(Photo courtesy Wikipedia)
Take a break every once in a while and go to a different place. See the mountains, catch the wholesome, cool fresh air; taste some great pastries, try the local foods and shop until you drop! That’s what a Bandung holiday is generally made of.
Yes, I was in Bandung for a 4-day break recently and had a wonderful time with 3 other friends.
Bandung which has a population of about 7 million is the 3rd largest city in Indonesia. It’s an old but busy city located in the highlands of West Java, some 2,500 ft above sea-level. So it’s really quite cool.
The city was built by the Dutch during the colonial days in the late 18th century and a large stock of Dutch colonial architecture is still dominant in the city landscape, many of these buildings are now used by the local government for administration (e.g. Gedung Sate) whilst some are converted to hotels and others as factory outlets (for branded goods).
I saw a couple of these beautiful old-styled buildings being used as bakery-shops by a famous brand known simply as Holland Bakery (the pastries they make I think are out of this world)! If you’re ever there, don’t miss these. I am told the bakery is still owned and run by a Dutchman.
Bandung is famous for many things. For sight-seekers, there’s Mount Tangkuban Perahu which is a must see. Tangkuban Perahu literally means “up-turned boat”(a distinguished truncated flat-peak, table-top mountain). It has 3 large volcanic craters, two of which are still seismically active but when they will next explode, nobody knows.
Then there is the Geological Museum which houses 250,000 rocks and mineral collection, and some 60,000 fossils discovered from within the Indonesian archipelago of some 17,508 islands. It’s definitely worth a visit.
Food-wise, there’s the famous Sundanese food or you can have the regular Nasi Padang. For brunch, a must try is the "Bakso Tahu" or "Siomay" which is a steamed beef meat balls with/without tofu. It is served with peanut paste, sweet soy sauce and a lime, quite a tasty mouthful and which should go well with a fruity Avocado Juice served with added brown sugar or honey and best taken cold, I mean the juice.
Tofu (a soybean product) is widely consumed as a snack, and there’s a factory outlet which served this specialty in the form of deep-fried tofu cubes (they are actually quite adorable) and go down well with a spicy dark-brown light sauce. Also, don’t forget to try the crispy “soybean-crackers,” a type of munchies which are delightfully delicious!
For sweets, there’s a whole range of different types of “dodol” (made in different shapes too), a coconut-based candy to sink our teeth in. They are mouth-watering good and make great treats!
Bandung has been nicknamed the Paris van Java (Paris of Java). The city is not only well known for gastronomic adventure and volcanic craters but is also famous as a shopping haven for its “branded apparel” products.
Come weekends travelers from Jakarta and many from elsewhere flock to Bandung by the thousands to buy as much as they can carry “branded goods” (world-class labels) at a fraction of its original retail-price yet without compromising on quality! Every known world-famous brand (from shoes to shirts and bags to jeans) is available and obtainable at bargain prices which you cannot find anywhere else.
If you’re a nerd and follow “haute couture” this is indeed the place to be in. There are enough shopping malls, factory and distribution outlets to make your legs ache and your eyes see stars!
Levi Strauss, Burberry, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Adidas, Diesel, Prada, Topman, Billabong, Braun Buffel, Versace, Guess, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Polo, etc. You name it and they are all there, a shoppers’ haven indeed!
And on your way back, don’t forget to take home some Indonesian mangoes, the famed “Harom Manis.” You’ll love them and wish you had bought more!
I love Bandung and I am sure you will.
Bandung Skyline, Pasupati Bridge
(Photo courtesy Wikipedia)
Cheers!
