WARRA TRAVEL

 Written by : Aurel Ezmarelda Ratu Imang

Class : XII-6

 

Olá! How are you all today? I hope you are healthy and still enthusiastic about reading my blog, which is just as exciting as my other blogs… heheheee. I really can’t wait to tell you about this trip because, in my opinion, this trip is the only one that keeps echoing in my mind!!

This trip, I traveled with Warra Travel to a city known as the City of Flowers and Paris van Java. Can anyone guess where I went? That’s right! I went to Bandung. Come on, follow my excitement during my time in Bandung.

This journey started in the city of Balikpapan, precisely at PT Sun Jaya Travel. After all of us had gathered, we immediately departed. The journey we took was not too far, however, during the trip we were given entertainment, hahahah, we danced to dangdut music on the bus. After some time spent together, I was also given some snacks that were enough to make me feel full.

After a fairly long journey, we finally arrived at Sepinggan Airport. After getting off the bus, we checked in and waited for our flight for approximately 30 minutes. I spent the waiting time reading some books. Finally, we boarded the plane and traveled for several hours. I fell asleep during the flight.

After arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, our travel bus was already prepared to pick us up. We were directly taken to our accommodation, Marciella Hotel. The place was quite comfortable and clean. We checked in and went to our respective rooms. We were given some time to rest before finally gathering again at the hotel restaurant for lunch. The food was quite delicious. My favorite was serabi with kinca sauce. Honestly, it was my first time eating a dessert like that, and what surprised me was that it suited my taste.

After that, we started our journey exploring tourist destinations in Bandung. The first place we visited was Dago Dream Park. We rode many exciting attractions there. The one I remember the most was the pirate boat....aye aye, captain! We also rode paddle boats and chased each other around. Hahahahaha, I can’t stop laughing when I remember that moment. We also rode basic ATVs. I remember one of my friends couldn’t brake and ended up falling between the safety tires.

We also took photos at several spots there, such as Kampung Dayang Sumbi, a place that offers beautiful and serene scenery. We also took photos at the anti-gravity spot, which was very interesting because it played with visual illusions. The experience of seeing an upside-down house was unusual and unforgettable.

After playing there, we went to have dinner at Dago Panyawangan. Honestly, the food was really delicious. I highly recommend the grilled nasi timbel with duck because the combination of flavors was so distinctive and delicious. Hot rice with the aroma of grilled banana leaves, fried duck with shrimp paste sambal, and fresh vegetables...ah, it really made me want to go back to Bandung. If I’m not mistaken, I added rice about three times that night, hahahahah. After dinner, we returned to Marciella Hotel by bus and went back to our rooms to rest.

 

On the second day, we started the day with breakfast at the hotel restaurant. The menu was quite delicious. I really liked the yellow rice that morning; it tasted savory and rich from the red spices. The tempe orek was also amazing and made me miss my mom’s cooking at home.

Next, we continued our journey to Kawah Putih Ciwidey by bus. Upon arrival, we were immediately presented with the beautiful scenery of Kawah Putih. The water was white-green to bluish, contrasting with the white sand and rocks around it. Surrounded by lush mountain forests and thin mist, the atmosphere felt cool, calm, and slightly mystical. I took several photos there, and my friends became jealous and wanted to follow me to Bandung, hahahah.

Next, we had lunch at Bambooberry Restaurant in Ciwidey. I recommend the salted squid stir-fry and tempe mendoan there. The taste was extremely delicious. After that, we went to Ranca Upas, where we played and fed the deer. The scenery was wide and very beautiful. Many other tourists also came at the same time. There is not only a deer sanctuary there, but also a camping ground near a lake or swamp surrounded by hills, which adds to the natural atmosphere. I recommend camping there, although I didn’t have the chance to try it. There were also play areas, but I was busy taking photos, so I only watched my friends play.

After that, we had dinner at Saung Gawir Bungalow & Resto. The gourami fish there was very delicious, and I highly recommend it. After that, we returned to the accommodation by bus and rested.

 

On the third day, we started the day with breakfast at the hotel restaurant. This time, the menu included fruits. The fruit salad was very sweet and refreshing. I also ate some bread with jam that morning. Next, we headed to Orchid Forest Cikole. This place offers a unique experience of exploring a 12-hectare orchid forest with various types of orchids from all over the world. I really enjoyed the beauty of the orchids there. You know what? Since then, I’ve dreamed of becoming a florist, hihihi. There was also Orchid Castle, and I felt like I was in a Disney world while walking around the castle. We also played with rabbits there; they were very cute and their fur was so soft.

Next, we had lunch at Rumah Makan Cikole. I recommend the sate maranggi because the meat was thick and smoky, and the peanut sauce was incredibly delicious. After lunch, we went to Sari Ater Hot Springs, a place surrounded by tea plantations and green trees. There were natural hot springs, small rivers, and a waterfall that created a calming atmosphere. After that, we had dinner at Rumah Makan Kurnia Jatim. I really recommend the rawon-spiced fried rice because the seasoning was rich and delicious, and the mayonnaise shrimp was also crispy with a balanced savory taste. After that, we returned to the accommodation.

 

On the fourth day, we started the day with a healthy activity, which was group exercise. The exercise instructor was very energetic and funny, making the atmosphere warm and lively. After that, we had breakfast at the hotel restaurant. This time, the menu was soto Bandung. The broth was clear, but the aroma of the spices was strong and very savory.

Next, we went to The Great Asia Africa. The main attraction of The Great Asia Africa is the many photo spots with international-style buildings and atmospheres. My favorite background was Japan it felt like I was the main character in an anime. There was also traditional costume rental. I rented a traditional Korean outfit called a hanbok, and I felt very beautiful wearing it. The area is quite large and located on hilly terrain, so we had to walk quite far to explore the whole area, but it was worth all the scenery.

After that, we had lunch on the roadside. We ate tutug oncom. The smoky taste from the combination of kencur, garlic, and oncom, paired with sambal, vegetables, and salted fish, truly felt like a feast on my tongue. It tasted quite good, and I liked it.

After lunch, we continued our journey to Lembang Wonderland. This place truly felt like my childhood dream of traveling had come true. The attractions were very beautiful and cute, like being in a magical fairy-tale world. The place was full of color and very unique. There were ice cream sculptures that were hundreds of times bigger than normal and even igloos. After that, we returned to the accommodation. Because it was our last night together, we spent time camping in the hotel garden and having a barbecue. We had deep talks and shared our experiences during the four-day trip. There were some people whose names I only got to know then, and I regretted not getting to know them earlier. They were all fun and hilarious. After some time, we returned to our respective rooms.

 

On the fifth day, we started the day with breakfast at the hotel restaurant. On the last day, we ate nasi timbel with shrimp, grilled fish, sambal, and fresh vegetables. I was really happy because all the food I ate from the first day until the fifth day was not disappointing at all. After that, we checked out from the hotel, got on the bus, and were once again entertained, hahahaha we had karaoke together. After arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, we checked in and flew back to Balikpapan, finally arriving at Sepinggan Airport.

 

In conclusion, this trip to Bandung with Warra Travel was not just an ordinary vacation, but a journey full of memories, laughter, and meaningful moments. From beautiful natural destinations to unique tourist attractions, delicious food, and warm togetherness, every part of this trip left a deep impression. This journey taught me that traveling is not only about the places visited, but also about the people, the stories, and the unforgettable experiences shared along the way. Bandung will always hold a special place in my heart and will always make me want to come back again.