UiTM Malaysia: Bandung - Jakarta Comparative Planning, Leadership and Cultural Integration Tour II 2010 is an academic visit program that emphasized on-site experiential learning to expose and explore the planning system, cultural, and political in an urban planning context. This program expose the students to urban planning system practiced in Indonesia, studies how urban and regional are organize in this nation under different set of government hierarchy and policies, appreciate and explore the local’s culture and the townscape characteristic in Western Java particularly. Beside, through this program its strengthen closer ties with the agencies in Indonesia (Bandung Institute of Technology, National Development Planning Agency) and the Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). About 27 final year students (Bach. of Town and Regional Planning) and two lecturers from UiTM Malaysia’s Town and Regional Planning Department had gone for this program to Bandung and Jakarta from 5 to 12 March 2010.
The beautiful city of Bandung, known as “Paris of Java”, is a province’s capital city and tourism-education centre located in the West Java province. Bandung is the third largest city and first “modern” city in the Indonesia. Meanwhile Jakarta as the Indonesia’s capital city and largest metropolitan area has become country’s economic, cultural and political centre. Officially, Jakarta is not a city, but a province with special status, known as Special Capital City District of Jakarta. The Java Island where located these cities is the world’s most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Both cities (Bandung and Jakarta) offer a unique and distinctive urban and cultural experience for visitors who are interested in studying Indonesia’s urban planning, culture, history and politics.
1st Day (05/03/2010)
On 5th March 2010, excursion group departed from UiTM Shah Alam to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). On a journey to KLIA, a doa were performing as a blessing for this academic trip. Upon arrived in KLIA, we checked in at the KLM Royal Dutch airline counters and flew off at 7 pm from KLIA. We arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport about 8 pm local time (Western Indonesia Time) without much hassle at the immigration counter. While waiting to meet and greet with our tour guide, some took the opportunity to shoot some photos of the classic interior of airport terminal building which incorporates the Indonesia’s local vernacular architecture into this facility’s design. The whole group was then travel by bus pariwisata (tourist bus) to Bandung city via the Cipularang highway. Meanwhile the members of excursion were shocked by the macet (traffic congestion) - the horror of Jakarta was overwhelming. We had our late dinner at highway lay-by restaurant, Restoran Sederhana - that serves traditional Padang dishes. Yes our first meal in Indonesia is Padang culinary, though some of us are quite familiar with this Sumatra origin cuisine but most still enjoyed it. After two hours journey we finally checked in at the Mutiara Hotel to retire for the night.
2nd Day (06/03/2010)
After breakfast at the hotel, we headed to Mount Tangkuban Parahu at Lembang, northern Bandung city as our first taste of Indonesia’s nature. The excursion members were exposed to the importance of nature conservation and expected to understand the concept of highland tourism planning in disaster-prone area. On journey to Tangkuban Parahu our travel guide told us of a story about the local legend of this mount. The ride passes through the beautiful local villages and vegetable farm scenic. Upon arrived in foot of the mount we had the choice either walking or being carried up in an angkot. We reached the peak where located main volcanic craters, a sense of wonder and serenity swept over. The sulfur of the surface gives smell sometimes. The cool air gently blew our hair and some enjoyed local tea – “Teh Botol” and Sundanese snacks at a crater-side stall, built of wooden planks and pillars. While sightseeing and shopping local handicraft, we encountered few “asungan” sellers who was quite persistent in selling goods. We then headed back down to Bandung city and had lunch at Restoran Balibu - a well known Sundanese specialty restaurant. After lunch, we were taken to the Setiabudhi Street for first retail planning tour session at one of the largest factory outlet in Bandung which is Rumah Mode. The intention is to expose the members to the concept of factory outlet retail which started gaining its popularity in the late 1990s that established Bandung as Indonesia’s shopping centre. We had our dinner at another branch of Restoran Sederhana chain restaurant in the Bandung city centre.
