Saturday, June 1, 2013

Escape to Pulo Geulis, a Real Plural Society and Harmonious Life

Pulo Geulis, is a name of a village located in the heart of Bogor city. A village (consider kampong) with a higher density population.
Pulo or Pulau have such meaning an island, but actually its not really island. Its a delta which placed in the middle of Ciliwung river. The location exactly behind Baranangsiang station (the main bus station in Bogor) and close to the eastern part of Bogor Botanical Garden.

Several options how you could come to Bogor from Jakarta.
The easier way just go by train / commuter line. From any train station in Jakarta (mostly Station Kota or Manggarai Station), go direct to the Stasiun Besar Bogor (Bogor main station).
Other option by bus. Just go to any Jakarta main bus station and find the intercity bus. The final destination is Baranangsiang bus station, the main bus station in Bogor.
If you have more budget, rent a car. Share with some of your friends. Drive through the Jagorawi toll way, and find the Bogor exit. 

In Bogor, Pulo Geulis could reached by walking, crossing some bridge which cross over the Ciliwung river.
There are two bridges, the first bridge is western bridge located around Roda street.
And the other one from eastern side, from Riau street which located behind Baranangsiang bus station.

Beberapa Akses Point
With some friends, I decide to visit Pulo Geulis on the third days of Iedul Fitri on 21st August 2012. When we was here, we trying to access it from the east part, from Otto Iskandardinata street. The access exactly located across the Bogor Botanical Garden.

After we are step down and passing a narrow skid row which only enough for 2 pedestrian, finally we arrive in the end of the road and continue down to the end western part of Pulo Geulis.

In west end part of Pulo Geulis, the Ciliwung river are join back in one. We can see may domistic garbage over the Ciliwung river.

Some Pulo Geulis kids play around the dirty Ciliwung river. They are running and jumping from a stone to another. Some get bath there.
People around there sometime prefer short cut their way, crossing down the river, then if they have to walk around further cross the bridge.


Pulo Geulis | Ujung Barat Pulo Geulis

Pulo Geulis | Bantaran Kali Ciliwung / Sebelah kiri delta Pulo Geulis

Pulo Geulis | Jl. Otto Iskandardinat bridge from a distance






In the middle of our way, sometime we stop and try to minggle and talk to the resident. Some of the is Chinese etnic and they still keep use their real Chinese name. For example Lee Hok Wu Nama,the old man who we met him seat at the end of a skid row. Mostly people we met there really kind and friendly.

Continue our walking through the narrow skid row, we find a bridge. Its too narrow, only fit for 2 people walk in 2 way or just 1 motorcycle. Several time some motorcycle cross the bridge bring so many chicken or sometime hick up 3 or 4 people on the motorcycle.  






Pulo Geulis | Altar Sembahyang Buddha

Pulo Geulis | Altar Sembahyang Kong Hu Chu

Pulo Geulis | Batu Sesembahan