Note: This guide is highly suitable for a compressed 3 days-2 nights shopping trip.
The Paris of Java again and yes it’s for the third time and more insyaAllah. I hope this travel guide answers the top search in my blog.
Preliminary Check
Flight & Accommodation
A common knowledge that can be safely adopted as a universal law: early birds pay lower air fares. So book ahead and fast. Do not be held back by the uncertainty of our frantic schedules. Risk is always there. It is either letting hesitancy hindering all-the-while-there-but-can-never-happen intention or buy the vacation to turn it to a commitment to be fulfilled. Vulnerability of the obligation cannot be met? Yes, it is there but it can be managed.
I got lucky when I purchased my 3 days 2 nights’ accommodation + return air fare for less than RM500. Bandung is just approximately 2 hours flight from Malaysia so budget air carriers are just fine.
I have stayed at three different hotels in Bandung (BDO); Hotel Sukajadi (Jl Sukajadi), Rumah Orange (Jl Babakan Jeruk) and the recent trip we put up at Amaris Hotel (Cihampelas). All three are budget hotels. Where you want to stay depends on your itinerary and of course budget. As for us, we’d be out of the hotel from 9am right up to 10+ pm where we would not be going back to the hotel in between. Hence, budget hotel is really value for money. Based on these three hotels, I would recommend Sukajadi and Amaris. Sukajadi Hotel is near to Paris Van Java mall whereas Amaris Hotel is close to Ciwalk of Cihampelas (an open concept mall with shop lots along the stretch – you will love it).
Pak Supir (chauffeur)
The best alternative to be moving around in Indonesia’s third largest city is to hire a chauffeur (supir) for the fact that he is local, knows everywhere of BDO and jalan tikus (shortcuts) to get you to your destination quick. There is no signboard (at least at the point of time when I went) that tells us where Paris Van Java is located at per se. Technology advancement has introduced us to GPS to provide navigation for people today. Nonetheless with the traffic, the narrow roads and the road behaviour, GPS is still underdog to supir. It is safer too.
We have always been hiring the same supir every time whenever voyaging to BDO. The rates may differ according the type of vehicle concomitant to the number of travellers in a group. Pak Ikin’s rate (our regular chauffeur) is IDR 500,000 a day for an 8-seater van for us who ordinarily travel in 6. The rear seats are used to put our luggage..hehe.
Budget
Budget (excluding accommodation, flight and chauffeur) would roughly be IDR 1.5 million is sufficient to cover for food and a bit of shopping. If one is a shopaholic like me that amount will not suffice.
Clothing
BDO has a tropical humid monsoon climate with an average temperature of 23.6 C all year long and is cooler than other parts of Indonesia[1]. Bring along a light jacket because it can get chilly at night. Ladies, put on those most comfortable flats because there will be lot of walking. I will only pack toiletries as for the rest including clothing change for the next day will be bought over there itself. =)
[1] Source: Wikipedia
Ready, Get set, Go
Shopping!
BDO has not just numerous but enormous and fascinating factory outlets. Here I list down the must-go factory outlets (FO). Most of the factory outlets sell the same stuff (attire, shoes, bags, inner wear, accessories, etc) but price may vary slightly. Nevertheless it is worth to just walk in to every of these outlets because they do have items that are not available at other places.
- Rumah Mode (FO) at Setiabudi
- Grande (FO) at Dago
- Central (FO) at Dago
- Blossom (FO) at Dago
- Episode ((FO) at Dago
- Secret (FO) at Jl Riau
- Heritage (FO) at Jl Riau
- Cascade (FO) at Jl Riau
- Merdeka Factory Outlet (FO) at Jl Purnawarman
- Paris Van Java (shopping mall) at Sukajadi
- Ciwalk (shopping mall) at Cihampelas
- Badger & Cosmic (Badger; a local brand selling contemporary youngsters apparel and bags. Same goes for Cosmic but not sure if Cosmic is a local brand) at Jl Trunojoyo.
- Jonas Photos (for camera aficionados – according to my cousin’s husband the price is also cheaper) at Jl Riau.
- Pasar Baru – I forgot where this is located at but a very well known place for textile shopping.
Food Stops
The mandatory ones (for us):
- Pak Chi Met at Sukajadi – Deliciously grilled fish, chicken, prawn and squid served with rice and special sambal.
- The cosy cafe at Rumah Mode – There is one my siblings and I go to because we don’t want to eat rice and if I’m not wrong it’s called Java Bean. It has Indonesian food and Western as well as coffees like Starbucks and Coffee Bean. This is usually our first lunch stop since Rumah Mode is the first place we go upon arrival at BDO.
- Winkel Cafe of Heritage at Jl Riau – My favourite order here is the chocolate pancake and hot tea.
- Suis Butcher (there are two locations; Riau and Setiabudi) – Steaks at good price.
And some other really good places to eat:
- The Valley at Dago Pagar – A scenic and exclusive restaurant situated on a hilly area, very cool temperature serving Asian and Western food. There are several fine-dining restaurants at Dago Pagar to try. This place is definitely going to be the next mandatory thing for us.
- Klenger burger – This is at Cimanuk if not wrong. The burger is just damn tasty.
- Hoka Hoka Bento – Yeay! Now available in BDO!
Enjoy travelling!
Listening to: Raspberry Beret by Prince
the cafe we would go @ Rumah Mode
This is just how close a car is parked from one to another.
Money Changer - so convenient!
My must-have choc.pancake @ Winkel
a sight of the slump
THE Paris Van Java
@ The Valley
the steak I ordered @ The Valley
some other way of how they earn a living - selling stuff (souvernir, snacks etc) while car stops at the traffic light
there are a lot of small alleys like this there
Pak Chi Met! I like.
the outdoor of Pak Chi Met
people, make up your mind!
order?
bawal bakar & cumi
a beggar earns a living by carrying a rented child
@ Ciwalk of Cihampelas
steak - Suis Butcher
i love my flats!
in the van to the next destination
Rumah Mode..again
the last meal before going to the airport - chicken rice @ Ricebowl
the last mall we went before returning to KL - but I forgot the name.
