Indonesian Paradise: Uncover OYO 90621 Pondok 23 Bandung's Hidden Gems!
OYO 90621 Pondok 23 Bandung: My Bandung Adventure (and Why You Might Love It Too!)
Okay, folks, let's be honest. Booking a hotel under the "OYO" banner can sometimes feel like a roll of the dice. You're bracing yourself for… well, something. But let me tell you, my recent stay at OYO 90621 Pondok 23 Bandung was a real surprise package. It wasn't perfect, no siree, but it definitely had its moments, and if you're a budget traveler looking for a base camp to explore the wonders of Bandung, you should definitely read on. Actually, scratch that, if you're looking for any kind of experience, keep reading!
First Impressions & Getting There: Accessibility & The Bandung Shuffle
Bandung, bless it, is a vibrant city. And like any bustling Indonesian locale, getting around can be an adventure in itself. OYO 90621 Pondok 23 isn't smack-dab in the city center (more on that later), but its location is decent. Accessibility: The hotel boasts an elevator, which is a huge plus. Important note for wheelchair users: I didn't personally require a wheelchair, but I did take a look around and think the layout looked pretty friendly for those with mobility issues. However, always contact the hotel directly to confirm specific accessibility needs, especially regarding bathrooms and doorways. The staff generally seemed pretty helpful, and that’s often the most important thing!
Getting there from the airport was… well, it was Bandung. I opted for a taxi, which thankfully had a decent amount of legroom because my journey felt like an entire episode of “Amazing Race.” Traffic is legendary, so factor that in! Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]: Nice bonus if you're brave enough to drive. Airport transfer: I didn't use this, but it's available, which is a godsend after a long flight.
The Room: Creature Comforts & That All-Important Wi-Fi
My room? Well, it was a room. Let’s start there. Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Additional toilet, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. Whew! That's a lot, right?
Wi-Fi [free]: Hallelujah! And it actually worked! I'm a digital nomad at heart, so reliable internet is crucial. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! That’s a huge win. I could work, video call, and generally stay connected without wanting to throw my laptop out the window. Internet access – wireless also works. They also have Internet access – LAN (wired), if that's your thing and it’s helpful to have a backup when you're streaming, or, you know, trying to upload a 50 GB file (ahem, hypothetically).
The bed was comfy enough, with extra long bed options, which is a thoughtful touch, especially for the taller folks. The blackout curtains were a godsend for those Bandung late-night/early-morning sunrises that can be brutal. Complimentary tea and coffee/tea maker in the room? Essential. Especially after the taxi ride…
The Cleanliness & Safety Saga
Cleanliness and safety are always top of mind these days. Anti-viral cleaning products were used, which is reassuring. Hand sanitizer was readily available. Daily disinfection in common areas: check. Rooms sanitized between stays: thankfully yes. Staff trained in safety protocol: I saw them follow some protocols. Fire extinguisher, Smoke alarms, Security [24-hour], CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property: Yep, all good.
Food, Glorious Food (And Maybe A Few Disappointments)
Okay, confession time: I’m a foodie. And Bandung? Bandung is a foodie's paradise.
Restaurants, Coffee shop, Snack bar, Poolside bar, A la carte in restaurant, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Desserts in restaurant: This is where things get interesting. There are Restaurants and a Coffee shop in the hotel, but sadly, I’m not sure I experienced them much. They Bar was there, but quiet. The Breakfast [buffet] was… well, let’s just say it was adequate. Again, adequate. It wasn’t the culinary fireworks display I'd hoped for, but it filled the void. There was also the potential for A la carte in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, but it was probably better to venture out and explore the city!
Dining, drinking, and snacking, included the Bottle of water in the room, but I was more interested in the Snack bar, that got me through some late nights. Room service [24-hour] was available and that was a godsend when I had a craving for indomie at 3 AM. Breakfast takeaway service: A nice option if you’re in a hurry to get exploring.
Things To Do & Ways To Relax (Or Not)
Right, so OYO 90621 Pondok 23 is not exactly a resort. But, the pool is pretty nice. The Swimming pool [outdoor], Pool with view offered a great escape from the Bandung hustle and bustle. And after a day of exploring, a dip was exactly what I needed.
Things to do: Bandung is the thing to do! There are the meeting/banquet facilities, but to be honest, you're in Bandung to explore the city itself, not to attend corporate events.
