Bandung - what can i say?

If you were to ask me how’s Bandung? Best tak? My answer will be… memang best.. It is a shopping paradise for us, woman. I’ve been to Dubai, Paris, London even Haadnyai n nothing can beat Bandung in terms of price.

If u are a textile lovers mmg jadi tak keruan bila gi sana. I guess if I were still working I would borong all the textiles there. If you like to make baju kurung from lace like artis2 n mak datin2.. this is the place. It is so cheap. If anybody wants to get married this is also a good place for investment. Tak yah jauh2 gi dubai cari kain lace.

Then if you are branded clothes lovers this is the place too. The branded items here are the export goods n the material are the same as the original. It is not like the one you found in Siam or Thailand. It is so cheap n they have variety kinds of brand.

As for the food.. in Bandung is easy to find halal food. Don’t eat yg jual tepi jalan which I think sape nengok pun tak lalu.. Choose any good big restaurant. We had lunch nasi padang at Simpang Raya restaurant, 7 of us makan mcm nak pecah perut cost not even RM100.

Every night I n my cousin will walk to the nearby Mall from the hotel – Paris Van Java Mall. Over here I could see the different scenario of people in Bandung. There are modern rich people. This mall is like The Curve or Pavilion here in KL. There have long stretch of restaurants n pubs. We would normally stop by for coffee at starbucks or waffles.

On our last night here in Bandung we went to have foot massage. We took the 90min package n it only cost 65ribu (RM24). The place is nearby to Sukajadi Hotel, called ZEN. This was the first place I’ve ever been that was so cosy n modern. The chair was equipped with individual TV, deemed light n I was being treated like a queen. I had my foot scrubbed, massaged n wallaaa…. It was indeed good.. (after penat lelah menapak shopping!)

I spent 4 days/3 nights in Bandung. Initially each of us has one bag came to Bandung n going back to Malaysia, semua beg beranak.. Not us alone but almost everybody I saw at the airport. I would like to go again there bringing hubbby n kids. I’ve started looking for cheap flight to go there again!

All I can say - Bandung is solely for shopping. If u were to bring RM1k still u can shopping more than enough..

Bandung - Paris Van Java

Now only I have time to touch my lappie. I was very busy since came back from Bandung as my relatives were still here. I came back from Bandung on Monday night n well.. one word to describe about Bandung – heaven….. shopping heaven…:) During the early 20^th century Bandung was known as “Paris van java” or the Paris of Java. It was probably because of the place is a shopping paradise like Paris. Nobody knows who gave the name but it is now synonym to Bandung.

The moment we arrived at the Bandung airport, took a taxi to the hotel, solat had lunch n zoomed to Pasar Baru. Pasar Baru is a unique place very famous in Bandung as the center for nearly all of your garment-shopping needs. Plenty of textiles, batiks and clothes in cheap and moderate prices are available.

To go to Pasar Baru took us nearly an hour. The traffic in Bandung was bad – always jammed. The driver there just drove their vehicles according to their own rules. Mengucap panjang we all dalam van..But once we reached Pasar Baru hilang segala sakit kepala jam dalam van.

Our first target was the textiles shops. There were lots kinds of textiles from chiffon, lace, cotton n more. The prices are much way cheaper. I am comparing the prices from Gulatis, Euro Moda or Jakel. If the price of lace in KL per meter – RM100 here in Pasar Baru u can get RM37 per meter – the same material n design. Huh.. memang mabuk kecubung semua yg gi..

Even I am not a kind of person wearing lace pun terpedaya.. I just can’t resist of not buying it. It was so cheap n beautiful. My aunty borong sakan.. We spent 2 days in Pasar Baru as the shops were closed at 5pm daily. On the first day we just managed mengkayakan satu kedai saja.

The next early morning the expedition continued.. My aunty bought wedding cards. The price of card here RM1 is equal to RM4 in Malaysia. I saw many samples wedding cards bought by Malaysian. We can even print out the details in the card n once ready it will be sent to the hotel.

After the cards, we continued back with the textiles shops. Tak habis lagi nak sambung dari smlm.. After that we bought telekung. Telekung here mmg murah.. If u were to buy in Hajaba or makcik2 kat kampung who sells RM200, in Bandung here the cost is only RM75! Segala jenis from the plain one to sulam goyang n even for hantaran.

