Bandung

Just 4 Days before i actually decide to tag along with mom and relative for a trip to Bandung. Last minute Ticket booking, last minute arrangement, last minute decision.
Thank god the price of the ticket does not increase exponentially as day pass. In the end grab return ticket at the price of Rm 570 budget airline.

Question in mind - What will be the temperature there? Will there be rain in the duration of stay there? Is it Hot? Hows the places like?

Without much knowledge of the place and only being told that its a place to SHOP.. Heavenly.

All Three days have scattered Storms and Showers!! WTH... Don't tell me i gonna shop around with an umbrella..

- Was told that the temperature there is Cold Lowest 18 Degree - Its still not as cold as Genting but we brought thick layer clothing to protect from the *Cold* weather OK... Tambah Berat saja.

When it comes to Shopping, you will be looking at price in RUPIAH currencies. I bet nobody will ever convert the price in matter of second. Results- standing still with the items wondering how much does that cost in Ringgit Malaysia.

The matter of fact is that everything is cheap because its a Factory Outlet. (Quality is acceptable thou)

So my advice is, if you were to land in some country where you need to do alot calculation before you can actually decide weather to buy or not. List down as shown in the picture above.

It does help. Seriously.

To survey about the places to go at Bandung is just a waste of time. Because you wouldn't know where on earth are you when you arrive there.

There is a price for everything. Hi end flight experience will have a tunnel that send you striaght to the door of the aircraft. On the other end, Low End as shown in the picture is what you have to face. Walk yourself to the aircraft and Climb up the Stairs and Squeeze yourself to get a Window seating. * The scenery from high above the sky is something not to be miss.

Just about 10 minutes before the arrival at Bandung one and Only One airport. This is what you will see. Million of houses scattered around. No trees, No Road. What you can see is only Rooftop - Red Colour Rooftop.

Once we arrive, the shopping expedition starts. First destination is RUMAH MODE. This is the only factory outlet that have the Air-conditioned working fine. Others rely on the weather which is a disaster. So freakin HOT!

One thing i realise is that Indon and Malay is totally Different. Its just so hard for me to understand what are they trying to say. There is no way for Western people to communicate in that country.


There is this street called Jalan Kasut. Where in the junction you will came across Shoe statue. Right after you pass the shoe statue, there are lots of shop selling Shoe and Only SHOE!! Very competitive heh.. but the quality is hopeless.

One thing to take note is the Traffic condition there. Its a challenge to cross a road as wide as 5 meter. About the distance of 2 lane. We have got to Shout and Stop the car like a traffic police in order to cross the road. The cars never stop, one after another, not even a single second. This is because they can even move when the traffic shows RED LIGHT. It serve no purpose Ok.


Here comes our Dinner as we suggested, Nasi Padang. Sounds fantastic? Here is how they looks like. Alot of Mini Dishes that served as soon as you step into the shop. They brought Everything they have and everything they could in small portion to your table. Without any knowledge on how they are going to charge, all the hungry ghost actually finish up total of 17 Plates of dishes Serve right in front of us.

The table next to us have only 2 person. The amount of dishes they serve is equal to what we had. OMG. How is this going about? You pay for everything- as in they come in package? or You pay as you eat? We wasnt being told until we approach the Cashier.

End up with 295,000 Rupiah for that meal. Awh...You Pay for what you ATE!! - Yeps for the left over, it will be placed back to their original place.- Thank god i did not get any food poisoning!!

Moral of the story.. Always ask for the price before actually proceed with your meal.

After so much complaining about the places we went is not *classy* enough. We were brought to a shopping mall called Bandung Supermall. It was indeed a Supermall, just like our Megamall here. Price also alike la.... For branded stuff wherever you go it will be the same Ok. It only differ by 10 % at most..

From what i have surveyed, A Levis Jeans Cost about 600-750k and a Guess Jeans Cost 1.1m to 1.5m.

The JCO cost about 30k for half Dozen and 52k For a Dozen.
IceCoffee Blended Cost 30k Comes with a free Glazed Donuts :D


Next day early in the morning, random photos taken around the Pool area. One thing i realized is that they never change the water in the pool. Don't have any filter system at all. Results in contaminated water.

After we had our breakfast, we head straight up the hills to the Gunung Tangkuban Parahu. Its a volcano area.

This is how narrow their road system and it fits 3 Lane.. Anytime along the way. So dangerous!

