B. is for Bandrek!

Bogor Presidential Palace enclaving the Botanical Garden.

Can’t remember the last time I went to Bogor. I still remember the old colonial buildings, the greens, the rains, the humongous trees, the beautiful vista. Sure, it was work related when I had to travel back and forth a couple of years ago. Last time I stepped into the city I think there was a friend’s wedding in one of those cute colonial show-houses.

Even though I just felt better from a pre-flu syndrome, I was so determined that I would go visit someone in the city of Bogor (formerly known as Buitenzorg in its heyday). A mutual friend of mine introduced us earlier, we spoke on the phone, but haven’t gone vis-à-vis as of yet. There I finished our morning and midday meetings, grabbed a quick lunch, and on the road I was, speeding on the Jakarta-Bogor highway.

Driving alone out of town was never fun for me, unless there was of course a catch at the end of the rainbow.

Had I known this information, I would have gone to this city of angkot-way way earlier. Cool, calm and calculated was my first impression. Almost two hours we were at de koffie pot café, smoking and sipping our cuppa coffees. We conversed like regular adults. We then made jokes and we laughed. The place was insanely cool and sassy with minimum objects but the bare necessities. You can always count on white walls and hardened concrete floors to exude a zen-ified ambiance.

Latte at de-koffie-pot, two thumbs up!

Next on our list were:

Gifts for staffs’ upcoming birthdays and mom’s going-to-the-market bag from Tajur:
Rp. 300,000,-

Molto delizioso Ngohiang-Bogor take away from the shop next to de Paris Bakery:
Rp, 30,000,-

Hot Bansus (Bandrek-Susu/ Ginger Tea with Milk) and the delectable accompanying fried fritters in Air Mancur marketplace for two:
Rp. 6,500,-

The afterglow subsequent to sitting too close to someone in particular in a crowded Bandrek warung for another hour in waiting for the rain to subside:
Priceless

For everything else, there’s Kartu Debit BCA*.

For everything else that mattered lately, I wish He’d grant me another Bogor trip soon.

Amen.

(*When in Bogor, do what the Bogorians do, they like debit-card BCA and cash better!)