Optional things to do or ways to relax: Fitness center, Gym/fitness, and the Massage options (I didn't partake, I'm more of a "explore the city" type of guy). Maybe next time.
Services & Conveniences: The Good, The Bad, and the Laundry
Air conditioning in public area: Yes. Concierge: yes. Daily housekeeping: Yes. Convenience store: Yes. Cash withdrawal: yes. Elevator: Yes, bless this elevator! Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: all there. I did use the laundry service, and it was efficient and affordable. The same could be said for the dry cleaning and ironing service.
The Quirks and the Minor Imperfections (Because, Let's Be Real…)
No hotel is perfect, and neither is this one. Little things, like the water pressure in the shower sometimes taking a vacation (not a major issue) or the breakfast buffet not exactly being a Michelin-star experience, are part of the charm. The location, while convenient, wasn't in the immediate heart of the action. But that’s part of the adventure, right?
My Verdict: The Honest Truth
OYO 90621 Pondok 23 Bandung isn't a luxury resort. It's a solid, clean, and comfortable budget-friendly hotel that provides a good base for exploring Bandung. It’s got the essentials covered and, perhaps more importantly, it offers a genuine Indonesian experience. It’s got an authentic feel to it, which is part of the charm. If you're on a tight budget and want to explore Bandung on foot, this is a solid option.
And now, a little stream-of-consciousness rant about a specific experience, because that's what this review is all about:
Okay, so I'm sitting there, a little jet-lagged from my flight, and I order room service. It’s late, the city sounds are fading outside, and I just want some indomie. I call Room Service and a cheerful voice assures me it'll be there in 20 minutes. An hour goes by. Silence. I call again. Another cheerful voice says, "Oh, yes, sir, it's on its way!" Another 30 minutes. I’m almost asleep. I check my phone. It’s a dead battery, the charger is in my suitcase, which is locked. Finally, the knock. And the indomie? Pure, beautiful, perfect, hot, and slightly greasy Indomie. It was divine. And that, my friends, is why I’m telling you to book this place. It wasn't perfect, it was a little chaotic, but in a strange way, it was perfect. Messy, honest, funny, and absolutely human. And that is what makes a good vacation.
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because you're about to get a peek inside my tragically un-glamorous, probably-going-to-be-hilariously-chaotic trip to OYO 90621 Pondok 23 in Bandung, Indonesia. This isn't going to be some perfectly curated Instagram feed, I promise. This is the real deal. The pre-flight-anxiety-sweat-inducing, "did-I-pack-underpants?" version.
Bandung Bonanza: A Messy Itinerary (with a Side of Existential Dread)
Day 1: Arrival & Existential Crisis at the Airport (JKT to Bandung! …maybe)
- 7:00 AM: Alarm goes off. I hit snooze. Classic. Why do I do this to myself? Travel is supposed to be relaxing, right? Right?! (Cue frantic internal questioning).
- 8:00 AM: Officially dragging my sorry self out of bed. Double-checks passport, triple-checks plane tickets (because, you know, trust issues). Realize I still need to exchange currency. Panic ensues.
- 9:00 AM: Taxi to airport. Traffic. Naturally. Contemplate the meaning of life while watching the traffic jam. Wonder if I should’ve just stayed home.
- 10:30 AM: Arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Jakarta). The air is thick with the scent of jet fuel and regret. Find the check-in counter. The entire process is a comedy of errors. My backpack weighs a metric ton.
- 11:30 AM: FINALLY through security. Buy a horribly overpriced bottle of water because I'm already dehydrated from the pre-trip anxiety.
- 12:30 PM: Flight to Bandung departs. (Hopefully). Settle into my seat. Observe my fellow passengers, silently judging their travel choices. (Just kidding…mostly.)
- 1:30 PM: TOUCHDOWN! (Hopefully Bandung!) Find a taxi. Negotiate (or what passes for negotiating, which is basically me looking bewildered and probably overpaying).
- 2:30 PM: Arrive at OYO 90621 Pondok 23. Pray it's not a complete dive. (Spoiler: It's probably not a palace, so my expectations are already low). Check-in. Dump luggage. Immediately need a nap.
- 3:30 PM: Nap. Wake up feeling slightly less like a zombie. (Progress!)
