WHOOSH fast train, Jakarta to Bandung in Indonesia. - The Whoosh Fast train is incredible. It was first time my sister and i had been on a fast train and so we went first class. It cost $75 Aus each way each. I think Business Class would have been just as good as you are only on the train for 35 minutes. The highest speed was 350 km per hour. The train leaves from HALIM which is quite a way from the centre of Jakarta. However the taxi only cost $10 in the morning and $15 in the afternoon as we got back at 5.45pm and it was peak hour. Booking was a tad difficult as you need to start an account before buying tickets on line. However the Concierge at our hotel did it all and we paid cash. We had digital tickets on my phone well as printed copies. HALIM is like an airport, very clean and modern, and super well run. We were 30 minutes early so we waited in the first waiting area, then proceeded upstairs when our train was due. Signs are in English and Indonesian. There is a feeder train on the outskirts of Bandung. It’s all very easy and takes about 20 minutes to the city centre. We took a taxi to a Mall for a bit of shopping. This driver had excellent English, such a bonus, so we asked him to come back at a given time, then we had 30 minutes in the taxi and he took us to all important sites. I wish I had asked for his mobile number. The return journey was just as easy. However, I suggest NOT arriving back in Jakarta at peak hour as the traffic was very heavy.

An unexpected delight - It was a treat to get out into the countryside to walk through a rice plantation to meet the 84 year old farmer and to stroll through a tea plantation in the cool mountain air. To stop at a roadside stall to buy and enjoy the local delicacy of honey pineapple delivered fresh off the adjacent farm, and meet the farmer and his wife. To appreciate the views into the valley from a roadside eatery while drinking milk from a freshly cut coconut. But the absolute highlight was the unique Saung Angklung Udjo traditional music and dance concert in Bandung. The young children were so talented and captivating and friendly. I and other tourists as well as local high school students in the audience were invited to join in the dancing towards the end. It was a lot of fun and an unexpected delight. Thanks to my friendly guide Thomas who was an experienced expert host and driver and had the advantage of speaking the local languages as well as Bahasa, and being very fluent in English.

Long commute but hits a lot of attractions - Had a private trip - car, driver, and guide. Comfortable enough while commuting 2+ hours each way to/from Bandung. Guide spoke sufficient English. Went to all the locations. Most memorable was the performance at Angklung Udjo, playing with the musical instrument was fun. Afterwards had dinner at a restaurant - there was a lot of food, though eating for 1 was lonesome (the guide/driver declined my offer to pay for them to eat). The fajita-style cooked fish was extremely good. Overall it was a good way to spend a day. You must understand however that there is traffic everywhere and delays are inevitable. The commute cuts into the amount of time you can spend in Bandung, but I felt it was worthwhile.

Good guides and drivers make the day. - The crew, Yussef the driver and José the guide were a little late arriving at the hotel pickup because of the flooding on Jakarta streets. There had been a massive rain storm overnight and many of the sewers were just not large enough to drain all of the flood water. The driver was able to go around the big backups and take the upper highway to Bandung. We saw Honey Pineapple, and Mangostein that Jose bought samples for us at a roadside stand. It was remarkable to see the tea plantation on the sides of the highway to Bandung. When we get in to city we got stuck in hugh traffic jam. After waiting for two hours to get out, José took the indicative to get out of the car and walk down to see what was causing the trouble. There had been and accident. José decided to hire three motor bikers to come and get us out of the traffic jam. We got on to the back of the bikes and the young bikers took us out of the jam and to the restaurant and performance scheduled for us. The bikers went on to side roads and through the traffic like James Bond on a road chase. We went down back alleys and invisible side streets. I was so impressed. We go to the luncheon in record breaking time with just enough time to see my first puppet show. In the mean time, Yussef got out of the traffic jam and delivered our luggage to the hotel. We chose to start in Jakarta and got let off in Bandung to save time going back in to the big city. I can't say enough for the smart way our guide got us out of an impossible situation. He is just a remarkable innovative guide.