Be a Cowboy a la De'Ranch Bandung
By the time we arrived to De’Ranch Bandung, jingle of The Magnificent Seven from Elmer Bernstein invaded our ears, repeatedly. Actually from the name, we had already figured out the concept. It’s wild wild west. Needless to say, there are horses, cows, gold mine, cowboys, cowgirls, carriages, et cetera. Opened on December 2007, De’Ranch carries the spirit of food, leisure and knowledge.
You only have to buy 5,000 IDR ticket to enter this five hectares area. Free of charge for children under two year old. By five grands, you get a cup of milk from the bar, with strawberry or mocha flavor. It’s quiet refreshing, especially when we just walked from Panorama traditional market, Lembang, Bandung. Otherwise, you can also get yoghurt, by bartering your two entrance tickets.
Nuance of Western in De’Ranch
Enough with the milk, it’s time to saddle up! Yayah would like to rent two horses, before. One was for Bunda. But, she did not want to. Yayah guessed she was scare to ride. Well, nothing he could do about it.
So, Yayah rent one horse and picked a cowboy’s hat and a waistcoat. This is great! Yayah felt like Lucky Luke, comic by Morris and Goscinny (one of Asterix‘s creators), only without cigarette and shooting skill.
Yayah mounted to his black horse. Then, a guide led the horse to the track. They marched. Five meters. Ten. Fifteen. The horse walked side by side the guide. Yayah thought it was akin to his childhood, when he rode a horse and the guide let that (little) horse runs while he grabbed the rein just by himself. Yayah had enjoyed that moment. So macho. But this?
“Can you release the rein, Bro? Let me ride on my own,” Yayah asked my horse guide.
“Can’t do, Sir. Unless you already hold a certificate on horseback.”
One minute later, Yayah asked him a favor again, “Can we be a little faster? Come on, let the stallion run a bit.”
“Sorry, can’t do. If something happen to you, I’ll be to blame.”
Yeah. Sure. So, there how he was until the end of the lap. Suddenly, he felt like Lucky Luke again, especially after that comic character has just done a task. Riding Jolly Jumper in calm while singing, “I’m a poor lonesome cowboy, I’m a long long way from home….”
Other Rides in De’Ranch
If the train schedule wasn’t chasing after us, Yayah would do his plan there: take a short course of horse riding. It’s not cheap, but he thought it’s a fair price. Here De’Ranch’s price list:
- Horse riding (20,000 IDR/lap/person)
- Horse riding out of De’Ranch (150,000/60 minutes/person)
- Horse riding course with professional trainer (125,000 IDR/60 minutes/person)
- Fun boat (15,000 IDR/15 minutes/person)
- Fishing pond (15,000 IDR/30 minutes/person)
- Buggy (25,000 IDR/lap/3 persons)
- Buggy out of De’Ranch (30,000 IDR/3 persons)
- ATV (25,000 IDR/4 laps/person)
- Flying fox (15,000 IDR/turn/kid)
- Water balloon (15,000 IDR/person)
- Trampoline (15,000 IDR/5 minutes/person)
- Archery (15,000 IDR/10 arrows/person)
- Indian totem web (15,000 IDR/15 minutes/person)
- Gold hunting (20,000 IDR/15 minutes/person).
There is also a souvenir store. You may buy De’Ranch merchandises which have bold nuance of western.
Here, “We also share knowledge to visitors, like how to take care of horses, goats, cows,” told Uke Ridwan, the manager. De’Ranch is truly a ranch. So, every activities involving animal are no theatricals.
After riding, we went back to cafeteria. They already served snacks typical of Bandung, e.g. meatball noodle, batagor, mendoan tempeh, satay, lotek, karedok, et cetera. And also bratwurst, pizza, and many more.
De’Ranch Bandung
- Address: Jalan Maribaya no. 17, Kayuambon, Lembang, Kabupaten Bandung Barat, Jawa Barat 40391
- Telephone: +62 22 708 40 661
- Opens: everyday, except Monday. In week-day, it opens from 09.00 to 17.00. And in week-end or holiday, it opens a little longer, from 08.00 to 18.00.
Photos by Brahmanto Anindito & Indrie Vijayanti