3rd Day (07/03/2010)
Morning, we went to historical area in the inner city of Bandung for urban design tour. We started our heritage walk at lane beside the Cikapundung River promenade. This walk covers interesting points along the Asia-Africa Street which is a part of the historical road of “The Great Post Road” and the old Braga’s quarter. The townscape characteristics in this preservation area especially the urban architecture are diverse from the Art-Deco, Indisch-a mix of Traditional (Javanese) and European Style, Neo Classical, Modern Style until the Functionalism Style architecture. We were told by our tourist guide that Braga Street on previous era is well-known as a shopping street in the whole Netherlands East Indies and then served as a community centre for the European. Beside, Bandung in early was gradually developed itself into a resort city for the European plantation owners. We also visited Gedung Merdeka and Museum of the Asia-African Conference which houses of archive and artifacts related to conference of Asia-African. We were then taken to the Pasar Baru Trade Centre - the famous local textile and clothes retailing and trading mall in Bandung for exposed the members to the another types of urban retail structure and obviously, some more (souvenirs and clothes) shopping. We had lunch at Warung Nasi Ampera, a local Sundanese restaurant. After lunch, we headed to Cibaduyut Street in the outskirts of Bandung for another retail planning tour. Cibaduyut Street’s area is the speciality product retail strip where series of shops offer various kinds of shoes and leather product from the local cottage industry. We were then taken for daytime sightseeing in the city before headed to one more well-known factory outlet (FO) in A. Yani Street. The retail planning tour continues to Cihampelas Street’s area – another speciality product retail strip. This area originally just a typical residential street then it had been transformed into a “jeans street” or “fashion street”. Chain of local denim clothing and fashion stores are opened along this street. Some was made a quick walk into nearby shopping area, Cihampelas Walk mall which is new forms of suburban planned shopping centre that have emerged in Bandung. In late afternoon, we went to quick tour to “disto” or distribution stores that clustered around the Trunojoyo Street’s vicinity area. These distros sells clothing and merchandised products that were made by local designers and its came from young Indonesia entrepreneurs. After cramping legs by wandered for hours from one retailing centre to another, we headed to D’Cost Seafood restaurant that provide a cozy atmosphere for dinner. After dinner, there was another sightseeing session during night-time in the city and later we taken to the Paris van Java mall - the new upscale shopping complexes in Bandung, for our last retail planning tour destination for that day.
4th Day (08/03/2010)
After breakfast, we went to Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) for attended a session with Regional and City Planning (PWK) Study Program. We were greeted by a few lecturers and student representatives from the study program. Then, we were briefed about PWK Study Program such academic program and subjects that conducted in the department by Head of PWK Study Program and followed by our Head of BTRP Program. During in ITB, student’s members held group discussions with the students PWK ITB on current issues of urban planning in Southeast Asia. After finished group discussion we had a very quick tour and photo session around the school and institute. The PWK Study Program kindly provides us a lunch packed-meal of Sundanese cuisine in the box-shaped container like Japanese bento-style. After lunch, we headed to another historical area in northern Bandung city centre where located the most well-known and iconic building of Gedung Sate. We were told by our tourist guide that currently it used as the provincial government office and the building’s design is a combination of element of western and eastern architecture. We were then taken to another sightseeing session in another part of city via Pasupanti – a flyover bridge. From the bridge we can see wider view over areas of the city of Bandung, with mainly small red-roofed houses in the foreground, and also can see the building in city centre as well. The intention is not just on view but also expose to excursion members with example of traffic dispersal scheme in Bandung city. We were then taken to Riau Street for another retail planning tour. Riau Street is the first street in Bandung or even in Indonesia that concentrated on factory outlet retailing. Some of the top FO outlets are found in this area such as Heritage was located in an old colonial building. Then, we headed to Kampung Daun Culture Gallery and Café that located in the north of Bandung for dinner. The journey passes through the local village and greenery landscape of plant nurseries that lined along road. The Kampung Daun’s dining experience which concept of a Java village in nature is mesmerized and eases on our mind.
