Bandar Lampung: Okay, I Guess?
okay, so i’m back from…Bandar Lampung. Indonesia. Yeah. It’s…a place. Honestly, it wasn’t exactly at the top of my list, but a friend insisted, and you know how that goes. Let’s just say it’s not Bali. Not even close.
First off, the location. Apparently, it’s on the southern tip of Sumatra, overlooking the Sunda Strait. Sounds romantic, right? It’s…there. It’s got a port, which is why it exists, i guess. They say it used to be a tiny fishing village way back in the 17th century. Now it’s a major hub. A hub of…something. Commerce, i think. It’s a merger of two old towns, Tanjungkarang and Telukbetung. The name, “Bandar Lampung,” is apparently Persian-influenced - “Bandar” means port. Who knew?
The weather…oh, the weather. It’s tropical rainforest. Which means hot. And humid. Like, really humid. I just checked and it’s 30.53°c right now, feels like 36.36°c, with 70% humidity. Pressure’s 1008, ground level’s 988. Hope you like that kind of thing. They’re predicting more rain, apparently. Climate change is doing its thing, so expect things to get wetter. Someone told me that the flooding is getting pretty bad, especially in the lowlands. Great.
Okay, so things to do. There’s Way Kambas National Park, which is supposed to be good for seeing elephants and tigers. I didn’t see any tigers, sadly. Just a lot of…trees. And bugs. Then there’s the Krakatoa Monument. That’s…depressing. It commemorates the massive eruption in 1883. Over 36,000 people died. Not exactly a cheerful tourist attraction. Pahawang Island is apparently good for snorkeling, but i didn’t have time. Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is another nature reserve. Honestly, i was mostly just wandering around, trying to find a decent cup of coffee.
The food…well, it’s a mix. Apparently, it’s a blend of different ethnic groups. I didn’t really get a chance to try much beyond some street food, which was…fine. Nothing to write home about. They say there’s a diverse culinary scene, but i didn’t experience it. Maybe next time.
People-wise, it’s a melting pot. Lampungese are the native group, but there are also Javanese, Sundanese, Chinese, Malay, and Batak people. It’s supposed to be culturally rich, but i mostly just felt…lost. They have a Lampung Cultural Festival, apparently. I missed it.
Things to be aware of? Flooding, erosion, landslides. Basically, nature is trying to reclaim the place. The infrastructure is…developing. Let’s just say it’s not exactly a gleaming metropolis. Transportation is by ferry from Merak Port, which takes a couple of hours. If you get bored, Teloekbetoeng, Telokbetong, Tandjungkarang, and Tangkil Island are just a short drive away.
Honestly, it’s not a terrible place. It’s just…not amazing. It’s got a strategic location, a bit of history, and some national parks. But it’s also hot, humid, and prone to natural disasters. It’s a gateway to other places, i guess. A gateway to…somewhere else. I’m glad i went, but i probably won’t be rushing back. It’s got a certain…charm, i suppose. A chaotic, slightly sweaty charm. Don’t expect luxury. Expect…Bandar Lampung.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/beirut-at-dawn-when-the-city-coughs-itself-awake
- https://topiclo.com/post/multan-where-ancient-history-meets-sweltering-heat
- https://topiclo.com/post/namangan-was-a-giant-dusty-mistake
- https://topiclo.com/post/how-to-use-seo-marketing
- https://topiclo.com/post/ashgabat-through-my-sweatstreaked-lens-white-marble-and-desert-vibes