- 4:30 PM: Wandering around looking for food and direction. I feel like a lost puppy. This is the stage where I usually question all life choices at this stage.
- 5:00 PM: Find a Warung nearby. Try to order something. Pointing and gesturing my way through the menu. Success! (I think).
- 6:00 PM: Stroll and explore nearby areas, and get the lay of the land. Get hopelessly lost. Realize my phone is dead and my wifi is non-existent. Panic.
- 7:00 PM: Get a local to kindly guide me back, or I find a helpful cafe with working wifi. Start to plan the rest of my trip. Still feel kinda lost… both physically and existentially.
- 8:00 PM: Back at OYO, attempt to watch something on TV… Find I have no idea what's going on.
- 9:00 PM: Pass out.
Day 2: The Quest for the Perfect Cup of Joe & Tangled Thoughts
- 7:00 AM: Wake up. (I’m pretty good at waking up). The room isn't too bad, it's not terrible. Still feel the faint echoes of yesterday's existential crisis.
- 8:00 AM: Search for "the perfect Indonesian coffee." Find a local coffee shop. Order something indecipherable (but hopefully delicious).
- 9:00 AM: Coffee is good! Realize I have no plan. Make a plan. (Or try to).
- 10:00 AM: Explore the area on foot. Get distracted by everything.
- 11:00 AM: Get a massage. I deserve it after the airport debacle. (And every other life decision).
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. More food. More indecipherable ordering. More delicious food!
- 1:00 PM: Visit a local market. Get accosted by vendors selling… everything. Buy something I probably don't need, but hey. Supporting the local economy, right? (That's what I'm telling myself).
- 2:00 PM: Visit the Gedung Merdeka. Get some photos. Pretend to be cultured.
- 3:00 PM: Head to Trans Studio Bandung. I'm really a big kid at heart.
- 4:00 PM: Ride rollercoasters, and maybe have motion sickness.
- 5:00 PM: More delicious food. And maybe a local sweet treat?
- 6:00 PM: Back at OYO, start to feel the trip coming to an end.
- 7:00 PM: Contemplate what I'm going to eat for my dinner.
- 8:00 PM: Actually, I don't want a plan, and might eat at a cafe, and decide to work on a new writing project or something.
- 9:00 PM: Bed.
Day 3: The Farewell Farewell (Or, Another Nap)
- 7:00 AM: Wake up.
- 8:00 AM: Pack. (The most dreaded task of all). Try to squeeze everything back into my unreasonably small backpack. Fail.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Scrounge up leftover snacks. Contemplate life again.
- 10:00 AM: Check out of OYO. Say goodbye to my humble abode and start my trip home.
- 11:00 AM: Traffic.
- 12:00 PM: Say goodbye to Bandung, and Jakarta traffic.
- 1:00 PM: Get to the airport, and try to get some snacks and drinks.
- 2:00 PM: Check-in, and get through security.
- 3:00 PM: Board my flight, and get home.
- 4:00 PM: Land. Go home.
Important Disclaimers:
- This itinerary is fluid. Like, really fluid. It’s more of a suggestion than a rigid schedule. I reserve the right to completely change plans based on mood swings, nap opportunities, and the availability of gelato.
- Food is a priority. So, expect many more meals and snacks than are explicitly listed.
- Expect random tangents. My brain works like a caffeinated hummingbird. Buckle up.
- I am not a travel expert. I'm just a person who decided to go to Bandung.
- The "fun" level is highly variable.
- This trip could be a complete disaster… or the best adventure ever. Honestly, at this point, I'd be happy with either.
Wish me luck. And maybe send chocolate. I'm probably going to need it.
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Okay, so… what *is* "stuff" anyway? Be specific, please. I'm dense.
Ugh, right? The big question. Honestly? "Stuff" is whatever's on YOUR mind. It’s the unsaid things, the unspoken anxieties, the embarrassing moments, the things you're *supposed* to do vs. the things you *actually* do. It's life, basically. All the good, the bad, and the "I'm pretty sure I left the stove on" moments. I mean, for *me*, right now "stuff" includes that weird back pain I've had all week, the crippling fear I'll never finish this, and the gnawing suspicion my cat is judging me. So, really, it’s vast. It’s a whole freaking galaxy of… stuff.
Why are we even *talking* about "stuff"? Isn't there a more… productive use of time? Like, I don't know, filing taxes?
