A Tour Guide Talent

Kawah Putih

The Tourism Ambassador

I remember when I was in college, how enthusiastic I were in promoting my country's tourism. I even put some postcard pictures of Indonesia's beautiful places such as Bali, Prambanan or Borobudur temple and many others on my room's wall. I felt like I have to take my foreign friends and introduce Indonesia to them. Therefore, I could bring two of my Turkmen friends to visit Indonesia each in different time.

You see, I did my study in Malaysia as a scholarship earner from Petronas. The university called Univesiti Teknologi Petronas, a semi-government university that was initiated by Petronas Holding Company. Located in the town of Tronoh, approximately 1 hour from Perak state capital city, Ipoh, and also 4 hours away from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's center for business and economy.

There were a lot of foreigners studying in Universiti Teknology Petronas (UTP). That makes English as the educational and community language. This make me able to speak English fluently, which of course not in a perfect manner. This also benefit me long after graduation and returning home later when it comes to speak with foreigners or tourists.

It happens a lot when I do traveling around my country, some Bules or western tourist often becomes my traveling partner since I was the only one they can speak freely in English. As we all know, there are only around 10% of Indonesian that could speak English well out of 275 million people living in Indonesia. Luckily I am one of them.

I had my holiday vacation in Bandung last 2016 'Hari Raya' or Islamic holiday. My friend invited me to come to his place which is 1 hour away from Bandung. I had been to Bandung, but that was ten years ago. I almost forgot how it looks once I step my feet on the city. Only that he left me for having Hari Raya celebration with his family at home.

So I was alone spending a night in the small cheap motel's room. I couldn't stop but to think that I should not stay in this shit room. I decided to walk around and looking for interesting place in Bandung city. Fortunately, the well known Braga street was not too far form my hotel, it is only 1 km away, so I decided to walk there by myself.

I could only see dark road which is actually in the middle of a traditional market with it's unique smell. The street got wet from the rainfall few minutes ago. Several street holes that filled with dirty water becomes familiar to me, "Oh yeah, I'm still in Indonesia babe!" I said to myself. I walked straight and there's nobody was there on the street. It creep me out a little bit. After crossing several crossroads, I finally got to Braga Street.

First impression was not much. I thought Braga street is a place for the youth to hang out. It was nothing like that until I reach the central part of the street. There are a lot of cool Cafe's and places to eat there. There is also the mini-mall called The City Walk at the center. A lot of iron made chairs on the street side, so that people can chill while watching the street view. The street light were another attraction beside the colonial buildings that all over the place. They show the antique accent, makes us feel like we are living in the past.

Enough with walking around, I stopped by to a hostel called C'est Bon Hostel. So I look around and decided to book for tomorrow night. The hostel is quite nice, it's clean with separated rooms between boys and the girls, they are in the different floor. And on top of that most of the occupant are Westerners.