Bandung, the capital city of West Java, is renowned for its cuisine and factory outlets. Supported by its growing textile and garment industries, as well as the creativity of the food industry players, who always come up with new dishes, Bandung established itself as a shopping destination in Indonesia. On weekends, the city is jam-packed with those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life to enjoy what Bandung has to offer: a shopping experience in a big city with a small-town feeling.
There are snacks you cannot miss when you visit Bandung, and they are a must, especially when you tell your friends or colleagues at work about your plan to visit Bandung: peuyeum Bandung, fermented cassava, oncom goreng (fermented foods) made from nuts and beans, pisang molen Kartika Sari (banana-filled pastry by Kartika Sari), brownis kukus Kemuning (steamed brownie of Kemuning street), Kue Soes Merdeka (custard-filled cupcake from Merdeka bakery), batagor (fish-stuffed fried tofu).
The culinary lovers who desire the authentic traditional dishes, the Sundanese cuisine, or the Western-Sundanese gourmet foods can dine out at hotels, resorts, open-air restaurants, or buy from street vendors. There are restaurants that offer the traditional Sundanese atmosphere, one of them being Kampung Daun. The restaurant is set up to look like a traditional village, with a man-made waterfall you can enjoy viewing while having your meal. You will eat at a private, individual hut, and there are cushions, mats, and a low table to encourage you to sit and relax.
Sundanese cuisine is characterized by its freshness and fondness for fresh, raw vegetables, which Sundanese call “lalab,” and eat with the famous condiment “sambal,” a very hot sauce made by grinding chili peppers with other spices like shallots and limes. Most Sundanese foods are served with steamed rice as a centerpiece of all meals. In Sundanese cooking, there are many different ways to cook rice, such as “nasi goreng” or friend rice; “nasi uduk,” steamed rice cooked with coconut milk and other spices; or “nasi kuning,” yellow rice. Side dishes of vegetables, fish, or meat are added to provide variety. Sundanese cuisine tastes range frоm savory salty, fresh and sour, mildly sweet, to hot and spicy. It is customary for Sundanese to drink hot tea without sugar during meals.
WHAT ARE THEIR LIVES LIKE?
Traditionally, Sundanese are farmers. Due to the fertility of the land, West Java is a great area for farming and plantations. In addition to growing rice, there are also tea plantations, particularly in the mountainous areas. Secondary crops and fruits also grow well and abundantly. The Sundanese are famous for their friendliness. They are similar to the Javanese, particularly in the way they dress and the way they farm. Compared to Javanese people, the Sundanese place more emphasis on family and openness, whereas the Javanese tend to be more formal and hierarchical. Another difference from the Javanese is that Sundanese have a stronger devotion to Islam. Although they live on the island of Java, the Sundanese do not consider the place they live to be “Java,” but “Tatar Sunda,” or the land of Sunda, with its own culture.
WHAT ARE THEIR BELIEFS?
Another difference from the Javanese is that Sundanese have a stronger devotion to Islam; most Sundanese are Muslims. In many areas, Islam is mixed with traditional Sunda customs. The Sundanese seek to protect harmony with the natural world. They do this through traditional ceremonies for spiritual life and group work for mutual assistance. There are still many non-Islamic elements in the Sundanese ceremonies and rituals, particularly those surrounding the growing of rice. They come from the Hindu religion that preceded the spread of Islam, or from pre-Hindu Sundanese culture.
WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE LIKE?
Sundanese people speak the Sundanese language or Basa Sunda. Like other Indonesians, most Sundanese are bilingual. They speak both their native tongue, Sundanese, and Indonesian, the Indonesian national language. Sundanese is the language of choice among family members and friends, while, in the public sphere, Indonesian is used. Compared to Javanese who spell “a” as “o,” Sundanese spell “a” as it is. For example, a Sundanese person named “Jaka” will be called “Joko” by a Javanese person.
If you stay longer in Bandung, you will also find interesting cultural jokes based on Javanese or Sundanese cultural background that will make you smile.
