“Selamat siang ibu bapak...”
“Jangan lupa di angkat pulang suvenir nya ea...”
Travelling to another city or country has always been a thrill to most of us. Be it a few kilometres away or a few time zones away, we are all excited for what’s there ahead of us.
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| (The place we stayed in: Otten Ville, Bandung) |
After a while not having the time and opportunity to travel outside Malaysia, I was beyond elated when I had the chance to jump on a quick getaway to my neighbouring country, Indonesia. Though my family and I couldn’t possibly manage to visit all the beautiful places and cities in Indonesia at once, we decided to have our first holiday trip this year in Bandung.
Yes, it’s true. Bandung is indeed a great place to shop (til you drop!) particularly for us women. Everything from the place, the food, the weather, the clothes and the people there is incredibly pleasant.
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| Paris Van Java |
Paris Van Java
- This mall cum resort and lifestyle place is situated in Jl. Sukajadi (they address “Jalan / Road” as “Jl.” in short form). Though I find the place quite empty as we reach there at about 11am, it is said that the mall becomes alive once it is night time. What interests me about Paris Van Java is its open-air resort layout on the top floor: the ambience makes you feel like you’re strolling down the lanes of Miami!
The cinemas are huge, The Blitz Megaplex, with tickets pricing from RM7 to RM12 max and instead of corn-in-cups, they serve nachos with cheese!
Those who are fans of Starbucks/Dome/San Francisco etc. may find Paris Van Java a great place to have their cappuccinos and non-fat lattes. The usual branded stores can be found there, from La Senza to Mango to Charles & Keith, the list goes on.
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| Jl. Setiabudi |
- A definite place to visit for those who are into high-end designer labels. From Burberry to Louis Vuitton, you can grab these items for a much, MUCH cheaper price! Imagine getting yourself a Burberry suit for about 70% - 80% off! These are the top outlets to enter: Fashion World, Rumah Mode and Rumah Mode Plus.
As you walk along the roads of Jl. Setiabudi, you will find their outlets situated not too far away from each other. Much like Bangsar and Hartamas, these factory outlets are built on big bungalow lots with beautiful chandeliers and water fountains assembled in them.
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| Cihampelas Walk |
- Fondly known as Ciwalk by locals residing here, this is by far one of the best places I have ever visited. You may surprise yourself once you walk into this area and get the impression of a small shopping centre but as you walk further into this place, it is incredibly gigantic. Cihampelas Walk is a shopping centre situated in the middle of an open area with buildings interconnecting with one another and huge tall trees surrounding them; making it as if you have just walked into a forest, only to find a shopping centre in the middle. Filled with cheerful teens and happening people, this place is a mixture of colourful vibe and natural atmosphere.
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| The Secret |
- Similar to the likes of Rumah Mode and Fashion World, Jl. Riau and Dago are two of the best fashion streets that you may find in Bandung. Heritage, Stamp and The Secret are the places to die for when you visit Jl. Riau. My favourite? All three of them! Bought myself a British India poncho and a Burberry scarf for 70% - 80% off! As for Dago, you can splurge your thousands and millions of rupiahs on Top Shop, Mango, Calvin Klein, and even Versace items in outlets like Victoria, Grande, Donatello, Seximo and many more.
*Please note that Jl. Riau and Dago can become an endless road once you start your shopping journey. As for the husbands, boyfriends, sons or those who aren’t born with athletic shopping legs like us, they can doze off on the benches and stuff themselves with desserts and drinks at the cafes outside and inside the outlets (yes, most of the outlets have a huge cafe and garden in them!).
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| Pasar Baru |
- One word, madness! A huge tall building with eight levels to shop, you can suffocate in there! Pasar Baru is ideal for those who are looking for Muslimah apparels, prayer mats, Telekung, shawls and raw fabric materials for tailoring. Those who love shopping at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Masjid India will definitely love this place. Be sure to bargain as much as you can when you buy in bulk.
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| Trans Studio Theme Park |
– Located inside the Bandung Supermal, Trans Studio is an A plus plus! Being an indoor theme park, you will be shocked when you find this place to be enormously HUGE!
Those who visit this theme park MUST try all the rides, including Yamaha Racing Coaster, the fastest rollercoaster in the world. The thrilling part of this rollercoaster ride is the fact that it goes off in a backward movement!
Besides the rides, Trans Studio houses the Studio Central, The Lost City and Magic Corner. From 4D rides to floating ships to haunted house, broadcast museum and trans science centre, expect yourself to be stuck in there for all day long.
Food, food, food!
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| (Uduk Rice with Grilled Chicken & Avocado Juice) |
When it comes to looking for a fine dining place in Bandung, the list is endless, and quite cheap too! There are some places that may burn a big hole in your pocket, but if you know your way through some places that are in line with your budget, you will be astounded.
Suis Butcher Steak House is a great place to dine if you are looking for an affordable western cuisine. Their selection of food is delectable and their portion is satisfying. Suis Butcher Steak House can be found in Bandung Supermal, Jl. Riau and Jl. Setiabudi.
When it comes to traditional food, Ikan Bakar Pak Chi Met is THE place. An ‘Ikan Bakar specialist’, this restaurant serves scrumptious combo meals such as ‘Ikan Bakar and Cumi’ (Grilled fish and squid), ‘Ayam Bakar and Cumi’ (Grilled chicken and squid) and many more. What makes Pak Chi Met’s meals very special is its legendary ‘belacan’ (shrimp paste) and ‘ulam’ (salad) - Chili padi mixed with some lemon sauce and chopped shallots: spicy, but addictive!
Other delicacies that you must try as soon as you reach Bandung are the Es Durian (Durian ice cream), Gado-Gado, Batago, Pisang Coklat (Banana fritters with chocolate), Bakso and Jus Alpukat (Avocado Juice).
All in all, visiting Bandung has been a wonderful experience to me, I love the breezy weather and the kindness of the people there. As much as I expected these people to be as loud as the characters they play in those Indonesian films and sinetrons they air, they are actually a bunch of soft spoken people.
The portion of the food there may be a tad too little for a big eater like me, but I can’t complain when they come with a price like that!
If only time didn't envy us too much, I would love to stay in Indonesia a little longer and visit the beautiful city of Jakarta, walk on the pearly sands of Bali, capture the historical moments of Jogjakarta, and swim in the waters of Lake Toba.
Til then, “Sampai jumpa Indonesia!”
XOXO,
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| Shafiqah Shafie Founder |
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