The Street Where We Live

dine in or take out?

huge home behind high walls

Our apartment is in a neighborhood that is a crazy mix of large homes with manicured lawns and guard gates while at the same time home to a chaotic combination of people walking, driving nice cars, riding motorcycles and hole-in-the-wall businesses or carts selling different kinds of food. There is also a military facility at the head of our street, so uniformed soldiers are commonly seen as well.

brothers

While Bandung is on the equator, it is also in the mountains which makes its temperatures surprisingly nice. Average temps are in the 60-70's most of the year, although we have been told it can be a bit cooler in the rainy season. But the mild temperatures are the reasons that most people do not have AC and also the reason they are outside all the time.

Although we live on a dead end street, there is still much traffic coming in and out. It is served with several small "businesses" as well as a take out or dine in place (above). People ride their motorcycles up and get food to go, or some go inside and eat on a table while chickens roam around their feet. Surprisingly, this little "convenience store" does quite a lot of business.


Across from the store are 2 rubber tire swings on a littered parcel of ground. Children can often be seen playing there. And there are usually a few chickens pecking around as well. I usually have my camera with me and I will photograph them if there are no objections. Actually, these two brothers turned out to be little hams! There is also a  split log there that serves as seating while waiting for taxis to pick us up. People are usually friendly and will smile and speak, especially if we smile and speak to them first.

Jan checking e-mail while waiting on taxi

Ronnie running on our street

view off our back balcony

the street where we live