Hye guys, some trips &
tricks to be share together. enjoy reading yeah!Bandung is a place for some
shopping therapy.(i loikeee it bebeh!) It is well documented that Bandung is a
shopping haven for shopaholics. Everything is cheap there, and since our
Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is on an all-time high, the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) can
made you an instant millionaire. The currency is IDR1 million= RM363
PLANNING
Bring along your money in both
currencies (IDR & RM). Some
shops accept both currencies. Cash is king. Credit cards are only accepted in
larger shops, and some shops have different kind of card readers which unable
to read Malaysian credit cards. Tipping is a commodity everywhere in Bandung.
So best to keep some IDR1,000 notes with you.You will do a lot of walking (I
mean a lot!) at the factory outlets. So bring on your most comfortable walking shoes. High heels? That’s spell trouble.Bandung can get a
bit chilly after 6pm (as low as 19 Celsius). A jacket or sweater is probably a good idea
ARRIVAL
Seeing how they drive in
Bandung might be a culture shock to you as everybody drive their own way in the
traffic. It is definitely a good idea to leave the drivings to the driver (supir).At
the airport, you will have your first taste of the road peddlers, selling
everything from key-chains, souvenir pens, beads, t-shirts and other stuff. If
you’re not buying (yet), just ignore them and avoid any eye contact
ACCOMMODATION
Since there’s a
probability that you’ll do you shopping from early morning until night, hotel
rooms would be used only for bathing and sleeping. So go for cheaper rooms. The
best should be within the Factory Outlets (FO)
TRAVELING
The FOs are everywhere
in Bandung, so a proper transportation and tour guide definitely a must. The
drivers can act as your local tour guide, as they are well-versed around
Bandung, and all of them can speak and understand Bahasa Malaysia. You don’t
have to converse in Bahasa Indonesia to them, as sometimes it sounds funny. Oh
yeah, don’t forget to go Transstudio it’s officially like USS in Singapore
SHOPPING (originals unless stated)
Rumah Mode (fashionable FO
at Jalan Setiabudi). Probably the largest Factory Outlet in Bandung. They have
the so-called “Modern Bali Ethnic” interior and exterior, with restaurants like Cafe
Bali, Java Bean Coffee and Rumah Makan Bumbu Desa. The Heritage &;
Summit (Jalan
Riau). Assortment of clothes. Terminal Tas (lots of wallets
and handbags). Definitely not original stuff. Donatello and others
(Jalan Dago). They sell almost the same stuff. Original. Pasar Baru (a lot of choices for textiles and
cheap too)
SIGHTSEEING
The weather is cooler the higher you go up
the mountain. But once you go near the craters, it’s hot as hell. Entering the
volcanic park will cost you IDR35,000 per person. The guide will bring along a
few street peddlers (disguised as tour guides). They will talk and laugh with
you en route to the craters. They even massage your feet in the hot spring pond
(no obligation according to my guide…which translates as free massage) with
volcanic mud. Once completed, they will open their bags and peddled their
wares, which may consists of metal tasbih (IDR400,000!), a set of wooden pens
(IDR150,000!) and/or key-chains (IDR200,000!). Definitely much more expensive
than in Bandung town. Try you best to say no to them, or you may lose more than
IDR500,000 to them
SOCIAL
Bandung is full of
social people. Music scenes are aplenty. It seems that everybody in Bandung can
sing (even it’s an old Javanese song). Karaoke outlets, dangdut clubs and bars
are everywhere. People in Bandung is very service-oriented, especially the hotels
and restaurants. Try to have a ride around Bandung at night and you’ll noticed
the same familiarity with KL (except KL is hot at night)
GOING HOME
Make sure you have
enough bags to carry all your stuff. Be
ready to pay for excess baggage. Don’t
buy cigarettes at the airport, as it is expensive! Buy it earlier at
Circle K convenient store (like our 7-11 over here), which is way cheaper than
the roadside cigarette peddlers. Moreover, stocks at the airport might be
limited. If you are being
approached by a kebaya clad lady at the airport offering a place to relax, best
is to ignore her. She may be part of the airport staff, but she is selling a
service where you have to pay IDR35,000 per person for a nice place to rest and
plenty of drinks and food. She didn’t tell us beforehand, and we only knew that
we had to pay when we try to leave the room. But if you don’t mind paying for a
comfortable aircond resting lounge, unlimited drinks and food, then look out
for the ladies in kebaya. They are normally the pretty ones and very, very
friendly. Airport tax is an
automatic IDR75,000 per person (except infants). So, don’t throw away your
excess Rupiah yet
OTHERS
If you want to buy
some souvenirs to bring home, the street peddlers have a lot to offer. Things
like wooden pencils with Bandung inscriptions, home-made keychains, fridge
magnets, metal praying beads (aka tasbih), Bandung t-shirts (be aware of dual
qualities of t-shirts they’re selling). You can bargain with them until the
cows come home, but don’t put a price on any item. Ask them first to name the
lowest price. If you think it’s low enough, then name the price you’re willing
to pay. Don’t promise any street peddler that you will buy things from him, as
he will follow you everywhere you go until you buy something from you. Your
driver will follow you to every FO you go and they will wait outside. You can
pass your shopping bags to them for storage inside the van. Enjoy the night
weather in Bandung. It’s nothing like Genting Highland or Fraser Hills. Make
sure you drink
plenty of water,
as the weather could get a bit dry during daytime. Almost all of my entourage
suffer from sore throats, fever and foot pains back home, but that maybe from
inhaling the volcano’s sulphur smell, hiking the hills and FOs. Just don’t
forget your supply of “minyak angin”, tiger balms, panadols, and whatever your
fancy
