First-time in Lampung, Indonesia

Arriving on a Saturday morning at the Tanjung Karang train station, we drove through the almost deserted, swept-clean streets of Bandar Lampung until we reached Emersia Hotel (READ: First-time in Emersia Hotel and Resort), our home for two days, where we would be having our breakfast. I’ll tell you more about our hotel in the succeeding post. The breathtaking view of the city and the coast at the horizon emerged before us, an appetizing feast to the eyes. Bandar Lampung, the capital of Lampung Province in the southwestern portion of Sumatra Island in Indonesia, has a topography of mountains and seas. It is no wonder that it has many natural attractions. But with just two days, how can we see them all?

My fellow Kerala Blog Express Season 4 winner, Indonesian blogger Indra Pradya, was our guide as he also works in the tourism department of the province. A few weeks before our trip, they had an event wherein they hiked to the “Child of Krakatau”. In the late 19th century, the Krakatau, or Krakatoa, volcano wreaked havoc to many lives. Now, a Krakatau Monument is built in Bandar Lampung.

Along with Indra, also with us in the group were Kent and Aziza, who were like their youth ambassadors, and Deni from the East Lampung Regency. So, we started off our exploration of a piece of Bandar Lampung, including nearby regencies that for part of Lampung Province.

Kencana Lepus Traditional House

We exited the city, passing by many establishments. We noticed that the Siger, or more known as the bride’s crown, was prominent in every building. It is a Lampung symbol that is used in construction, clothing, and other paraphernalia. Eventually, rubber tree plantations replaced the tall buildings and the wide highway narrowed.

We were heading to the East Lampung Regency and made our way to Pugung Raharjo. There, we entered a compound where the Kencana Lepus Traditional House stood. It’s a big house on stilts and the posts carrying it have flower carvings on it. Like any Southeast Asian houses, such as those in the Philippines, houses are raised above the ground while animals and grains are kept beneath them.

Built around the middle of the 17th century, the house is made of indigenous materials, mostly of wood. The house also serves like a museum where stone carvings and other cultural materials are put on display.

Jalan Diponegoro No.56
Sukadana Village, Sukadana town
East Lampung Regency, Lampung, Indonesia
Reference: http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/lampung/kencana_lepus.html

Taman Purbakala Pugung Raharjo

Pugung Raharjo was a bit unexpected. Under the scorching heat of noontime, we arrived at what seemed to be a plain. Or so we thought. We climbed a few steps of the entryway, although there were no walls attached to it, only remnants of what seemed to be a citadel. There were rows of mounds, with an excavated lane in between, which would look like a canal if it has water. I was told that they were used as a defense against attacks and a picture of soldiers in a trench came to mind.

But I was taken aback by what came next. A few walks away, passing through corn fields and tree plantations, took us to megalithic stones arranged in a certain way. Our guide explained that it used to be a ceremonial site. And the large stones in the middle looked like phallic symbols. A word of caution though. No one can enter the stone formations or else, some sort of curse will come upon you.

Up ahead was a mound called Punden Berundak. Mind you, these sites were further walks away and it was difficult doing it while the sun is up. The mound has three levels, wherein each level was separated by rocks placed on top of each other. At first I thought we could enter it, only to find out that ceremonies were done around the mound with the high priest (or priestess, perhaps?) performing the rights at the summit as there were no doors or openings beneath or surrounding the mound. It reminded me of Borobudur. Officials also do not allow visitors to climb the mound in order to preserve it.

Then we hiked downwards and came upon a natural spring. Ah, a refreshing site…finally! Trees surrounded the tiny body of water, which flowed towards a pool to a stream. You could even drink the water because it was so clear. A pool made of concrete was built nearby, considered to be the royal pool where members of the royal family once lounged to cool themselves off. We took off our footwear, sat by the narrow footway and allowed the tiny fishes to nibble on our toes. We didn’t want to leave the place but our tummies were craving for something else, which dipping in the water could not satiate.

Pura Jagad Dita

As we made our way to Way Kambas, we passed by rows of houses with colorful shrine within their properties. Our hosts informed us that Lampung is a province which is now home to many migrants from other parts of Indonesia, thus, one can expect a fusion of culture in this part of Sumatra. And during that time, we were passing through a Balinese village. Bali is a famous destination in Indonesia because of its beaches and rice paddies. But it is also home to many Indonesians practicing the Hindu belief. That explains the artful shrines we saw outside some of the houses.

While we were still brimming with excitement with this interesting scenery, Deni and Indra brought us to Pura Jagad Dita. It’s a Hindu temple. And though it was closed, we could view what’s inside the compound. We snapped our cameras in this beautiful place of worship, trying to preserve the beauty that our eyes could behold.

Way Kambas National Park

Covering 1,300 square kilometers of land area, which includes some forests, Way Kambas is home to several animals, notably the Sumatran elephants, Sumatran tigers and Sumatran rhinoceros. We met several monkeys along the way as we entered this vast ASEAN Heritage Park. Flora and fauna also abounds inside the park. While there were a lot of species found inside Way Kambas, what really caught my eye were the elephants that were visible among the vast greenery. An Elephant Conservation Centre was established and an elephant hospital was housed there, which was a first in Indonesia and considered to be the biggest within the Asian region.

More of Lampung

Finally, we made our way back to Bandar Lampung and had a sumptuous dinner at Cikwo Resto and Coffee (READ: Cikwo Coffee and Resto). I will blog about this in a stand-alone article, as well as our other destinations the day after, such as Tangkil Island (READ: First-time in Tangkil Island) and El’s Coffee, which I share in separate posts.

Meanwhile, if you plan to visit Bandar Lampung, I’ll share with you the recommendations to us by Indra. Bandar Lampung is easy to explore. You can go for the usual photo op at the city sign or you can know more about history at their Museum or relax at the breathtaking landscape of Pesisir Bay. Bandar Lampung is accessible through its Raden Intan II airport which has flights to and from Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia. If you want to go by train, it is an eight-hour journey from Palembang, the capital city of South Sumatra, which has an international airport. But if you want to go by bus, there’s a seven-hour trip from Jakarta that will allow your bus to be loaded on a ship. Bandar Lampung can also be reached by ferry from Banten.

If you want to explore Lampung province and wants to go outside of the city, Bandar Lampung, then you can consider heading to these destinations: Tanjung Setia; Teluk Kiluan; Pulau Pisang; Pegadung Rock at Tanggamus Regency; Pahawang Island; and Way Kanan Regency.

This is part of my 12 Days in Indonesia journey that took me to four cities within this Asian country. Click my main post for my introductory article.