Tangkuban Perahu

We went to Southern Bandung last week, now it's time to visit another mountain at 30 km Northern Bandung, Tangkuban Perahu. It took about 2 hours by motorcycle to get there. If you a newbie in hiking (like me), this place is for us. They design the place with several stairs with variations of slope. 

Folklore

Long long time ago, there was a beautiful princess named Dayang Sumbi. Since she was amazingly pretty, lot of kings fought each other to get her heart. Felt that her beauty was the cause of many wars, she decided to left her parents in the kingdom, and stayed in a jungle. 

One day, Dayang Sumbi was spinning yarn and suddenly the yarn fell off. She was lazy to pick it up and swore, "Anyone who could get me that yarn, I'd take him as my husband." Shockingly, a dog named Tumang came by and gave her the yarn. This dog was descendant of gods. Giving her promise, then they got married and had a son named Sangkuriang.

http://forum.liputan6.com/t/legenda-dibalik-gunung-tangkuban-perahu/25582

Growing up, Tumang always accompanied Sangkuriang and he knew Tumang as his dog, instead of his father. One day, Sangkuriang went hunting with Tumang, promised to his mother to get her a deer liver. Stressed out he couldn't find it, Sangkuriang then killed Tumang and gave his liver to Dayang Sumbi. But she found out and Sangkuriang was beaten and expelled from his house. 

https://asep4212.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/asal-usul-gunung-tangkuban-perahu/

Years after years gone by, Sangkuriang went back to his village but he didn't recognize his home. He met Dayang Sumbi again but he totally forgot his mother look like. She also forgot her son look like. They fell in love, then before they get married, Dayang Sumbi found a scar on Sangkuriang's head. The same scar she ever did many years ago. Dayang Sumbi then tried to mess up the marriage by asking Sangkuriang to made her a huge dam and huge boat,... in one night (this become Indonesian term when people ask you to do something in a very short period of time: Sangkuriang project). 

http://www.sinar8.com/2016/03/legenda-sangkuriang-asal-usula-gunung.html

With his magical power, Sangkuriang was working on it while Dayang Sumbi kept praying so God would fail it. And yes, God did listen to Dayang Sumbi. Suddenly sun is rising, while Sangkuring and his ogres are still making the boat. He was very pissed and kicked the dam and the unfinished boat, resulting in severe flooding and the creation of Tangkuban Perahu (Upturned Boat) from the hull of the boat. 

Our Way To Tangkuban Perahu

This time, I try to ride my own scooter, while hubby riding his motorbike. Plus, we're not alone. Endras and his girlfriend Rere will join us. Our rendezvous point was UPI (Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia) at Jl. Setiabudhi. We arrived at 7 am, but sun already burns. Apparently, UPI was not only our rendezvous point. We met another several motor clubs there, waiting for their members, all were preparing for SunMoRi (Sunday Morning Ride). 
About an hour later, Endras and Rere finally showed up, and we directly continue our journey. Despite the road was a little curvy, and you know, I've mentioned about weekend hustle several times, but this time, climate was very friendly. So perfect for riding. 

http://tempatwisatadibandung.info/wisata-hutan-pinus-cikole-lembang-pal-16/

Few kilos before Tangkuban Perahu, you'll find beautiful pine forest called Cikole. Since I was riding my scooter, I couldn't take any picture of them. But I attach some from another websites here hehehe...

http://www.king-adventure.com/grafika-cikole-lembang-2

Tangkuban Perahu

I went here about 10 or 11 years ago. As far as I remember, this place was colder than Bandung. But now, it's pretty hot. Well I brought scarf and jacket for nothing :-( 

Anyway, once we arrived, the first thing you should do is yea, buy a ticket. The ticket booth is located few kilos before Tangkuban perahu. For me, the price was pretty expensive. IDR 30,000/person. And IDR 17,000/motorcycle. So total for me was IDR 47,000. They don't provide shuttle car. So after we paid the ticket and parking, we continue riding. The road was more curvy with unpredictable elevation. So please be careful.

 

Finally we arrived, and directly heading to parking place. The souvenir booths along the street lead you to the parking place. It has nice view too, but still, the road is dangerous if you don't put full attention.

Again, if you newbie in hiking, this place is perfect. There a re several stairs built, all are paved. So you don't have to worry if it's slippery. All booths are organized in several spots, the entrance and all access also paved. Now, the distance between crater and mountain side is more far. Maybe they make it that way because this mountain had eruption few times. The advantage is, no worries of getting exposed by sulfur.

After exploring this side, we continued to go to higher altitude, and there was a cozy forest there, with FnB traditional booths too!! Ahh.. maybe it's time to get some rest and have our brunch.

Sun is getting hotter, my knees feel like jell-o, my shirt is smelly, almost midday, visitors are getting crowded. I think it's our time to go home, back to Bandung, through the traffic jam route. The road was much more crowded than earlier.

 

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