Maribaya is located in the north of Bandung. Exactly located in the east of Lembang. This area was once famous for its hot springs. But now that is still famous is the nature of its still beautiful and blend with Djuanda Forest Park area.
To get here can be from the direction of Bandung or can also from the direction of the city of Subang. I deliberately take that from the city of Subang because it is all to go to Tangkuban Parahu. This path is indeed an alternative path to Bandung and the scenery on the left and right is good to see.
As usual before traveling, I searched for as much information as possible. Good information about his route or facilities of the place we will visit. It's all to make the trip so efficient.
From the information obtained, whether in the form of writing or images from the internet, Maribaya is a natural tourist area that was once famous for its hot water bath. But now the most known is the existence of waterfall / waterfall that exist in some places in this location. Also an unspoiled state with tall trees and of course fresh air.
My family and I started the journey from Bekasi leaving at 6 am. With the hope that leaving somewhat later the highway is not too crowded. Previous experience if the weekend let alone a long weekend when it was a little daytime heavy traffic. Even tends to jam.
This time the trip will pass the Cikampek toll lane - Cipularang - exit at Sadang. From Sadang - Subang - Ciater - Lembang. This path is usually an alternative path to Bandung, other than through the Cipularang toll road directly to Bandung. Besides being to avoid the possibility of jamming in Cipularang - when I go this is a long weekend - also on this point the scenery is good and more importantly close to the location we are going to go.
The journey on the Cikampek expressway is smooth. There is little density in some places, but it is generally smooth. So also at Cipularang toll out in Sadang, travel smoothly. While the Sadang to Subang route is generally smooth. Only sometimes have to reduce speed because there is a narrow or broken road. Or also because the angkot that runs rather slowly and sometimes stop suddenly
The journey began exciting when passing from the city of Subang to Ciater. The streets are up and down is easy to pass because it is smooth. The scenery on the left is also nice to see. Many pineapple sellers hang it in front of kiosks that are the hallmark of the streets here. Pineapple fruit from Subang, precisely around Jalan Cagak famous big-shaped, a lot of water and sweet.
The road is smooth and up and down like this continues up to Ciater area. After the street Ciater also smooth but began to climb a lot of fairly steep and long. Passing here the car must be healthy. If it will not slow when uphill and even the engine can overheat (overheat). Several times seen a car that stopped at the curb and ngebul radioatornya.
Even so on this path we are spoiled with a vast expanse of tea gardens on the left and right of the road. Many tourist buses from opposite directions are parked on this side street. Visible also some groups of tourists from abroad who are cool to enjoy the green tea garden and take pictures.
The journey with many hill and green stretch of tea gardens has begun to decrease. Now it has started to change with the view of the trees on the left and right of the road. One of two buildings also began to look. This sign is almost close to Lembang. I reduced the speed of the car while paying attention to the left and right to find a way toward Tangkuban Parahu. I was overlooked, because the road to Tangkuban Parahu if from the direction Ciater not too clearly visible. The pointing board was minimal and covered by banners and billboards either for what event. Finally it was decided to go to Maribaya first then afternoon to Tangkuban Parahu.
Arriving at Lembang, at the T-junction there are directions to the road if Maribaya take the path to the left. Written distance 4 km from T-junction Lembang. I followed the directions. The road to the left is getting more and more narrowed. Here and there a lot of bumpy roads. At a glance here like a neighborhood street.
After meeting the tourist attractions ala koboy, De Ranch, still a straight road. Just follow the road that gradually decreases and meanders, but it's still bumpy. My car that yesterday occasionally sounds kriyet, here more often the sound due to pass through the rocky road. After passing the derivative a bit steep, later on the right to meet with a special parking bus. I still continue. It seems to have almost reached the tourist area Maribaya.
When I want to go to the first counter, because somewhat dense I was directed to the second counter. It's still a few hundred yards away. Meet the second booth and pay my entrance ticket directly to the car park from the door of this second counter. Although already a bit senior (read: fathers) but the counter officers serve friendly.
In this parking lot not many private cars are parked. Only seen 1-2 only. I arrived at about 11 pm. I started looking for clues where the interesting places around here. There is a kind of pointer to curug Omas which is the largest waterfall in this Maribaya region. I almost always see this Omas curug photo while reading information about Maribaya. Means indeed this famous waterfall. Actually here is not just a waterfall Omas, near me this parking there are also some waterfall, though it is rather small. So less interesting people to see it. Nor did I see these curves. I want first to curug Omas.
