Kaliandra, the Hidden Beauty of East Java

Note: Although this blog is actually an Indonesian language blog, I think I need to write this post in English version. Because I need to share the beauty of Kaliandra with people like you, who came in this blog (either by accident or not), don’t understand Indonesian language, and want to know more about Kaliandra.

Finally, we decided to discover Kaliandra on last Sunday (23rd September 2012). The main purpose is actually refreshing and recharging our batteries as well as celebrating Dad’s 60th birthday.

Kaliandra was chosen because of the location (which is pretty near from our hometown, Surabaya and we haven’t visited that place before). One more reason, we thought that Kaliandra will not be as crowded as other amusement park on Weekend (my Dad hate crowd).

Actually, we’ve been provoked by a friend from Germany who had been to Kaliandra and being amazed with that site. That made us became more curious to see how Kaliandra looks like. Besides, how could be foreigners from Europe have stepped their feet there, while we-local people-haven’t hear about that place before?

But the problem arose when we had to find the location of Kaliandra, while no one knows where precisely Kaliandra is. Thanks to my Blackberry and Google as our navigator, so we could find Kaliandra without getting lost ^-^.

How to Reach Kaliandra?

Very easy, especially if you know how to reach Taman Safari II, Prigen. All you need to do is just following the road toward that safari park. To find the road is also very easy, because from the main road you’ll see a giant elephant tusk. That’s the road that will bring you to safari park (and also to Kaliandra).

Just about a hundred meter from the ticket counter of Taman Safari, there will be another giant elephant tusk. Right before that tusk, there will be a narrower road on your right direction. So, if you plan to go to Kaliandra, better prepare your car to turn right, just when you see the elephant tusk from distance.

After turning right, just follow the road until you come to Kaliandra about 2 kilometers ahead. If your eyes are sharp enough, you may see some direction boards showing the location of Kaliandra along the road.

The Simple Wooden Gate

At the end of our journey to find Kaliandra, we arrived in front of a wooden gate, which is (according to me) a very simple gate. It’s just like a gate to enter somebody’s villa or home.

Someone in security uniform came and greeted us. After making sure we have come to the right place, we were welcomed to enter Kaliandra through that gate.

I was brought to Marketing Office. I sat on the Javanese style porch, where there is a site map of Kaliandra hanging on the wall. I look a glance at the map and found “Hastinapura” and “Bharatapura” there. Wow, I’m so curious. My exploration of the sitemap was interrupted when a friendly young man came with a brochure and name card on his hand.

After introducing ourselves, we decided to have something to eat before exploring Kaliandra. The man promised us to accompany us walking around the complex of Kaliandra.

Kaliandra’s Culinary

They said, the food served in Kaliandra’s restaurant is cooked without MSG (Mono sodium glutamate) addition.

They also said that the fruit and veggies used are organically planted in the surrounding area of Kaliandra.

I said, the taste is good and the price is pretty reasonable.

Some of the menu is quite specific which I have never found in other place, just like “Tengiri Fish with Dabu-Dabu Spice” or “Steamed Gurami Fish with Kecombrang Flower”.

I myself really enjoyed my big bowl of “Ox Tail Soup”, a cup of warm “Rosella Tea” and a cup of warm “Mint Milk Tea”.

While we were eating, a pretty big bee were flying around, picking some spicy rice and bringing them somewhere.

My father said that, it was probably true that the food was cooked without any MSG. If there were any, the bee won’t like to taste it. 

Bharatapura and Hastinapura

Seeing the architecture and layout of Kaliandra, made us feel like we were in the complex of Hindu Temples. The meeting rooms was designed like an open “pendopo” (javanese meeting room), the placement of some statues of Hindu’s Gods, and the name of the resort complex which has a Hindu aroma: Bharatapura and Hastinapura.

Bharatapura is located near the entrance gate, and consists of some twin/single rooms and dorm-style cottages.

While Hastinapura, which is located on the upper level, consists of 5 (or 6) bungalows. Plus a Majapahit-style swimming pool, in which the water came directly from the source of Mount Arjuna. That pool is so wonderful, because it is surrounded by green trees and some of Hindu’s Gods statues. It made us, for a blink; forget that we were in East Java.

The Hidden Palace

What made our jaws fell down on earth was something we saw when we walked toward Hastinapura. We saw a palace. Yes, a palace in the middle of Mount Arjuna. A luxurious European-style palace, completed with a peacock hanging around on its porch.

For a local people like me, that building looked very amazing so I can’t hear the guide’s explanation very clearly (because my brain is so busy with my eyes, staring at that amazing building). So far my brain can record the guide’s explanation; there are actually more than one palace in Kaliandra. One palace is the home of Kaliandra’s founder and the other ones is available for rent. 

I was still amaze of the existence of the palace and imagine how to transport the building material in the middle of this mountain when I saw another surprise. In front of us now, we saw a pond with lotus on it. And the background is another European-castle-style villa completed with a swimming pool. That building is also for rent. Built in 2004, but the exterior is designed as if the building was as ancient as the building in 19th century.

Why Kaliandra Exist?

Seeing and exploring every corner of Kaliandra, I feel like this place is created for non commercial purpose. I mean, tourism object (especially a theme park) is usually colorful with many souvenir stalls, but almost without hospitality. A theme park is usually fulfilled with an atmosphere of “Please enjoy after paying some money”. But Kaliandra is different. In this place, we can feel a wonderful hospitality even before we get through the entrance gate. We felt like we’re guests who have been served, not like an ordinary tourist.

They said, Kaliandra was created by a Chinese-Dutch blood Indonesian entrepreneur.

They said, he’s now around 70 years old.

They said, he wants to posses a legacy.

From his desire, Kaliandra existed. It’s (according to me) a harmony between nature, culture and education.

And, by looking at Kaliandra at this moment, I thought his desire has already fulfilled. Kaliandra has become a legacy, even when the founder is still alive.

The enchantment of Kaliandra and all its hospitality had impress us.

We promised ourselves to come back again someday, in order to see a panorama that we haven’t seen last Sunday. That is: how Kaliandra looks at dusk and at night.

Actually, there are still many stories about Kaliandra that I haven’t written. I don’t want to write them here at this moment. I’m doing it on purpose, so that Kaliandra will remain a mystery. So that the beauty of Kaliandra can be proven by our eye’s lenses. However, if you want to see how Kaliandra look, the facility and programs, please visit: www.kaliandrasejati.org.