Bandung Blues & Bemo Rides: A Touring Drummer's Dispatch
okay, so. bandung. wow. i’m still kinda buzzing, honestly. just wrapped up a gig with the Static Echoes - you know, the synth-pop weirdos? - and needed a serious palate cleanser. indonesia, specifically bandung, seemed like the ticket. and it… mostly was.
let’s just say the humidity is… aggressive. i just checked and it’s clinging to everything like a lovesick octopus. twenty-four point two-something degrees, feels like twenty-four point six. my drumsticks are practically sweating. i’m not even kidding. i’m used to damp venues, but this is a whole other level.
getting around is an adventure. i mostly relied on bemos - those little angkot vans. seriously, a must-do. it’s chaotic, it’s loud, it’s… an experience. you just yell out where you want to go and hope for the best. i ended up in a goat market once. no regrets. check out some reviews on TripAdvisor if you're feeling brave: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g297714-Activities-Bandung_West_Java.html.
food. oh man, the food. i’ve been living on siomay and batagor. seriously, find a street vendor and just go for it. don’t overthink it. someone told me that the best siomay is near *Cihampelas Mall, but honestly, every corner seems to have a decent version. i even tried some nasi timbel - rice wrapped in banana leaves - it was… interesting. a little too much sambal for my taste, but hey, when in Indonesia, right?
“Apparently, if you wander too far into Dago Pakar, you’ll get chased by monkeys. Drunk advice from a guy selling satay, naturally.”
my gear situation? well, it’s a mess. i’m trying to travel light, you know? touring drummer problems. here’s the bare minimum:
My trusty Tama Starclassic Maple kit (obviously)
Vic Firth 5A sticks - gotta have ‘em
A small travel towel - essential for wiping down sweaty gear
Noise-canceling headphones - for sanity’s sake
A universal adapter - because indonesia uses different plugs
A phrasebook - my indonesian is… lacking
if you’re into vintage clothes, Jalan Cibaduyut is apparently the place to be. i didn’t have time to check it out, but i heard it’s a goldmine. you can find some local boards with recommendations here: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=vintage+clothing&find_loc=Bandung,+West+Java,+Indonesia.
“A local warned me about the traffic around Gede Bage River. Said it’s a parking lot during rush hour. Take a bemo, she said. Or walk.”
neighbors? if you get bored, Jakarta and Surabaya* are just a short drive away. i’m thinking of hopping over to Jakarta next. maybe check out some live music. i found a few listings on a local events site: https://eventbrite.com/d/indonesia--bandung/music/.
overall? bandung is… intense. beautiful, chaotic, delicious, and intensely humid. i’d recommend it, but maybe pack a dehumidifier. and learn a few basic indonesian phrases. it’ll make your life a lot easier. and watch out for monkeys. seriously.