Oh, you sweet summer child. Taxes are important (probably). But sometimes… sometimes you just gotta acknowledge the chaos. Look, I was *supposed* to be cleaning the fridge. Like, weeks ago. But then I got distracted by a dust bunny the size of a small dog, and then I started thinking about the meaning of life, and then… well, here we are. Talking about "stuff." It's therapy! (Probably not. Definitely not legally.) It's… a distraction from the fridge. And sometimes we *need* a distraction, ya know?
What qualifies as "bad stuff"? Just to make sure I'm on the same page.
Oh, honey, that's a complicated one. "Bad stuff" is subjective, baby. Like, my friend, Sarah, thinks burnt toast is the end of the world. Me? Unless it sets off the smoke alarm (which it *totally* did last week), I’m fine. Generally, though, "bad stuff" encompasses the usual suspects: rejection, heartbreak, financial woes – the stuff that makes you want to curl up in a ball and eat ice cream straight from the carton. But let's be real, the truly horrific stuff is the stuff that nobody *else* seems to understand. Like the existential dread that comes with running out of coffee. *That* is real bad stuff. I'm still recovering from the caffeine withdrawal-induced panic attack of '23 .
What's some "good stuff" then? Are we even allowed to be happy?
YES! We are *absolutely* allowed to be happy! "Good stuff" is the sunshine peeking through the clouds. It's the unexpected laughter, the perfectly ripe avocado (seriously, those are hard to come by!), and the moments where you feel like you *might* have your life marginally together. It's the feeling when you finally finish that super-tough level of that video game (I'm looking at you, Elden Ring) or finally nail that tricky recipe. It's the hug from your dog, the unprompted compliment from a stranger, the sweet sweet taste of a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. The "good stuff" is *worth* fighting for, even when the fridge is a biohazard.
I had a terrible experience with… let's say, a particularly aggressive pigeon. How does "stuff" apply here?
Okay, real talk. Aggressive pigeons are the absolute *worst*. I once got dive-bombed by one while eating a bagel. The bagel? Gone. My dignity? Also gone. My reaction? A mixture of terror, frustration, and a sudden, overwhelming urge to move to Antarctica. That’s *exactly* how "stuff" applies! It's the details. The bagel, the dive-bomb, the lost dignity, the urge to flee. The pigeon incident became a *thing*. It was a minor tragedy. It *shaped* me. (Okay, maybe not *shaped* me, but it definitely made me wary of pigeons and bagels near public squares.) It's those seemingly insignificant things that become part of the tapestry of our lives. I still have a lingering fear of pigeons, by the way. Don't judge.
How do I deal with the "stuff" that's truly overwhelming? Like, the big, scary, life-altering "stuff?"
Ugh. *That* stuff. The stuff that keeps you up at night. The stuff that makes you feel like you're drowning. Look, there's no magic bullet, okay? No one-size-fits-all solution. But here's what I *think* helps, even if I'm terrible at practicing it myself: First, acknowledge it. Don't pretend it's not there. Second, find someone to talk to. A friend, a family member, a therapist, a really empathetic barista – anyone who'll listen without judgment. Third, and this is crucial: Lower your expectations. Seriously. It's okay to not be okay. It's okay to have a bad day (or a bad week, or a bad *year*). And finally, remember that even the darkest nights eventually give way to dawn. It might take a while, and it might be messy… but you *will* get through it. Take it one breath, one moment, one slightly-less-chaotic-than-before step at a time. And maybe, just maybe, avoid pigeons. Those little feathered fiends are not your friends.
Does “stuff” ever go away? Is it just an endless cycle of problems?
I’d be lying to you if I said that "stuff" magically disappears. It doesn't. It changes. It morphs. It takes on new shapes and forms. One day it's a pigeon attack, the next it's a job interview, the next it's the crushing realization you haven't called your mother in a week. It's relentless. *But* - and this is a BIG but (pun intended, because apparently I'm still five years old) - you adapt. You learn. You build resilience. You find coping mechanisms. You laugh (sometimes through tears). And you realize that the "stuff," as painful and inconvenient as it often is… is what makes life, y'know… *life*. So, no, it doesn't go away. But *you* get stronger. Hopefully. Or at least, less susceptible to pigeon-induced panic.
Okay, final question. What do *you* consider your biggest piece of "stuff"?
