We took the panoramic train from Jakarta to Bandung. The ride was beautiful. But it was what happened outside the hotel that we’re still thinking about.
We took the train from Jakarta to Bandung. Just over three hours, booked online. We chose the panoramic train, so most of the ride was spent looking out the window as the city slowly gave way to something quieter.
Bandung is still a big city, but the pace feels slower than Jakarta. You notice it almost right away.
But more than that, it’s the people. We’ve noticed this across Indonesia — people smile, they’re welcoming, and it feels genuine, not transactional. It makes it easier to settle in.
While we’re now in Bandung, something from Jakarta stayed with me (Gean).
We stepped out of the hotel to do something simple — laundry. We were staying at a hotel where the service stands out. Things run smoothly, and you’re taken care of.
Then you walk a few minutes outside, and it changes. The contrast is right there.
People are still smiling. Welcoming. Kind. But at the same time, you’re aware of how different things are. And it takes a bit to process.
You don’t really have an answer for it. But you know you don’t want to ignore it.
How we booked the train — and earned on it
We booked our train from Jakarta to Bandung through Traveloka — a platform used in Southeast Asia to book flights, hotels, and tourist activities.
Before booking, we logged in to Rove Miles and used their shopping portal. Traveloka was listed as one of their partners — when we booked, it was earning 4.5x points and miles.
So we started the booking from there. That way, we earned points through Rove Miles.
Then we paid with a credit card, and since Traveloka codes as travel, we also earned points from the card.
Same booking. Two layers of points.
We do this every time we book anything — flights, cars, trains, accommodation, attractions — checking where we can get the highest multipliers before paying. This is how we treat points and miles as another source of income.
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You don’t always leave a place with answers. Sometimes you just see things differently.