Tea plantation - LembangLembang is a natural beauty of the high valley just north of Bandung, about 30 minutes drive away. It is popular with local tourists for its refreshing climate and the proximity to the Tangkuban Perahu volcano, Bandung's main tourist attraction. Even though Lembang in itself is doesn't have that much to offer, it is worth a daytrip to savor some local specialties and gawk at the beautiful panoramas on the way and also the view of Bandung. It's a chain of volcanoes from Gunung Burangrang, Gunung Tangkuban Perahu up to Gunung Bukittunggul, which is part of the northern border of the Parahyangan Highlands.
Fruits and vegetables stalls in LembangThis place is famous in tea plantation and nice place for family picnic. On Sundays Lembang is usually packed with families conducting Indonesia's single most favourite weekend activities: tasting snacks and local specialties. Lembang itself is a scruffy, busy place with a lot of traffic, street vendors and markets. Because the volcanic soil that makes up the rolling hills around this area is extremely fertile, horticultural and agricultural products are abundant. Most of the produce such as fruit and vegetable will make its way into Bandung's kitchens.
Plants and flowers are considered to be among the best and relatively cheap. There are several local strawberry-picking places in Lembang with cafe and restaurant facilities.
Here you can have "sate kelinci" (rabbit satay)Other favourites include "sate kelinci" (rabbit satay) and "susu murni" (fresh cowmilk) and eat sweet corn. Furry rabbits can be found at street stalls everywhere, soon to be put on a stick and barbequed for your pleasure. Cow milk is sold at various places, the biggest being Kencana Lembang, where you can drink milk or yoghurt in old converted cow stables and also see the process of milking the cows.
Sweet corn bbq with choices of flavors Near Lembang there are some forests and waterfalls that can be visited. The hot springs of Maribaya resort have been tapped into a public pool and form an ultimate relaxing pastime, although it can be quite crowded on weekends.
Staying over in Lembang is apparently quite popular and the town is sprawling with hotels of every category. But unfortunately Lembang itself is far from charming. It makes for a nice daytrip though, and if you enjoy snacking and stunning views it's a place most conveniently located.
There are few roads that lead to Lembang from Bandung . A steep and meandering road departs from Dago Bengkok (after the angkot terminal take the left fork), there's a new road that is even steeper that is on the left side just after the terminal, but make sure your vehicle can cope with the climbs. Jalan Ciumbuleuit also connects to Lembang but the fastest way is through the road that goes to Setiabudi, this road has more traffic but is more easily accessible than the others. Angkots (minivans) saying Lembang will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes to get there, but to really enjoy the views it is suggested to go either with private car or with motorcycle.
Adapted from streetdirectory.com
* Hotel and Villa in Lembang & Subang Area