5th Day (09/03/2010)
The last day in Bandung, we were taken to another retail planning trip at Dago Street. And of course it was killing two birds with one stone, where some had last minute shopping at FO and bought some snacks and brownies as oleh-oleh (gift of Bandung) at Kartika Sari - a local bakery and pastry shop. We were told by our tourist guide that Dago Street is one of the three FO retailing strips of Bandung, which originally started out as elite European residential area before its changes function to leisure and shopping quarter. Then, we had taken short tour around suburb Bandung passed through interesting places such as the ITB campus area and Kebun Binatang Bandung (zoological garden). We had lunch at Rumah Stroberi - a chic restaurant with concept of strawberry farm. After finished our lunch meal we had a chance to plunk strawberry at farm and photo session around the restaurant. We then left Rumah Stroberi and continued our travel to Jakarta via Puncak route. On heading to Puncak Pass we enjoy the Java rural scenery as the bus passes through traditional villages, and greenery rice fields. Once reached the Puncak Pass’s area, there are beautiful scenery of tea fields and dramatic landscapes, forests and mountains that can see from inside bus even though the misty at this terrain was limited our view. At Cipanas, bus was passed by a historical Presidential Palace. The bus then, stopped at Tajur, Bogor city for retail planning and sightseeing tour. Tajur area is well-known as handbag centre where most of the product sell came from local cottage industry. We had our dinner at local restaurant in a small town before continue journey towards Depok city. Bus made a brief stop at roadside stalls, to have some light meal (roasted corn) and hot cup of traditional tea which keeps us warm on the cool night travel. We reached Jakarta at around 9 pm, and we went to the Grand Tropic Suites Hotel around West Jakarta area, to check-in.
6th Day (10/03/2010)
The sixth day was spent at the famous safari park of Indonesia - Taman Safari Indonesia which is a conservation center as well as a zoological garden in Cisarua, Bogor regency, West Java province. We went to Cisarua from West Jakarta via the Jagorawi Toll Road (Jakarta-Bogor-Ciawi highway) to expose the excursion members with an experience of Indonesia’s intercity highway infrastructure. The Taman Safari Indonesia’s area is part of a buffer zone for Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park. Among the attractions are ‘drive or ride’ to observe freely roaming wild animals, night safari, animal performed show, bird park, amusement park and rides. Being young and energetic, we had so much fun. Apart from the fun element, the objective of including this place in this trip is to expose the excursion members to an example of park and recreational planning besides gaining student knowledge in the idea of eco-tourism development. We headed back to Jakarta for night time sightseeing in the city. The bus took us to some urban sections around Jakarta Golden Triangle, such as premier business and finance zone at Sudirman, prime shopping area at Thamrin - which is located famous Hotel Indonesia Roundabout, an elite residential neighbourhood at Menteng, and the international zone at Kuningan. We had our dinner at Bumbu Desa restaurant - an authentic Sundanese cuisine chain restaurant from Bandung.
