Bandung, 2023

It’s that time of the year when family members, living far apart from each other, would gather and converge as one unit again. Perhaps currently Europe isn’t such a welcoming holiday destination, due the depreciation of our Ringgit in value. Therefore, Malaysians like us look elsewhere for the opportunity to shop and dine like royalty, and we don’t need to look any further than Bandung, Indonesia.

Bandung, located in the Javanese islands, is the fourth largest city in Indonesia, marked by mountainous ranges and a cool climate. For Malaysians, it is point zero for us to shop till we drop and dine to our hearts’ content. Within our hearts, there are muffled screams of delight going “So cheap! So cheap!”. Such is our excitement when we are at a place where our Ringgit actually has good value!

For our trip to Bandung, we decided to take a flight to Jakarta and then board the high-speed Whoosh train from Halim Station, Jakarta to Bandung. The train ride was smooth and uneventful, and after taking the feeder train from Padalarang, we finally arrived in the heart of Bandung, safe and sound.

Rich in luscious forests, Bandung is a city nestled in nature, with a lot to offer in terms of the natural world of flora and fauna, and spectacular views to be enjoyed from an elevated point. Visiting the mountainous tourist spots such as Dusun Bambu and having a hearty and elaborate meal in Kampung Daun are a must (although I must warn you, the sumptuous Indonesian delicacies can be a tad too spicy even for our Malaysian tongue). As we slowly took pleasure in every morsel of food served to us, we were immersed in laughter and fun chatter with our family, while the sounds of waterfall and light drizzle of rain play quietly in the background.

Shopping was another main highlight of our trip to Bandung. Bandung remains to be the epicentre of the clothing manufacturing industry in Indonesia, where cottage industries cater to the demands of both international and local fashion houses. Thus, it’s no surprise that the fashion here is trendy, on point, and most importantly cheap. Be blown away at the quality and design of brands indigenous to Bandung such as 3 Seconds, Mode House and other smaller, lesser-known brands where young entrepreneurs flex their creativity.

One point to impress though; apart from having a wad of cash in hand, do ensure that you have set up some form of digital payment that can be used, just in case. Adoption of digital payment is pervasive in many parts of the world, and Bandung is no different. I had my bank card activated and I’m glad I did, as there were a few places that did not accept cash. At the time we visited Bandung, it was a place simmering with election fever. Posters of politicians and their political promises pervaded the town. Our driver did not seem to mind talking about it; however, to be politically correct and not ignite any point of  contention, it is best to avoid speaking about politics when abroad, if you can.

As I walked along the streets of Ivory Hotel where we stayed, I noticed plenty of cafés lined up on either side. There appears to be a large population of enthusiastic youths in Bandung, with plenty of zeal and fervour for life. This is evident from the abundance of unique and interesting cafes run by them. Two recommended cafés to visit when in Bandung are Drunk Baker, for their delicious soft, fluffy slices of bread assembled with various ingredients in different cooking styles and Hummingbird Café, which has a wide selection of coffees and cocktails.  

If Bandung is a snapshot of what’s to come for Indonesia, then I would say that the outlook is positive for our neighbouring country.  Public facilities and infrastructure are being erected, enhancing connectivity between cities and making it faster and more convenient to travel between one place and another. Entrepreneurship is rife among the young as they boldly dare to take risks and dream big. The youths are brimming with energy and they are willing to work hard to achieve their goals.  As we were driven along the highway to the airport for our flight back to KL, I could feel and sense the rising affluence among Indonesians, especially the youths. I left Bandung with much admiration for Indonesia, and questions emerge for the future of Malaysia.

My trip to Bandung was organised by Amir of Java Delight Tour. Contact him at +62 813 9506 2545 and mention merizarose.