At one point during our walk, I believed I’d be stuck there. Flooding the historic Asia Afrika Boulevard, the crowd was as well thick, as well as I struggled to capture myself into whatever bit space I might discover to make it with to the next block.
Thankfully, I was not alone. Alfi, an teacher at SMK Telkom Bandung, patiently waited for me on the other side. Alfi is one of the countless souls who used assist to make the Oriental African seminar a success. It is Bandung’s greatest event, one that locals as well as tourists alike had been anticipating for years.
It was not just an normal day for Bandung. On 19 April 1955, world leaders from Oriental as well as African countries who had just gained self-reliance from colonial policy gathered in the city as well as agreed to work hand in hand. Sixty years later, this momentous event was honored over a number of days, peaking on April 24th when costumes painted the city streets with the colors of the participating countries. stating that the event is significant doesn’t do justice to the magnitude of the celebration. It was one of the greatest crowds I have seen in my life, if not the biggest.
A streetful of people!
Which is why I was a bit bit out of my comfort zone. As a traveler who regularly seeks some peace as well as quiet, I was a lot more anxious than ecstatic as I made my very first few steps into the crowd. I have always felt alone in the crowd as well as uneasy being in the middle of a sea of humanity. kids were perched on the fences as well as the shoulders of their fathers while waving flags of Indonesia as well as other nations. adults enjoyed in awe as groups of performers punctuated the streets as well as filled the air with prominent tunes. everybody sang along. everybody flashed their widest smiles. Everyone. including myself, to my surprise.
When I reached Alfi, he happily led me deeper into the swarm. On one side of the road was a armed forces group armed with brass instruments as well as a lungful of music. On the other was a group of volunteers, all clad in red, taking a much-deserved rest. Alfi shared bits of info along the way. “This utilized to be the only shopping center in Bandung during the Dutch era,” he explained as we made it past a heritage building. moments later, he brought my look to the minarets piercing the blue skies. The mosque, he said, is fronted by a park covered in lawn that bore a sign of the city, which at the time was blocked by households as well as good friends just enjoying the joyful atmosphere. They were just a few of the 500,000 people the regional government was expecting to join the celebration.
60th Oriental African seminar Commemoration in Bangung, Indonesia
About to take off!
Bandung seminar volunteers
A armed forces band playing Indonesia’s a lot of prominent songs.
Waving national flags.
I had lost the other blog writers who were with me on this tour. They had their own guides as well as went on their own way. I discovered our rendezvous point in the type of a double-decker bus parked ideal next to the stage. I hopped on as well as joined the rest of the gang, who had been stealing shots of the crowd. The bus had supplied an exceptional vantage point. My newfound good friends introduced me to their respective regional guides, each excited to share that terrific moment with excessively ecstatic tourists, snapping a hundred shots per second.
Our guide, Alfi, was generous sufficient to show us around. With me as well as Gael of The Pinay Solo Backpacker in tow, he negotiated his method with the crowd. When we got away from the people, he ushered us around motorcycle mazes, bringing us better to the elaborately costumed parade participants as well as enabling us to sample a few of the metro’s ubiquitous street food delights. A pack of steamed peanuts as well as a cup of durian ice cream later, we were back in the business of our blog writer friends.
The double decker bus that we took over that afternoon.
In great company! blog writers from different parts of Asia.
Asia Africa Parade participants in vibrant, sophisticated costumes.
A regional participating in the street parade.
Alas we reached the Media Center, where the excursion began as well as where it would end. Alfi, Gael, as well as I exchanged goodbyes as well as with it were get in touch with numbers as well as promises that must we discover ourselves in his city once again or he in ours, we would not stop working to remember. So much to experience, so bit time, however every single second of it was embedded completely on my memory like a swift like affair with a city you just met. It was fleeting however unforgettable.
Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil stated that he meant the carnival to be “a benchmark for other big as well as mega events in the city,” one that might be similar to the Carnivale in Rio de Janeiro or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. While I haven’t been to either, I reckon it would be difficult to top all the smiles, shouts, as well as sheer warmth of everybody I satisfied along the way. I’ve always felt alone in the crowd, however not in this one.
How to get to Bandung, Indonesia. From Manila, you can fly with Philippine Airlines to Jakarta.
Where to stay. For those with additional budget, you may select to stay at:
The Trans high-end Hotel
Address: Gatot Subroto 289, Bandung
Ibis hotel Trans studio Bandung
Address: Jl. Jendral Gatot Subroto No. 289, Bandung, Jawa Barat 40273, Indonesia
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