Jakarta-Bandung {26-30.03.2013}

As i promised, today im going to share my experience during my previous school holidays... Hehehe... We bought the air ticket last year.. My fren, Sasa invited me to have a trip with her to Bandung. Actually i've been to Jakarta before on 2010 with hubby. It was my first trip to oversea with him and he was actually just followed me coz everything was planned by me. So Jakarta trip was really not that exciting for me, but since my fren was really into shopping craziness she said she cant wait to go to Bandung... So i decided to accompany her to Jakarta. Sasa and me are actually good friends since in our university-hood. Hehe... So until now we keep in touch to each other through calls and sms. She has the same job with me which is teacher and she works in SM St Martin Tambunan.

We actually bought the tickets separately coz i was still thinking whether i want to go or not. We invited some friends to join as well, but it seems that everyone has their own commitment and cant join us.

So the trip started on 26th March and we backed here on 30th March. 5 days and 4 nights trip in Jakarta and Bandung. Before the trip we had already planned where and what places that we are going to visit. Many thanks to Sasa coz she had put her efforts to look for cheaper and affordable hotel for us during in Jakarta and Bandung. I asked her to plan for the itinerary as well coz i had my Linus Course in KK just before the school holidays. So i dont have time to do some study for it.

Sasa had contacted the "Supir" for us in Bandung as well and informed me the rate before she decided to book him. Thanks to her. Sasa and Me contacted through Whatsapp only and we met at the airport during our departure to Jakarta....

We reached Jakarta's airport around 8.25pm (Jakarta's time) and we direct to the Hotel. The hotel that Sasa had booked was really nice. It is Hotel Rumah Shinta near to Mangga Dua Mall. Since we arrived late in Jakarta so we had nowhere to go but we were very hungry and need to look for some place to eat. We asked the receptionist to call a taxi (Bluebird taxi) for us so that we could go to the nearest place that still opened that time. We went to Tanah Abang where Sarinah Mall is located. Unfortunately, the mall just closed when we reached there. For ur info, Bluebird Taxi is the cheapest and the best in Jakarta because they are using meters for calculating the taxi fare and they will never cheat to the tourist. That was told by the taxi driver itself that it is the rules of the company or else u will get sack. Huhu...

The next day we went to Anchol Dreamland, a theme park actually. I was very excited and eager to go there becoz i want to see the penguins. But we were very unlucky coz there were many people that time since it was actually Jakarta's school holidays as well. So many kids and parents were there lining up for the Happy Feet Show. Somemore... Sasa was not really into this kind of stuff. She doesn't like to play those roller coaster and merry-go-round things so i felt a bit disappointed with the visits. But never mind, be positive! I will go there some other times but maybe with those people who likes to play or with my kids in the future. Hehehe

At the Anchol Dreamland

After that we straight to the Gambir Station since our train will depart at 3.50pm. Once again thanks to Sasa coz she had bought the tickets earlier before we fly from KK. It was a good thing that u could travel by urself instead of following those tour that cost ur more. Some travel agent may simply charge u with higher price but at the end everything was not prepared and not included in the tour. How sad.... That was told to us by one of the Sabahan people during our flight back to KK.. Huhu... Next time be confident and do some research to those places that u want to visit. Am i right? Hehe.. I am proud to say that coz i had my own trip last time to Philippines with Sasa and another friend. Only three of us and we managed to have our good time there at our own cost. Hehehe...

So we reached Bandung around 7.02pm. As usual we were looking for Bluebird taxi from the station but it seems that no Bluebird taxi nearby so we had to walk out from the train station to get the taxi. Yes!! Bluebird taxi are anywhere outside the station. We took one and straight to the Hotel. This time our hotel is Buminanienie Guest House at Wira Angun-angun road. Hehehe... Nice name and nice place as well. U will never regret to stay here. This hotel is just like a homestay. The workers are very polite as well. After checked in we then walked to Jalan Riau. Instead of taking taxi we just walked on our feet to Jalan Riau coz the distance is not too far. Lucky enough, we were able to shop for few clothes and stuff at The Heritage and Stamp. We then continue shopping at other Factory Outlet the day after. Hehehe...

First day in Bandung, we went to visit the Tangkuban Perahu. It is up on the hill at Lembang area. Tangkuban Perahu means "The Overturned Boat". U will able to see the summit looks like a huge overturned boat from afar. The supir fetched us at 8am from the hotel and we direct to Tangkuban Perahu. When you arrive at the parking lot at the summit, you can see a milky white lake 500m down the crater. This is the Ratu Crater. The place is really beautiful. No words can described it. But they said, Kawah Putih is more beautiful than Tangkuban Perahu. Hehehe.. U better come and u see at ur own. U describe it urself.. For me, it is indeed beautiful. There is no such thing in Malaysia so i said im impressed with what God had created. For tips... once u get there, there will be many vendors come and approach u to sell their things. But be careful, coz they will charge u higher price. Dont panic. Just smile and ignore them. But if u interested make sure u get the cheapest price. Hack as lower as possible u can. Hehe...

