[top photo: Local tourists visit Tangkuban Prahu mountain in Bandung.]

The Museum Geologi, a geological museum north of the city centre, has excellent volcano exhibits and fossils that include a model skull of the prehistoric Java Man.

The Museum Prangko is known not only for its stamp collection from all over the world, but it also offers visitors a peep into how locals lived during the old colonial times.

Like its name says, Jeans Street is the place to buy denim-wear. There are rows of stalls selling cheap jeans there.
The capital of West Java is also known for its volcanic peaks, some of which are still active.

In the north, visit the Maribaya Hot Springs, which has a thermal spa and a magnificent waterfall. There is also the Tangkuban Prahu, a huge crater that still emits sulphur fumes.

The less crowded Kawah Domas area has steaming and bubbling geysers, but you must be willing to go trekking.
For a quick pick-me-up, check into the Sari Ater Hot Spring Resort, one of the main attractions at the Ciater Hot Springs. It offers one of the best hot spring pools in Bandung.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.