Half way thru, we came across a lot of rabbit. In the cage and even when the rabbit is placed outside the cage, the rabbit will just stand quietly in one position and didn't move around. I don't know what do they feed the rabbit with.

But from what i observed, the rabbit is more well feed compared to the people there. Why do i say So?
This is because the rabbit is meant to be a delicacy for the people at Bandung! Satay Rabbit? Rabbit Panggang? Roast Rabbit? Grilled Rabbit? Oh Gosh. They are so cute and even sold at high price in the Pets Wonderland. Unfortunately, at Bandung they meant to be eaten.

If only i could import the rabbit back to Malaysia.....

When it comes to Volcano, you will find yourself close your nose and hold your breathe. Smell of Rotten Egg even from far away is killing me. If i am not mistaken, sulfur was used as a pesticide to keep snake away. Even the snake is scared of the sulfur smell. I have no idea why, the volcano area became a tourist attraction. After all, this is the one and Only place we visited.


You will find yourself surrounded with bunch of Bandun-ese holding lots of souvenir trying to promote when tourist approach that area. Its just so annoying. I was being told that it is a sindicate that recruit them to sell those souvenir. From there, they will be able to get commission from the sales. They could do anything just to get you buy their things.

My advice is that next time when you happen to go Bandung. Ignore those idiot! Just treat them as Transparent! Being Nice to them is actually Being Cruel to yourself.

You will never satisfy their need!

High above 1830m up the hills, the weather was fine but the condition was really bad considering the toxic smell from the volcano. Life Threatening.

This is what the Poisonous Kawah looks like. Filled with mud and sulfur. The biggest *Kawah* you will be able to see up above 1830m is this kawah called *Kawah Ratu*

This is probably the best group photo taken by the photographer available there.

Preserved Tiger. I was told that this tiger died naturally on the road where it was found. After that they preserved it and placed for 30 years. I have no idea how they actually do it. But the tiger body is still Solid and hard.

But the degrading ear looks so real! Also we was told that the eyes was removed and replace with an artificial eyes probably because it couldn't be preserved? Or technically the eyes is rotten (degraded). Sudah Rosak -.-"


Same goes to the tiny Leopard die because of poison gas. First thought comes to me, will i die of poison gas as well?

This is how the tree looks like due to the sulfuric acid. Its Burnt! i wonder how does that happen?


This is one of the handcraft that they trying so hard to promote. Its just a wood. After they have got their skin peeled of, this is how it looks like. Its just like a rock filled with crystal inside. Nature~


Termites. Termites. This Hollow tree actually been eaten up by the termites and yet still surviving despite losing all the internal organs.

The road down to Kawah Domas is not easy. 300m Seems to be like forever. We was told that Kawah Domas is the only kawah that we will get to visit. Because of the acceptable level of Poison gas. But it smell very much worst than you could ever thought.

Half way down from the top of the hills to the Kawah Domas. Just imagine you will have to walk down the forest to the white land. Seems Far? Yes it is indeed Far!

Finally, after 30 minutes of jungle tracking. We arrive at the destination mentioned that it contain a pool of water with boiling water 98 degree and another pool for spa experience with the narutal mud.

You can even boil egg there with the equipment provided and egg sold at the pondok.

Yes those yellow colour at the side of the rock is what i mentioned earlier- Sulfur! Again It smells awfull.

If you have the intention to turn yourself into an Elephant, you probably can try out painting yourself with the mud available deep in the ground of that area. You goota dig it out yourself. Of course there will be assistant. ( They are just there to drag the time so they make additional income ) 1 hour of Jungle-Volcano experience cost 300k Rup. For 5 Person.

I personally think the mud doesn't help at all. In fact, it does penetrate into my skin and damage it further. WTF. I could actually see those grey particle stick in between the skin layer but i couldnt get it out! It hurts. And i was told that the mud actually makes the hand become more rough. Like Sand Paper.

Its not worth trying. Ok

The food is acceptable. Samble is just great. You could actually eat a bowl of white rice with the Sambal given.

After days of searching around for Soto or Lontong. I have no idea what is it made of. So we came across a traditional authentic indonesian restaurant. Located just below the Sogo shopping center. That is where we took our last meal at Bandung before leaving that place.

This is ToFu Goreng. Serve with Aladin Gravy. Something not to be Miss out.


And that conclude the Bandung trip for 3 days.
Ups and Down Happy Sad Tired Enjoy Exhausted Excited Shock
Is what you will find at Bandung!