The Ratu Crater at Tangukuban Perahu

After we took pictures and bought some items we then continued our journey to one of the Strawberry Farm down the hill. This Lembang area just like Kundasang and Cameron Highlands. The place is cold and u can feel the wind breeze.. Very nice. U have to wear jackets becoz it is really cold. We had strawberry juice and then we continued to go to a place called De Ranch. The most beautiful place for me as i never been to any horse field before. Here at the De Ranch u can ride a horse for one round. It only cost u 20,000 rupiah (RM6.50) Hehehe. U were able to were those Cowboy jacket and hat. Hahaha very nice kan... We were really enjoyed capturing our own pictures and had a good time with the beautiful scenery there. Then, we backed to town and had our lunch in one of the Traditional Restaurant. Shopping and we had a chance to get our body massage at Mariaty Spa and Cafe. We then had our dinner at one of the roadside stall that was introduced by our supir before we go backed to hotel around 11pm to rest.

The next day, our journey was visiting the Kawah Putih. It was really far from the hotel. It took about 2 hours to get there. I guess it is Ciwidey area. It was really amazing to able to see those white crater from a volcano crater.. Hehee.. But u have to wear ur facial mask coz the smoky mist is really stink. U will able to see the sulphur floating on the water and u can put ur hands in the water but u cant swim, and cant drink the water.U may need a brief jacket as well coz the temperature is really cold. I really cant hold my breathe and stay longer there. 'Snap' 'snap' 'snap' then we quickly returned to the base where we had to follow the angkutan (shuttle mini bus). Ur personal car allowed to the peak but they will be charged u 150,000 rupiah for each car. Shuttle bus only 25,000 rupiah each.

Looks like a lake.. the White Crater.

Then we went to the tea plantation area called Rancabali. It was extremely amazing view for me as a long the roadside is the tea plantation. We able to take some pictures at the roadside and then straight to the Situ Patenggang. Have u watch the music video of My Heart? I guess so coz my fren, Sasa do some research and the place called Situ Patenggang was actually where u could find the Danau Cinta just like in the music video of My Heart. I heard that, if u really in love with ur partner and u want to get married and live forever with him, u can bring him or her along to Danau Cinta and write both of ur name on the tree at the Danau Cinta so that he or she will become ur soulmate forever and ever. It sounds like fairytale for me... Hahaha.. But we were unable to go there coz we had a short time to go back to Bandung and continued with the plan to go shopping. Hehehe...

We at the Rancabali Tea Plantation.

Danau Cinta is behind us.

Along the way, we were very tired and we were able to had a short nap. Hehe. Our supir, Cecep stayed focus with his driving since it was raining heavily. We arrived at one of the Kilang Kain around 5pm but I already forgot the name of the place. But u can find it in FB named Batik Bidadari. Hehe... We bought kain ela, kain sulam and kain batik from there with a cheaper price compare to Pasar Baru. Sasa bought some kain batik for her Koperasi teacher and some kain sulam as well. The interesting items here is actually their embroidery clothes. I heard most Malaysian people come to Bandung just to buy their clothes and sell them back in Malaysia with expensive price. Haha... We then backed to hotel around 9pm after had our dinner with Cecep. We packed our stuff and get rest for our journey back to Jakarta then KK.

Our journey return to Jakarta started at 8.30am in the morning. Cecep came to the hotel and helped us to tie up our boxes and luggage. Then we stopped by at Kartika Sari and Amanda Brownies to buy some brownies and cake for our family and friends. hehe... but our one last stop was in Pasar Baru. We need to go there coz many people mentioned it in the blog. For me Pasar Baru is not what i called my place to shop because i really cant find my stuff there unless the bags and shoes. Yaa, it is extremely cheap i tell u.. after 3 hours journey, finally we arrived at Soekarno Hatta Airport. Then we straight to the check-in counter to drop our luggage. Hahaha, my luggage over 2 kg weight and i have to pay about RM60 for that. Sasa, had to pay RM124 for his 3kg overweight luggage. So next time u better buy 30-40kg luggage so that u dont have to pay anymore and can shop more in Bandung. Hehehe..

Bye to our homestay Buminanienie Guest House, Bandung.

Thanks God we finally arrived at Terminal 2 Kota Kinabalu at 12.30am. Jeng jeng jeng.... Another funny story, i had to pay RM60 for the taxes as i brought many 'kain' from Jakarta. My first time in life owh... Being charged by the Custom and i was really pissed off that time coz Sasa was actually had many 'kain' compare to me but she simply can passed the Custom. Sh***.... One of the staff may found me very contended that time till he took my passport and copied my name in one of his book. Oh my God!!! Hahaha... Well that was really a good experience. "Next time if u want to go traveling, please read this', said one of the girl lagi... Hehehe... Baru plak sya tau yg kita tdk boleh bawa more than 3 helai kain from oversea.... Huhu....

Well then, thats all for my trip Jakarta - Bandung... I had so much fun during my holidays and i was blessed to have such a wonderful friend like Sasa. She had put lots of efforts to do research and planned the itinerary for us. Thanks again and wish we can have another trip in the future. hehehe...and for u all, wish i had a good story to share today. And i believe i already had so much thing to share with u since this is my first time i have a very long entry... Wahahaaha...

Till then.. C ya!!!

Me riding the horse at De Ranch, Lembang.

Plucking some strawberry. hehe