The Shopaholic goes Bandung!
After almost a year counting my days for the trip (as I booked it during the AirAsia free ticket promotion last year) the day has finally arrived. Today, we will be going to Bandung, Indonesia to indulge ourselves in some shopping frenzy. This is actually our second trip (I bet it will be more!) to the city. We were there last year on exactly the same date. Not getting enough from our inaugural visit, we are coming again in hope to find some peace of mind (LOL!)
To those who are yet to know Bandung, it is in the provincial of West Java and the third largest city in Indonesia. Being the fabrication center of major branded names, Bandung is renowned as a shopping paradise, offering products ranging from textiles, leather goods, shoes and denim. With more than over 50 factory outlets and distros (read: distribution center), Guess, Osh Kosh, Banana Republic, Zara, Versace, Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Tommy Hilfiger, Gorgio Armani and Calvin Klein – to name a few, are an easy catch here with affordable prices. Apart to that, Bandung is also famous for their exotic culinary.
Located 768 m (2,520 ft) above sea level, Bandung has relatively year-around cooler temperature than most other Indonesian cities. The Dutch was taking the advantage by opening tea plantations around the mountains somewhere around the 18th century. Dubbed as Parijs van Java (Dutch: “The Paris of Java”), the city got its nickname from the vast opening of luxurious hotels, restaurants, cafes and boutiques based on the demands of the European inhabitants which eventually turned up the city into becoming some form of resort city for the plantation owners. Bandung is also widely known as ‘Kota Kembang’ (read: City of Flowers). Don’t be amazed as you will hardly find any flowers in the city, as the phrase figuratively refers to the beautiful local girls (now I get your attention, didn’t cha? 
)
At 0945 hours, 7th April 2010 - our plane is taking turn to take off from the LCCT runaway.
After flying for two hours over the blue, Java Sea, we are grateful when we finally set eyes on some green of the West Java.
Lies on a river basin and bordered by the volcanic mountain, the topography bestows the city with a good natural defense system and is one of the reason why the Dutch East India Company favours this land as their capital operations over Batavia (present day: Jakarta) in the 18th century.
The view as we are approaching the city. Being the country's third largest city with population of 2.6 million, it is a very densed metropolis where over 16 thousands of its denizens crammed into every square km.
We hold our breath as the metal bird swooped past these buildings as it lowered its landing gear.. the airport is located within the crowded town area, hence you would have a sense of feeling as if the plane will crash land into one of the buildings.. scary.
Thanks to our proficient pilots, the QZ7592 touched down smoothly and safely.
The Husein Sastranegara Airport of Bandung. Upon exiting the custom, we were picked up by the Hotel driver that brought us straight to the Hotel, located 10 minutes drive away.
Our plane refuelling before going back to Malaysia
Like our previous visit to this city, we opted to stay at the same hotel. Located in the busy street of Jalan Kebun Kawung, this hotel provide clean and neat accomodation without burning a hole in our pocket plus the conveniences. It is nearby to the 'Angkot' station (Angkot, an abbreviation of 'Angkotan Kota' which literally means 'public transport' is among the cheapest public transport here in forms of minivan minus the door). Other modes of cheap transportation you could find is the ojek (motorcycle type of taxi) and bajak (trishaw).
After checking-in, we cross the street in front of the hotel to catch one of the 'Angkot' and headed to the Pasar Baru. Pasar Baru is a 7 storey complex that housed many small shops selling all sorts of things, from foods to textiles. It is similar to our local Pasar Payang, Terengganu. Mr. Hanif inside the Angkot.
We purposely stopped a few yards from the Pasar Baru to have a walk along the street market. On the right is the Angkot that gave us the ride, while the sand coloured building at the far end is the Pasar Baru. The 10 minutes ride with Angkot only cost us a mere Rph1500 per pax (equivalent to RM0.60). To stop the Angkot, you have to say 'Kiri', 'kiri'.
Along the street you could find a lot of things on sell, from the colorful ladies wear...
Fruits...
and also the 'tempe', a cake-form fermented soybean. It is a local delicacy highly sought after in Indonesia and heavilly used in their cookings. We also have tempe produce in Malaysia which is white in color (like the one behind), but this is our first time seeing the artificially orange, fungi version. (is it tempe with cheese?)
We spotted a shop just outside the Pasar Baru which emits a strong and pungent smell, but somehow refreshing - that eventually lured us in.
It sells myriads of herbs and spices that are used to make traditonal concoction, the Jamu. This medicational brew is said to be originated from the Mataram Kingdom, Hindu--Buddhist Javanese kingdom based in Central Java during the 8th centuries AD . Though heavily influenced by Ayurveda from India, Jamu is fully exploited and synonym with Indonesia compared to the former, perhaps because Indonesia itself is a vast archipelago with numerous indigenous plants not found in India.
We leave the shop and enter Pasar Baru. Ladies, beware... this place is a dangerous shopping spot with bottomless pit... ;P
it consists rows and rows of shops selling ladies items such as..
cute blouses
embroidered attires from Bukittinggi
'telekung' , the moslem ladies praying shroud
and colorful fabrics, believe me these are only a few...
Later that day. After spending about 4 hours and some Rupiahs at Pasar Baru, we went back to the hotel to refresh ourselves. Later that afternoon, we went uphill to Setiabudhi street via Angkot to continue shopping. There is no straight Angkot to this place, hence it is not recommended to those who are yet to familiarize themselves with the Angkot route system. It is easier to take a cab, unless you can’t resist the temptation to be parsimonious adventurous like ourselves.
The first FO (read: Factory Outlet) we visited is the well known 'Rumah Mode' (prounounce 'Mo.deh'), which is the most expensive but also have the latest, the brandiest and trendiest stocks in town.
Mr. Hanif is taking a breather at the small park in front of Rumah Mode. This FO is indeed has the most beautiful landscape compared to others. There're actualy a few FOs along this street, just next to Rumah Mode is the Mode Plus, Natural and Donatello. We end up scavenging them all
Later that night. We have our dinner here. The resto tagline is 'five star quality, with five-foot-way price'. Catchy.
We choose seafood for dinner that night. Black pepper jumbo crab, grilled Grouper etc. etc. It only cost us Rp120k (Equivalent to RM40). Delicious and affordable, rhymed with the resto's tagline. Highly recommended. We end the day being a million poorer and bloated.
>>to be continued…
salam… cannot tahan dengan D’cost pic tu.. this April mesti pegi sana …huhuhu..