KEDAH/PENANG TRIP 5 - 7 JUNE 2009

A and I had just got back from Cherating...we were there for 2 nights, attending BB 7th Anniversary. More on that will be posted later.

Before that, I had a family outing in Penang i.e my mum and my sister's family last week. Since A had to give a present to his friend's wedding in his hometown in Alor Setar, I decided to go there first before going to Penang.

On 5 June 2009 (Friday) A, using my car, picked my mum from my brother’s house in Shah Alam and then to my office to pick me. From there, using the north south highway, we went to A's hometown in Alor Setar. We reached A's house at 12.00am.

After having breakfast at A’s house and after going to A's friend to give her the wedding present, we went to Padang Besar to do a little bit of shopping. The last time I went to Padang Besar was ages ago…. I was pleasantly surprised that the shabby town I remembered before has now being transformed into a nice and well planned shopping area or complex.

By 2.00pm, from Padang Besar we went down to Penang and after crossing the bridge we stopped near Pulau Jerejak jetty while waiting for my sister's family arrival from KL. All of us then went to my niece condo in Queensbay.

With my fav nieces at Gold Coast Resort Condo,

you can see Penang Bridge from the balcony

Getting ready to get wet...

View from the pool - full moon and

Pulau Jerejak at the background

Night view from the balcony..with a next door condo..

At. 9.00pm, we went to the airport to pick my two other nephews and from there we went to Pan Mutiara Restaurant at Batu Maung, Penang most famous place for its fish head curry. I have read so much about this place in other people’s blogs so I was looking forward to eat here.

The best fish curry head I have ever tasted....simply delicious..

with such affordable price too..

The empty bowl hehe...nice ambiance too... a delightful dinner..

Next morning, all of us had a tour in my niece's working place..which is a factory actually.. The factory is in its final completion and will be fully operated by September this year. She is Head of Design in a manufacturing custom made industrial chips, the company itself is a subsidiary of one of the GLC's.

The interior designer of the factory, the younger sis...

We then had our lunch at a nasi kandar restaurant near KOMTAR. We then walked along Chowrasta Road, ate the famous cendol and ais kacang there before proceeding to Batu Ferenggi. While waiting for the stalls to open, we have our drinks at the Sunset Bistro.

Another cool place to chilled out...even in the hot weather...

A had a pleasant surprised... I know he enjoyed this...

Ready to fly..........

Up and awayyyyyyyy............

into the sun.......

Time to come down.... steady...steady..steady...

Opssssss not a perfect landing unlike in

Pattaya last year hehehe...ouchhh

Smiling...safe and sound, nothing's broken...

Sunset.........

Awesome view.......

Afterward, we went to buy a few DVDs, mostly TV series...had our seafood dinner at Bayan Lepas.. By 1.00 am, A and I were on our way back to KL. Actually, I really wanted to stay another day but I had an important meeting to attend too. We reached home at 4.30am, leaving me only 2 hours to sleep...peywai ooooooo...

JAKARTA/BANDUNG TRIP 15-19 MAY 2009 FINAL PART

18-19 May 2009 (Monday & Tuesday) - Day 4 & 5

8.00 am, like yesterday, we had our buffet breakfast at the hotel. Pak Yunus took over from Pak Tarmudzi as our driver as he had other matter to attend too. Since we need to exchange our money to Rupiahs, Pak Yunus suggested us to change it at Golden Money Changer (GMC) near Pasar Baru. He informed us that GMC gives the best rate as compared to others. Thinking that GMC will be like a normal money changer i.e. small and no need to queue, we were mistaken. Entering GMC was like entering a big bank with many customers. There, you will be given a number, have a seat and wait for your number to be called. Once called, you need to fill up a form, gave the money (mine RM and USD) and wait again to be called to complete the whole process which in all took about 20 minutes. Pak Yunus was right, do exchange your money in Bandung or Jakarta. The rate is much cheaper. (On that day the rate was RM298 for Rp1million as compared to RM340 for the same amount when I exchanged it in Malaysia).

Later, we went to Pasar Baru, a shopping complex, similar to Tanah Abang in Jakarta but smaller (5 storey building). Pak Yunus parked his MPV at 7th floor parking lot. Here, we spent for about 4 hours and most items that we bought were for our families especially the ladies i.e telekung, clothes, fabrics, Indonesian batiks, etc. I also made an arrangement with a tailor in one of the shops to tailor-made me two pair of trousers with a promise to deliver it at the hotel by 5 am tomorrow morning. Ajib bought lots and lots of laces fabric for his family. According to him, the price was cheap and I was told that the shops in Tanah Abang are the exporters of laces and fabrics to the high class fabric shops like Euro Moda in KL.

Ajib buying lotsa of laces

From Pasar baru, Pak Yunus then brought us to Nasi Padang house called Restoran Simpang Raya, the same concept like the restaurant we went in Jakarta.

Menu in the restaurant...

Afterward we went to Cibaduyut, a place well known for its locally made product of leather goods especially for its shoes. Rows and rows of shops selling from low to high quality leather goods can be found here. For me, I bought shoes, a big travelling bag and a belt.

