Bandung is the thing that always makes me want to go back to Bandung. As the (former) old nomad left Bandung, my
heart always wanted to return to this city of development. “It’s just that I go back to my true love.” – Soekarno
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