From the instructions mounted on the tree, Omas waterfall is about 200 meters from where I parked. I went straight to it. Past the path and a bit uphill. I coincided with other visitors who also led a lot from and towards this Omas waterfall.
I'm just a little surprised, it turns out if you want to enter Curug Omas from Maribaya have to pay the tickets again. I try to ask the officer counters why should pay again, it is not far from Maribaya. Answered for waterfall Omas enter the Forest Park area Ir. H. Djuanda. So have to pay a ticket to enter the area. Yes finally I went also to the waterfall Omas.
From this Taman Hutan Raya counter, the road to Curug Omas is rather nice. The streets are made of stucco from cement and small stones and on one side are given an iron fence. Besides being able to keep from falling to the side, this fence can also as a handle. The streets are slippery if slightly wet. Moreover, the road to the waterfall slightly uphill and then decreased when approaching the waterfall. So be extra careful not to slip.
Typical waterfall sounds are getting louder. And people who approached the waterfall also have a lot. We seem to coincide with a group of schoolchildren from outside the region.
There are some small children and mothers who offer to rent mats. I have no interest in sitting around. I still want to see the curugs from various points.
From some blog posts there are writing that the water color in this Omar curug cloudy, there is garbage and even smelly. That's what happened a few years ago. But when I visited fortunately did not experience it. River water is not too clear, just brownish. But there was no unpleasant odor because of the dirty water. Even the garbage I see is too visible. Even looks white when the waterfall from a height and hit the water beneath. This creates gentle grains of water and is carried by the wind upward.
What is also interesting is this waterfall mounted bridge on it. So that we can see the water immediately jumping down right from the top. It seems nice to cross the bridge while looking down the water that plunges from a height. I, too, like other visitors want to try it. Just past a little part of the bridge is already beginning to drool. Thinking with the woods that are always damp feared rotten. Especially when on the wooden sidelines look down, see the water falling with the swiftly increasingly excited. I did not continue to look down and just walked slowly to the end of the bridge. Moreover, the bridge feels like wobbling that increasingly makes deg-degan. The bridge wobbled because behind me seemed like a lot of unison entered the bridge. And the pantesan just swayed, when I got to the end and read the writing on the iron bridge, it is recommended maximum of 5 people when passing this bridge. The visitors should follow the advice written on the bridge so that other visitors feel comfortable.
After the end of the bridge I headed downwards. There is also provided a bridge to see the waterfall from the bottom. From here the scenery curug more comfortable look. Moreover, coupled with a kind of fog that slowly rises to the top due to the water drops down, the more pleasing to see. But be ready to get wet if the pound of water was more and more exposed to the wind. Can be like the local rain.
Then we climbed up again in the position when it came. Here there is also a large lawn and in the middle there is a kind of monument. Rather up lined stalls of various foods and beverages. Sometimes also seen monkeys who are looking for food. But unfortunately around the field is not provided adequate seating. It just can not just relax the already gempor foot since walking to here and walk here. Unless you want to rent a mat that is from since it came offered.
I tried to cross the curug over the bridge above. This time I try to go up where there is a signpost to the Dutch cave and Japanese cave. But unfortunately the distance is far from here, about 5 km. So I did not try to go to the caves. Just trying to climb up again just to see the forest. The streets up here are more upward than the previous ones. Up to make the legs feel sore. Up here too many entourage are running as well. On the left-hand side of this road there is a name on a growing tree. So it can make visitors know the name of the tree.
Because it is getting sore legs, we finally returned to the parking again. Take a short break while eating tofu hot fry and bakwan are sold near us parking lot. Time shows around 1pm. And it seems still enough time to go to Tangkuban Parahu.
Actually there are still many that can still be enjoyed in this Maribaya. Like trying a hot water bath that was once famous. Small curugs that exist between the new Maribaya entrance to the direction of urban forest. As for Juanda Forest Kingdom I just visited the waterfall Omas. It looks like there are other curugs and historic caves. Unfortunately the place was too far from Maribaya. Maybe one day I will kunjuni again from Dago Pakar direction. Gratitude-gratitude can be adventurous walking through the urban forest is shady and fresh air.
This facility in Maribaya needs to be repaired, for example toilets that are sober. Lack of places to sit and gather, which is now just an open field. Places to eat and drink that interest to buy it. It may be necessary also held a comfortable lodging so that more interesting visitors to the Maribaya.