2022
Hello Local Guides,
A few months ago, I had a wonderful visit to Indonesia, which included amazing tours of Jakarta, Bogor, and Surabaya. During all these visits, I met some amazing people whose hospitality I may never forget in my life because this trip was a memorable experience for me. I got the chance to meet people and learn from them in a way that I had never experienced before in my life.
This trip was also important because it was the first time I met many Google Maps contributors, also known as local guides, from outside Pakistan.
Today, I want to share the story of my journey to Bogor City, which is also known as the "Rainy city" and "walking city."
So, friends, it was Thursday morning when my dear friend @RahmatHarmanP came to pick me up frommy hotel. I am very grateful to Rahmat because he came for me on time and dropped me at the station. And yes, before reaching the Gondangdia train station, he treated me to a delicious breakfast which surely included delicious Indonesian food.
Anyway, after saying goodbye to Rahmat at Gondangdia train station, I arrived at Bogor station after a journey of one hour and 30 minutes. The train passed through lush greenery all the way to Bogor, so my mind felt refreshed already.
At Bogor train station, my sweet friend @DeeDesty was waiting for me. Desty is the kind of friend who never hesitates to teach someone something new, and she's the amazing lady who was honored as a Google ambassador at the Google PE Conference in the United Kingdom. Meeting this wonderful friend was a matter of great pride for me
It's a great story, but Let me share some important information first about this amazing city Bogor which is called The Rain City as well.
Bogor, also known as Buitenzorg, is a city in West Java, Indonesia, about 60 kilometers south of Jakarta. It's the sixth-largest city in the Jakarta metropolitan area and the 14th largest city of Indonesia. Bogor spans 111.39 square kilometers and had a population of over 1 million in 2020. It's a significant economic, scientific, cultural, and tourist hub, as well as a mountain resort.
During the Middle Ages, it was the capital of the Sunda Kingdom and called Pakuan Pajajaran. Later, during Dutch colonial rule, it was named Buitenzorg and served as the summer residence of the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies.
The city is known for its dense population, presidential palace, and botanical garden. Its history dates back to the 5th century as part of the Tarumanagara kingdom. The Bogor Botanical Garden, founded in 1817, showcases over 6,000 tropical plant species and is one of the world's largest. Bogor also boasts medieval stone stelae, historical churches, temples, waterfalls, and a vibrant shopping scene.
With Desty, we took a short walk and reached Bogor's biggest library, Perpustakaan dan Galeri Kota Bogor, which was definitely a great experience. We had to wait there for a while, so we offered our prayers, and then we started waiting for the person known as the legendary @riverdefender.
Here you can check Google maps review of this wonderful library
@RiverDefender , also known as Paadey, is a very noble person who has dedicated his life to taking action against pollution in the rivers of Indonesia.His mission is to protect all the oceans and rivers of the world from pollution. You can imagine how happy I was to meet such a person.
It was afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, but Desty was walking with an umbrella. That was quite surprising. She told me that Bogor is also called the Rain City because it rains here every day of the year, and the people living there are used to this kind of weather.
Since it was already afternoon, we went to lunch at Food Court BCC with Desty and @Riverdefender, where I was treated to delicious Indonesian dishes. Then, for the first time, I tasted authentic Indonesian coffee, which was a fantastic experience.
Please check Google maps review of Food Court BCC here.
After lunch, we headed towards the Bogor Presidential Palace, which is the most famous landmark in Bogor and holds great historical significance..
Short Introduction of The Bogor Presidential Palace :
The Bogor Palace, located in Bogor, West Java, is one of Indonesia's six presidential palaces. It's famous for its unique design, history, and nearby botanical gardens. It opened to the public in 1968 with permission from Indonesia's acting president, Suharto, covering 28.4 hectares. In the past, it was a favorite spot for governors-general during the colonial era due to Bogor's nice weather. Later, it became President Sukarno's official home until 1967. After a period of disuse, President Joko Widodo moved the president's office there in February 2015.
Originally known as the Buitenzorg Palace, it was built in 1745 as a getaway for Dutch governors. It underwent many renovations and expansions over time, especially under Governor-General Herman Willem Daendels.
From 1870 to 1942, the Istana Bogor served as the official residence for Dutch governors-general, with 44 living there. After Indonesia became independent, the palace was renovated and became President Sukarno's main home.
The estate includes the main palace building, two wings, and a vast art collection, mostly gathered by Sukarno. The garden, spanning 28.4 hectares next to the Bogor Botanical Garden, houses a group of spotted deer. It also showcases sculptures, including replicas of famous artworks.
The Bogor Palace is a symbol of Indonesia's rich history and culture, drawing visitors with its beautiful architecture and natural surroundings.
Google maps review of Presidential Palace Bogor 
We walked around there for quite a while and had a lovely experience watching the deers. Paadey was on his bicycle, and since we had permission to take photos, we took a lot of pictures near the historic palace.
Suddenly, the weather changed its colors, and it started raining unexpectedly, which was quite surprising for someone like me who is used to the scorching heat of Karachi and waits for months for rain to come, haha. But Paadey and Desty were prepared for the rain, so Paadey headed towards his destination, and I took shelter with Desty in the nearby Cafรฉ namely Kalras Heritage. The Cafรฉ was also very beautiful, combining old-fashioned charm with modern touches, presenting a lovely view.
Please check Google maps review of Kalras Heritage Cafe
We had coffee there and waited for the rain to stop for a while. But since I was getting late, we followed Desty's advice and headed to Bogor train station. However, on the way, we made a brief stop at another place where we met another lovely person, Desty's sister @Dychan8 ๐
The meeting was really wonderful, and right there, we exchanged gifts. Desty and her sister gave me a beautiful Indonesian muffler, along with Indonesian coffee.
I discovered its real taste when I tried it after coming to Karachi. I can say that I've never tasted any coffee better than the one these sisters gave me as a gift.
After chatting for a while, it was time for the train because I had to catch the next train to Surabaya, and my dear friend Rahmat was waiting for me in Jakarta.
So, the beautiful journey ended at Bogor station again , but I hope to meet these wonderful people again in the future.
I will always remember this journey, and I regret that I had only one day for it. And unfortunately I missed to meet @BudiFXW in this visit as well. If I had more days, I would definitely explore the important city of Bogor and its beautiful tourist attractions. But perhaps it happened this way so that I can visit Indonesia again, and God willing, I will go to Bogor again and explore more places
