Bandung: A Long Weekend Getaway
During a long weekend like this, you can expect traffic jams on the toll roads heading to Bandung, Bogor, or Puncak. This was a truly long weekend—a four-day break from May 17th to 20th—when almost all Jakarta offices were closed. Many employees either went home or took a vacation, leading to massive traffic jams on the Cipularang toll road to Bandung. But despite the chaos, we were determined to go to Bandung for a holiday and to visit some friends. We ended up stuck among hundreds, if not thousands, of cars on the highway. What a nightmare!
A City of Charm and Energy
Bandung is a city that’s always alive. Its cool climate and vibrant atmosphere are full of charm, and its many hangout spots make the city sparkle at night. It’s also a paradise for shopping enthusiasts, and the women are incredibly beautiful. A single day just isn’t enough to soak in the city’s atmosphere.
We arrived just before sunset, picked up a friend, and stopped for evening prayers. Soon after, we headed to Ciwalk (Cihampelas Walk) to enjoy the city’s nightlife. This is a popular spot for young people in Bandung. There are countless cafes with artistic designs that create a relaxed and comfortable ambiance. Besides cafes, you’ll find vendors selling typical Bandung accessories. If you plan to visit, I highly recommend making a shopping list first—it will save you a lot of time and money. After exploring, we decided to sit down at a cafe, waiting for our friends to join us and intentionally delaying dinner.
A Taste of Punclut
By evening, all our friends had gathered, and we drove up to Punclut, an area famous for its traditional Bandung food. The road is lined with food stalls, most of which have a lesehan (sitting on a mat on the floor) concept. From here, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Bandung city from a higher elevation. At night, the city lights create a stunning panorama, which is probably why Punclut is always crowded in the evenings, getting busier as the night goes on. Unfortunately, it started to rain just as we arrived.
Dining at Punclut won’t break the bank; the food is affordable and even cheap by Bandung standards. The presentation is simple and authentic. The spicy chili sauce was incredibly hot—it brought tears to my eyes! But the heat was welcome in the cold, rainy weather, making my stomach feel warm inside. After a satisfying dinner, we went to our friend “Dako’s” house in Cimahi to spend the night.
Shopping Paradise: Riau Street and Pasar Baru
The next day, our destination was Riau Street, one of Bandung’s premier shopping areas. To get there, we drove under a long overpass bridge that, according to our friend, was built for the Asian-African Conference held in Bandung. Riau Street is not as bustling as Cihampelas Walk, but if you’re not careful, it can quickly empty your wallet. From Riau Street, we continued to Pasar Baru, another shopping hub. As Bandung is a major textile and garment center in Indonesia, you can find all kinds of clothing and convection goods here at very cheap prices. This place truly is a paradise for shoppers.
Bandung is a comfortable city with a cool climate, full of charm, and friendly locals. There are still so many places I haven’t visited. My short trip, combined with my previous visits, hasn’t been enough to fully explore this city, which is one of Indonesia’s top tourist destinations.
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