Bandung (GMT +7) is the third largest city and second largest metropolitan area in Indonesia. Due to its topology, the weather here is relatively cooler than other Indonesian cities ranging from 17°C - 29°C.
Bandung is a shopping heaven for Indonesians just like what Bangkok is, to the Thais - which makes it a popular weekend getaway among the Jakartans. If you are planning a visit to Bandung, I’d suggest you avoid the weekends or holiday season as you wouldn't want to spend most of your time getting stuck in the middle of a bustling jam.
Bandung is not just famous among the Indonesians. In recent years, it has also become a shopping and eating destination among the Malaysians and Singaporeans.
Bandung Shopping :
Factory outlets are the main shopping concept in Bandung. There is a huge variety of designs for you to choose from, and Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and Polo Ralph Lauren are some of the brands you can find here. However, do take note that 99.9% of them are not genuine.
Although there are plenty of factory outlets around in Bandung, not all are worth visiting. The list below introduces the ones that are worth visiting :
Rumah Mode
Located in Jalan Dr. Setiabudi, Rumah Mode (mo-the) is Bandung's most popular factory outlet and the most crowded one as well. You can easily find something to buy here regardless of gender or age. The quality of the clothes here are better and the selection huge as compared to the other factory outlets around. If you are planning to visit Bandung, make sure to include Rumah Mode into your list of 'Must Visits' or your trip will not be complete. My only advice for visitors is to avoid this place during the weekends and public holidays if possible.
The Secret
There are at least 10 factory outlets along Jalan Riau and most of these outlets sell the same type of clothing and design. However, The Secret is a rarity as you will be able to find a mixture of past and also current trends all under one roof. Due to its popularity among the locals and tourists, my advice to you is the same; try to visit this place during the weekdays.
Heritage
Heritage is another popular factory outlet located in Jalan Riau. They offer plenty of choices but most of the designs here can also be found in Rumah Mode and The Secret.
For Men
Located in Jalan Riau, the For Men outlet only sells goods for men. Not only is this place a shopping heaven for men, but also for their female counterparts as they can just drop their husband, boyfriend, partner or guy friend off here while they take their own sweet time shopping in the nearby outlets such as Heritage and The Secret.
Bandung Food :
Besides shopping, another reason to visit Bandung would be for their food. Make sure to try out their famous and delicious Sundanese food in Sambara, and if you are craving for Nasi Padang, you might want to give Restoran Sederhana a try.
Sajian Sunda Sambara
Sundanese food is one of the most popular delicacies in Bandung. Ask the locals for the best Sundanese restaurant in Bandung and they will probably tell you to give Sambara a try. We ordered Nasi Putih (white rice), Ayam Sambara (Sambara fried chicken), Tahu Goreng (fried beancurd), Iga Bakar Lada Hitam (black pepper beef rib), Tempe Mendoan (fried battered tempe), Gurame Bakar (Grilled Gurame fish), Pepes Ayam (banana leaf chicken) and a glass of Juice Alpukat (Avocado juice) The total bill only cost us Rp132,825 (approx. RM46.80) which was very reasonable for a very lovely meal.
Restoran Sederhana
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After a long day of shopping at Rumah Mode, you can head to Restoran Sederhana which is located just a few shops away, for its masakan Padang. Most of the the dishes here were spicy and tasty. However, it would have been better if the dishes were also served hot. For Indonesian standards, we considered the prices for the dishes here on the high side due to the small portions and lack of presentation in the food and also the restaurant ambiance. We ordered Nasi Putih (white rice), Ayam Gulai (chicken curry), Perkedel (potato croquette), Sate Padang (beef satay drenched in some special Padang sauce), Ayam Bakar (grilled chicken) and Kentang Telur Puyu (potato with quail egg), and the damaged done was Rp105,600 (approx. RM37).
Amanda
Amanda is famous for their Brownie Kukus (steamed brownie). At just Rp24,000 (approx. RM8.40) a box, the portion is substantial enough to feed 4 people in one tea seating. However, if you are expecting good quality, rich, creamy, and buttery chocolate brownies, this will not cut it for you. In fact, the steamed brownies tasted rather healthy, light and airy; which has its own good points as you can eat more without feeling 'jelak'.
Mayasari
We saw this Mayasari snack stall in the Paris Van Java mall. Mayasari is famous for their layer cakes, and they also sell a bunch of snacks like cheese sticks and brownies. In the event, that you do not see a Mayasari during your trip, do not fret, as you can still buy them at the airport =)
Durian Ice-cream
One of the most common stalls you will see on the streets in Bandung are these Durian Ice-cream sellers. Although these stalls were a dime a dozen, we dared not venture our fragile little tummies to try them as we felt that there were some hygiene issues.
Getting around :
Travelling around in Bandung can be quite frustrating, especially for first timers. There is no proper roadside pavement to walk nor mass rapid transit system, metro and tram.
Taxi
Taxi remains the simplest way to travel around for tourist but you have to be careful of the non-metered taxis. Some of these drivers may refuse to use a meter and will charge you a fixed price instead. If you encounter such a driver, don't be afraid to say NO and wait for more reliable taxi companies such as the Blue Bird or Garuda. The taxi fare is relatively cheap in Bandung compared to other countries, but do take note that there is a minimum charge of Rp20,000 (approx. RM7) for taking a ride. So, for short distances, a taxi ride is not as economical.
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Call this number for taxi |
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The most reliable taxi company |
Angkutan
If you are a little more adventurous and on the budget, do what the locals do by using their local public transportation known as 'angkot' or 'angkutan'.
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They are everywhere |
Airport Information :
Bandung Airport (also known as Bandara Husein Sastranegara Bandung) is one of the smallest international airports I've ever visited.
Due to its limited immigration counter, it may take up quite some time to clear the immigration and stringent custom check. If you're not the patient type, get out from the plane as soon as it lands to skip the long queue.
For those of you who did not pre-arrange for airport transfer, you can proceed to this counter (above picture) to purchase your taxi ticket. Just inform the operator of your destination and he'll give you a coupon with the price listed on it, which is to be paid to the driver when you get off. As I stated earlier, taxi fares are cheap and it only cost me Rp35,000 from the airport to my hotel and Rp20,000 + Rp3,000 (compulsory airport drive-through fee) for the ride from my hotel back to the airport.
Departure guest, do remember not to spend all your Rupiahs away and keep some for your departure tax. Just like the other airports in Indonesia, tax is not inclusive in your flight ticket. You need to make this payment at the tax collection counter right after you check-in. The fees for the domestic flight is Rp25,000 while international is Rp75,000. Try to give them the exact amount if possible, to avoid any shortchange.
For more information about Bandung, you can always drop us a message in the comment box or email us @ toothpickandsandal@gmail.com.
Verdict :
Sandal says :
• Trip Experience - 7.5/10 (good and most importantly, people here are friendly)
• Food Overall - 8.0/10 (loved the Sundanese food)
• Cleanliness - 5/10 (too many vehicles - too much pollution)
• Value for $$$ - 7.5/10 (most of the things are reasonably-priced)
• Recommend to a friend? - Yes (only during off-peak season)
Toothpick says :
• Trip Experience - 6.0/10 (It would have been a better trip if it didn't rain so often..)
• Food Overall - 6.0/10 (The food was tasty but I question their hygiene as Sandal had severe diarrhea after the trip)
• Cleanliness - 5/10 (Dusty)
• Value for $$$ - 7/10 (shopping was value for $ as the quality was much better than Bangkok)
• Recommend to a friend? - Maybe (for friends who enjoy cheap, but good quality clothing)