BANDUNG

Bandung
City of Flowers, is the provincial capital of West Java and Indonesia' s third largest city. Known in colonial times as the Paris of Java because of its European ambiance and sophistication, Bandung shares with Miami a fine legacy of Tropical Deco architecture dating from the 1920's.

Situated on a plateau in the beautiful Parahayangan mountains, Bandung's pleasant climate and lush surroundings have offered an escape from the heat of the lowlands since the mid 19th century when it was the heart of the region's most prosperous plantation area. Host to the historic Asia Africa conference in 1955, Bandung is now a center of higher education ,commerce and aircraft industry which despite its modern amenities still retains much of its colonial era charm.

Bandung is also renowned for its shopping, particularly for shoes, textiles, clothing and denims which are found in the colourful Jeans street . Easily reached from Jakarta by train , road or air (the scenic train trip is recommended), Bandung, with its cool mountain air is a popular second stop for those visiting the national capital and an essential stay-over for travellers enroute through Java.



Bandung is heaven to satisfy your taste buds. From traditonal food sold by street vendors up to international ones in fancy restaurants. A warung is regarded as a poor man's restaurant. But on Jl. Bungsu next to Puri Mas Bakery, you could see the newest BMW and Mercedez parked in front of a small lane famous for its Sekoteng Ice. By far the best food money can buy and is served in these makeshift foodstalls with canopies, hardwood benches or stools, and glowing with hissing gas lamps. Open after 5:30 pm.

Groups of nightstalls located in the corner of JI. Merdeka and JI. L.L.R.E. Martadinata spread mouthwatering smells from sizzling sate on red hot glowing charcoal braziers. Try Madurese, chicken, beef, or mutton sate and various kinds of soto, an Indonesian thick soup. Jl. Cikapundung Barat stalls (occupying sidewalks used as a selling place for secondhand books at noon) serve all kinds of popular Indonesian food. Sate Padang Pak Datuk is worth a try.

Near the RRI building on Jl. Diponegoro, you can taste local delicacies such as gorengan (sort of Japanese tempura) from tofu, sweet potato, taro, pineapple, jackfruit, banana and comro (mashed cassava filled with fermented soybean cake). A sip of bandrek -ginger drink- and bajigur -coconut milk sweetened with palm sugar- in a cool night is a nice treat. A piece of sweet awuk (coneshape rice cake with layers of palm sugar) can be enjoyed in Awuk Cibeunying stall. Roasted corn on a cob with four flavors, seafood, Indonesian style Chinese food, pecel lele (fried eel fish with yummy sauce), fried goldfish and chicken porridge all are available.

Feel thirsty when strolling around Alun-alun, go to PakAceng's ice juice pushcart on Jl . Kapatihan in the mouth of a blind alley, next to 'Damai' shop (pay attention to 'Shinly' &'Krizia' billboards). Es campur (mixed ice) or if you want a sterile one, just ask for fresh orange juice with young coconut water placed in a plastic will be made for Rp. 750,-. Since 1967, Pak Aceng has been a famous es campur seller.

As a rule of thumb, warungs line and crowd in almost every intersection. But a good sense and luck play an important part in finding a good warung with fair price and nice food which does not upset your stomach.

Lotek Kalipah Apo, famous for its lotek and gado-gado since 1953, serves all kinds of sweet tasty kolek with thick coconut milk plus pieces of bananas, and rice cakes. A variety of rujak, Indonesian fruit salad, is ready to be tasted. Be wary of the hot sauce of the rujak. Avocado juice, mixed ice, young coconut ice and cendol ice, -colored rice drink with palm sugared coconut milk- can make you real aficionados of these desserts.

Stalls along Jl. Rama offer Indonesian style fried chicken, Chinese food, and much more. The best pempek -a sort of fish meatballs dipped in hot vinegar sauce- can be eaten in one of the stalls here. It's a Palembang specialty.

Craving for western delights, Tizi has a wide range of German touch bread, cakes, cookies, pan cakes, and steaks. A cart selling colenak(roasted fermented cassava root )at the mouth of Jl. Kidang Pananjung is also worth a try. Glosis with romantic lighting and cooler climate of an uphill area could be a perfect place for dinner. Braga Permai with its original Dutch era cake recipes would be a cozy place to recall the atmosphere of old Braga Street.

Queen Restaurant offers luxurious Chinese food while Dai Shogun serves qualified Japanese food, sit facing its heartsoothing garden. Paregu offers less expensive Japanese food with eat your fill Yakiniku and Shabu-shabu. Hanamasa on Jl. Merdeka serves buffet Yakiniku.

LIST HOTEL IN BANDUNG

Sheraton Bandung Hotel & Towers USD 100 nett

Sukajadi HoteL USD 50 nett

Mutiara Hotel USD 48 nett

Holiday Inn Bandung USD 67 ++

Novotel Bandung USD 100 ++

Arion Swiss - Belhotel Bandung USD 65 nett

and many more