7th Day (11/03/2010)
Morning, we headed to Central Jakarta for attended a briefing session with Indonesia’s National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). On a journey to Bappenas Headquarters, the bus passed through Sudirman Road, which is one of the major roads in Jakarta city centre that have implemented traffic restraint scheme during peak-hours and its complement with the busway (bus rapid transit) system called Trans Jakarta. This traffic restraint or ‘3 in 1’ scheme is prohibiting private vehicles to carrying less than three passengers on this corridor. We can see some of “car jockeys” in the roadsides heading to entry gate of this road corridor which they offer a paid service to join a vehicle and boost its number of passengers to comply the obligatory three. It seems that there are no longer concerns about the dangers of letting complete strangers into one’s car. During this morning travel, excursion members were exposed to the practicality of the initiatives and strategies of Jakarta’s urban transport system improvement. Before we attended the briefing, we had a quick tour at Surabaya Street Antique Market, not far from the Bappenas Headquarters. This open-air market stretching about half a kilometer and the vendors sells various antique stuffs. We arrived at Bappenas Headquarters at around 10.30 am and were greeted by few staffs from agency. We were overwhelmed by the warmth and gracious of the Bappenas’s top management officers to attend and give a talk to us. The briefing were conducted by Secretary General of Bappenas, Ir. Syahrial Loetan and accompanied by few minister expert staffs and director. As introduction, Ir. Syahrial Loetan gave a brief about the vision, mission, role, structure, and the national development planning system of Indonesia. Further, we were briefed about the regional planning and development which includes urban and rural planning, island-based planning and others by Bappenas’s Director of Regional Development. We were really impressed by the briefing, there are so much that we can learn from their experience and expertise. We were then taken to Medan Merdeka at the heart of Central Jakarta. It’s a large square which surrounded by important administrative buildings, consisting of parks inside and at the centre stands the National Monument (also known as Monas - Monumen Nasional). Just before visited Monas we had picnic lunch at park in Medan Merdeka. The Monas were built to commemorate the fight for Indonesia’s independence. There are five sections on this monument which includes an outer yard - presence the relief of Indonesia’s history, Indonesian National History Museum in the base, the Hall of Independence inside the goblet, and observation deck and Flame of Independence on the upper section. The design of monument is inspirational by Linga and Yoni Philosophy. We also had a chance to reach the top of monument and see a round up view of Jakarta city. After Medan Merdeka, we headed to northern part of Jakarta to visit the historical area in Old Town Jakarta (also known as old Batavia). This sightseeing session covers an area surrounding Fatahillah Square - former town hall quarter, which is the main square of old Batavia and centre of preservation district. The interesting character of this preservation district beside the unique urban architecture is that the cultural significant in terms of urban morphology on the grid structure which is influenced by the structure of typical Dutch canal city although the canals now had been changed into streets. During this sightseeing session, some decided to rent classic style bicycle for touring surrounding of Fatahillah Square. Then, we had taken bus tour around old Batavia passed through unique areas such as Glodok - the Chinese quarter, Kali Besar promenade, and fish market. Eventually, after sightseeing we headed back to our hotel at Grogol and enjoyed the hospitality. At night, some went to nearby shopping centre either Taman Anggrek Mall or Central Park Mall for sightseeing and shopping activities.
8th Day (12/03/2010)
The last day was spent at the famous wholesale and grocery centre of Jakarta which is Mangga Dua. It’s a huge shopping area consisting six main complexes which are Mangga Dua Mall, Harco Mas Mangga Dua, WTC Mangga Dua, ITC Mangga Dua, Dusit Mangga Dua and the Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua. This sub-prime shopping precinct has range of electronic stores, apparel shops, beauty and cosmetics outlets, and also dining and entertainment centres. Apart from the shopping element, the objective of including this place in this trip is to expose the members to different form of urban retail structure in Jakarta. We had lunch at Hoka Hoka Bento - a Japanese fast food chain restaurant, in ITC Mangga Dua. After finishing our lunch, we left Mangga Dua heading to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for journey back to Malaysia. On a journey to airport, Fathuddin on behalf of other excursion members expressed our utmost gratitude to JomJalan crews for sharing the wonderful and beneficial experience in Western Java, Indonesia. Upon arrived in Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, we checked in at the KLM Royal Dutch airline counters and flew off at 7 pm from Jakarta. We arrived at KLIA about 8 pm Malaysia time.
Summary
All in all, it was a very fruitful and informative trip with Jomjalan. The objectives have been achieved. To a certain extent, we were surely managed to grasp the overview of Bandung and Jakarta urban planning from the series of briefs, guided tour and observation. We painted Bandung and Jakarta red! The trip to Bandung-Jakarta will register as the most memorable trip ever! Thanks to all that have contributed to the trip - the sponsors, the hard working committee, the BTRP’08 members, the excursion members, the lecturers of the Department of Town and Regional Planning, the dean and admin staff of FSPU, UiTM Malaysia, Bappenas staffs, friends and staff from PWK Study Program, ITB and all that have contributed either directly or indirectly to the trip.
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