Besides textiles, telekung in Pasar Baru here also sells clothes, tudung, batik n local snacks. The place was really crowded as it is famous not just to the tourist but also local. On the weekend people from Jakarta loves to come to Bandung for shopping too.

There goes my one-half day at Pasar Baru n berjuta-juta dah duit habis. Cewah… first time dapat pegang duit berjuta2 dalam tangan ni.. On the third day we spent our time at the Factory Outlet. There are many factory outlet here in Bandung located at different stretch of roads. Our first stop was at Rumah Mode.

The moment I stepped in Rumah Mode – sesak nafas jap.. Not because of the place or crowded people. We arrived there early n still not many people but I was like teruja n excited to see all the clothes here. We said to each other.. calm down.. take it easy.. then we split to explore the place.

The factory outlet shops were more convenience n comfortable. The places were just like a mall, modern, a-conditioned compare to Pasar Baru. It sells various types of branded clothes (GAP, AX, Esprit, Ed Hardey more..) n seriously all you can get as cheap from RM10. Tunggu lagi??..

Anyway I just managed to snap photos before entered the Rumah Mode as after that dah tak ingat my camera.. Its true like some said Bandung without going to factory outlet is like Paris without going to Eiffel. hehehehe.. Though it was raining on that day but demi shopping semua sanggup meredah segala kepayahan..

MtTangkuban Perahu - Bandung

On our last day here in Bandung n after duit semua dah berjuta2 habis… we decided to visit (not shopping place) but the famous Mountain Tangkuban Perahu (local Sundanese dialect). Tangkuban means upturning of a boat. If u see the picture below the mountain looks like a flipped boat.

Tangkuban perahu is a volcano, 28 kilometers north of Bandung which took about one half hour journey from our hotel to reach the top of the mountain. The road was windy n along the journey I could see small villages, farms n tall trees. The moment I stepped out of the MPV, I could feel the cool and windy air blowing towards my face. This reminds me of Genting or Cameron Highlands. It was cool n beautiful.

Within a few seconds later, several Indonesian man rushing to us to sell their souvenirs. Everywhere we go, there will be peminat2 paparazi dtg nak jual itu ini.. They will stop tailing behind you until either u buy something from them or after many time said NO.

There are still active volcano around which can be explored n open to public. Though the mountain appears peaceful, mild eruptions occurred in 1969, when Kawah Ratu spewed ash and barrages 500 m high. As recently as September 1992 it was closed to the public for a few days because unusually high seismic activity leads volcanologists to fear a new eruption. On the mountain's northern flank is an area called Death Valley, so named for its frequent accumulation of poisonous gases. I could smell the smelly gassy on the mountain.

This place is a popular tourist attraction n beside shopping this place should also be in the list n worth for a visit.

Bandung..... here I come

Yeeehaaaah… I am taking the first morning flight today to Bandung. I am going with my aunty, uncle n cousins. All together are five of us including one couple – my uncle’s friend. Rombongan cik kiah ah ni…

My cousin is getting married soon n my aunty wants to buy like kain, kad kahwin n a few things. So me as the important person cum consultant cum advisor menempek ah sekaki.. hehehehhe..

I will be coming back on Monday n will update soon after that. Till then cheers..

May Allah Bless My Father

Last couple weeks my dad called me n informed that lately he sometimes felt his hands were shaking, trembling n at times the body was rigid. He immediately told me that he suspected having Parkinson. I was quite shock hearing that.

Asked how did he knows that he is having that, my dad told me that he read about this in the internet – my dad ni IT savvy tau.. rajin baca blog2 orang..:) . I told him to have a checkup n not to make the conclusion yet. It could be because the vitamins or pills he is taking or probably the food that he ate.

My dad is 66 years old. At this age he still looks young n healthy to me. He goes to mosque at every solat prayer, jogging in the morning n play golf too. He can still drive car from Kedah to KL. I seldom see him sick except fever n body aching.

Last week his appointment with the doctor was canceled. Today he went again to the hospital to do the thorough checkup about this matter. I called him in the morning n he told me after a few diagnoses the doctor said that my dad is having a Parkinson.

