A rainbow slope
Painted houses on the hillside.
Dominic Nelson — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Medanbased — CC BY 4.0 · Ahmadrizky0102 — CC BY-SA 4.0
A working-class neighbourhood on the steep bank of the Brantas River in Malang that went from crowded slum to the city's most photographed sight after university students painted every house in bright colours in 2016 with backing from a paint company. The packed houses on the slope became a canvas of red, blue, yellow and green, seen from the bridge and from the trains passing overhead. You wander narrow lanes and steps between the painted houses, among murals, hanging umbrellas and decorations, with residents going about their daily lives around you. On the opposite bank is Kampung Tridi with its 3D murals, linked by a glass footbridge over the river. The fee is a token few thousand rupiah that goes to the residents, usually with a small souvenir. It is very close to Malang railway station. Remember these are real homes: ask before photographing people and keep your voice down. Mornings are best for the colours and cooler.
Painted houses on the hillside.
Over the Brantas River.
3D murals across the river.
Jodipan, on the bank of the Brantas River, near Malang station
Yes, with care: the steps are many and narrow and the bridge is high above the river. An hour is enough; pair it with the nearby Alun-alun.
