Bandung E-Store

The unique architecture of Bandung E-Store at Cihampelas Walk (Ciwalk).

E-Store is a premium re-seller of Apple products in Indonesia. Currently it has its outlets in four cities in Indonesia, namely Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Tangerang.

The Al Irsyad Mosque at Kota Baru Parahiyangan

This is the mihrab of the Al Irsyad Mosque at Kota Baru Parahiyangan in the west of Bandung. Instead of the traditional niche in the wall facing the direction of the Kaaba in the direction Mecca, this mosque's mihrab has the shape of an open "tunnel" with a pond surrounding a pulpit in its center. At the other end of the tunnel, there is a globe with an inscription of Allah in Arabic.

This is what the mihrab looks like from the other end of the tunnel.

 

The Al Irsyad was completed and dedicated in 2010 and was declared one of the "Building of The Year 2010"  in the religious architecture category by the National Frame Building Association. The mosque was designed by Ridwan Kamil, an Indonesian top architect living in Bandung.

Shanty Dwellings

A plot of shanty dwellings in Geger Kalong Girang area in the north of Bandung. The residents here are mostly migrants who have come to the city to work or find a living in the formal informal sectors of the economy. This kind of scene is not something that visitors or tourism-oriented websites would want you to see.

A Graceful Legong Dancer

A statue of depicting the graceful gestures of a Balinese Legong dancer in front of a fountain at Rumah Mode, a famous factory outlet located on Jalan Setiabudi in the north or Bandung.

To give you an idea of how a real Legong dance looks like, you can visit Bandung Daily Photo's sister blog Bandung Daily Video.

A Horror Welcome

It is very common here to decorate the gate or entrance to an alleyway, especially during special occasions like the celebration of our Independence Day or before Ied Ul-Fitr - a major Moslem Holiday, and one of the most important holidays in the country. The decorations usually contain elements that mark the occasion. The decorations on this gate to an alleyway on Jalan Kebon Sirih at Babakan Ciamis area that I saw a few days ago, however, contains an unexpected element that I don't think is relevant to any occasions. To me, it looks horrific: a baby doll is hanged just below the sign that says "Selamat Datang" (Welcome).

I don't know if it was a prank. It may have been. The message it sends might be ironically funny to some people. But personally, I don't think it is. It's horrific.