Bogor is located 60km to the south of Jakarta. It is 270 metres above sea level, and is known as ‘The rain and thunderstorm capital of the world’. Hence, the rule of not coming to Bogor without an umbrella! Two climates exist – wet or dry. It’s considered to be a pleasant and cooler getaway from the busy, hot, and smoke-filled Jakarta. Many people live in Bogor and commute to Jakarta for work and leisure activities. Bogor is a rapidly expanding city, and now has all of the modern facilities that Indonesia offers. The community consists mainly of Sudanese people. Sunda – or West Java, is culturally and linguistically distinct from Central and East Java. Though the majority are Sundanese and Moslem, the Bogor community has become more culturally diverse. The city’s close proximity to Jakarta has influenced the residents’ way of life.
HISTORY:
Bogor attracted first the Hindu rulers of the Kindgom of Pajajaran who set up their capital near Bogor between the 14th and 16th century. In 1745, the Governor General of the Neterlands East Indies built a country retreat on the site of the present palace. Sir Tamford Raffles, who became Governor when the British occupied Java in 1811, was charmed by the place. He restored the Governor’s residence and started to collect plants to develop a garden in the style of the great English gardens of his day. After the Dutch reoccupied Java, the area next to the Palace was laid out as the Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya) in 1817, and has now become Bogor’s most famous tourist attraction. The International School of Bogor is only a short drive from the Botanical Gardens and Summer Palace.
DISTRICT:
There is a large professional and public service sector working in government offices and institutes in Bogor. It is also considered to be a University centre with many students attending the Bogor Agricultural University. Bogor is also an important scientific research centre with numerous institutes attracting foreign aid projects. There are many scientists and technical experts working within the various institutes. The largest is CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research) which hosts its headquarters in Indonesia. The surrounding countryside people create a living from mixed farming. Wet rice cultivation may be combined with vegetable or fruit growing, animal husbandry, fish farming or growing tree crops like cloves. There exist intensive poultry farms and some dairy farms, as well as rubber and tea plantations Bogor is developing quickly with new shops, supermarkets, cafes and restaurants opening continuously. There is also a new cinema complex and Hypermarket in close proximity to the central Bogor. (Built 2006) Two large shopping centres also opened in 2006 with a wide variety of stores including Starbucks.
RECOMMENDED REFERENCE BOOKS:
“Culture Shock! Indonesia”
Cathie Draine and Barbara Hall
Times Books International, Singapore
“Culture Shock! Sucessful Living Abroad: A Parents Guide”
Robin Pascoe
Times Books International, Singapore (1993)
“A Handbook for Newcomers to Bogor”
5th Edition, 1995