It is still in early stage n my dad is so lucky to discover it soon. The doctor prescribed him with medicines to cure the disease. My dad didn’t sound panic at all. He was so calm. I was totally worried after put down the phone. I have nonstop thinking about him.

I pray that the medicine will cure the illness. I pray that Allah will always protect him. I pray that Allah will give him a long life. I love my father so much that I don’t want anything bad happen to him.

May Allah bless my dad.

Foot Reflexology

Foot massage or therapy? In my whole life time I’ve only tried twice. The first one was probably 8 years ago. I had that in Hadnyai. Whenever I go there my family, uncle, aunty will surely allocate their time for this foot massage. Curious I tried once n immediately regretted as I felt painful. Last two years I tried again.

I requested for a lady masseur n instructed for a soft-medium pressure of massage. I enjoyed it though felt pain a bit. Probably if I were to do it frequently it will be ok for me. Anyway lately I felt pain at my right foot. Each time when I walk I could feel pain at my heel especially if I wear covered shoes.

At first I thought it was probably because of the shoes. But then on and on I can still feel the pain either with shoes or without shoes. I don’t want to see a doctor. Well.. maybe not now coz I think I know what caused this.

7 years ago when I was pregnant for Hakeem (8 months pregnant), I felt down from the stairs. I was holding Nabila n the clumsy pregnant me ran down the stairs n before reaching the last 5 steps I tripped n fell off. Nabila was intact in my hand except me tergolek mcm buah nangka down to the floor.

I could feel my right foot was very soft n limp n I couldn’t get myself to get up. Only god knows how I felt at that time. My maid at that time was a small size person plus my hubby too. And me? Huh.. when I was pregnant I was so huge mcm unta I guess.. hehehehehhe..

So now u can imagine how both of them were having their tough time to bring me inside the car. I was crying n laughing at the same time n screamed at the pain I had. Panik giler deorang.. kesian.. At last they took a computer chair (with the wheels) bertungkus lumus pushed me up to get me sit on the chair. Then pushed me to the car n hubby drove me to the hospital.

I had my feet scanned n luckily there was no bones broken. I still couldn’t walk n the doctor got me to use the crutches. Ni pun satu hal as I have to learn how to use this dengan perut yg memboyot..

So I guess now after 7 years the pain at my foot came back. Last two nights I went to have my foot massage somewhere nearby my house. The place called Beijing Natural Healthcare. The services are like foot reflexology, traditional Chinese massage, therapeutic massage, acupuncture n more. The therapists are well trained from China.

I like the place, cozy n clean. After I had the foot therapy there, my right foot felt bit better. I was advised to come every 2 days until I feel my foot much better n then continue probably once a fortnight or a month.

I will ago again tomorrow to continue the therapy n see how it goes from there.

Kaki Wayang

I am not really a kaki wayang. But if anybody ask me to go for a movie I will not hesitate. My type of movie must be yg meringankan minda, fun to watch – I don’t mind romantic (kekadang nak jiwang2 gak) but no no horror or cita hantu (sure terkenang berhari2).

I am also like to watch malay movie. I am probably one of those yg masih menyokong perfileman industri kita. Kalau Yusuf Haslam tau sure terharu.. hehehehe. Anyway to get a partner to watch this malay movie is quite tough time for me. I know hubby don’t mind to accompany me but to get his free time is another story.

Friends? Hmm…. My kaki wayang partner all prefer to watch English movie. I will normally watch movie with my girlfriends (moms at school) after send our kids to school. There was one time I watched New Moon. I never watch/read or have any clue about the previous sequence movie - Twillight. It was a nice movie though I was lost a bit. Excited jap nengok the handsome beautiful vampire.

Last Saturday we went back to Malacca. My daughter was talking about Adnan Sempit. I was actually planned to watch it with hubby. On Saturday night we went to watch it. Huh.. memang kelakar gila. This is not like lawak scenario yg mmg dah tak lawak but very selamba lawak n worth to watch. Rasa mcm nak nengok sekali lagi.. hahahahaha

Recently the current movie showings now are mostly horror/ghost. Probably I will get my girlfriends to watch Tooth Fairy – The Rock.