We then went to Rumah Tas, a shop exclusively for handbags mostly of high class imitation bags. Spoilt for choice, I bought one for my sister, a latest design by Gucci, with less revealing logo as requested by my sister over the phone.

Next, we went to Rumah Mode and shopped again. I bought a few branded T-shirts. We then went to our last FO shop which was the Cascade where I bought more selected T-shirts and a beautiful door-mat.

A day shopping..we need to use the hotel's trolley
to bring all those to our room

Tired, we went back to our hotel and dined in ala-carte at the hotel and as a hotel guest we were given a 25% discount. Even tired, it took A untill 2.00am to pack neatly all the things we bought into 6 big bags.

Tomorrow will be our travelling day, back to KL via Jakarta. We had decided to hire Pak Yunus again for our trip to Jakarta instead of taking a bus after looking at the things we need to carry. Since our flight to KL from Jakarta will be at 8.00pm, we then have ample time to go to Mangga Dua, another shopping place in Jakarta.

19 May 2009 (Tuesday) Part 5.

Our last day in Bandung. Had breakfast at the hotel. Its already 8.00am and no news about the delivery of my trousers. I thought I had been cheated. To make matter worse, I have lost the receipt and I was unable to contact the tailor. I was quite disappointed. I called Pak Yunus and he suggested that we stop by at the shop and enquire about it before going to Jakarta.

We checked out from the hotel at 9.00am and went to Kartika Sari, one of the biggest bakery in Bandung. It offers a wide varieties of cookies, cakes, snacks. I bought a few packets of 'pisang molen' which is a baked pastry filled with banana and cheese. There, I received a call from the tailor saying that the dispatch boy did come to the hotel at 5.00am but cannot find the name listed as the hotel guest. It seemed that, I had given A's name on the receipt instead of mine but I had clearly mentioned the room number together with Ajib's hp number (Indonesian prepaid). Unfortunetely this other info were not given to the boy. We then headed back to the hotel and picked the trousers there.

Afterward, Pak Yunus drove us to Jakarta. We asked him to use the road via Puncak instead of the highway to view the uphill scenery.

View from Puncak..

Another view from Puncak
Yet another view at Puncak

On the route to Jakarta, there was a slight jammed due to an accident. We reached Mangga Dua area where huge blocks of shopping complexes are situated here in Jakarta at 2.00 pm. We entered one of the blocks which sells all sort of things, something like Sungai Wang Plaza but with smaller shops. We had only two hours to eat and shop there since we need to be at the airport not later than 6.00pm. We ate at the A&W inside the complex and then we started shopping using whatever balance left but taking into consideration the air port tax and payment for excess baggage, if any. Here, I bought a few Indonesian pirated music CDs at the cost of Rp6,000 each. I also bought locally made bamboo fans as souveniors for my office mates.

In front of Mangga Dua Shopping Complex

At 4.00pm, we went to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. During check-in, to avoid paying for excess baggage of about RM100.00, each of us had to take 2 bags as hand luggage and the other 4 bags as check-in baggage.

Last minute repacking after our shopping spree at Mangga Dua

We had dinner in one of the Sudanese restaurant at the Airport. As scheduled, at 8.00pm, we flew from Jakarta and arrived at LCCT airport around 11.00pm (Malaysian time). We then took a bus to KL Sentral. There, A and I took a cab home whereas Ajib had his relative picking him up. By 2.00am, we reached our house.

Since this was our first trip to Jakarta and Bandung, I must say that it was a successful trip. It fulfilled our intention to see these two cities as tourist on our own even if not 100%. Unless and until you really want to come to Bandung to shop, we now know where to go and buy specific things at specific places. God willing, we might come again here next year, ermm a few interested parties have voiced their interest to asked us to bring them there...see how it goes........

JAKARTA- BANDUNG TRIP 15-19 MAY 2009 - PART 3

Day 3 - 17 May 2009 (Sunday)

We had our buffet breakfast at the Kookobura Restaurant in the hotel. The choice of food were aplenty and cover both continental and local foods.

A, enjoying his cereal at the restaurant.

At 8.00 am, Pak Tarmudzi, our driver picked us up with a brand new Suzuki Arena MPV. A chatty guy, he first brought us to our desired destination, the mount Tangkuban Perahu, the most famous tourist volcano just 28 km north of the city. Part of the road especially nearing the place are full of potholes, making the journey a bit uncomfortable. Furthermore, you have to pay an entrance fee of Rp45,000 per person before entering the mountain.

View from the huge dead crater.

With a paying guide named Pak Usa, we hiked downhill through the natural stairs 1.2km to reach Kawah Domas (Domas Crater), an active volcanic crater with sulphuric spring.

Half way to Kawah Domas...

Nope, I can't fit into that.....

enjoying the splendid panoramic view

At last.... reaching the crater, with hot geysers
and hissing sulphur vapor all around us

eggs are sold here so that you can put them into
the boiling water until there are cooked

All of us had a mud massages around the legs
before soaking it into the hot water

Another view at the crater....

We then headed to a less steeply area i.e the car park at Kawah Ratu, where our driver was waiting for us. All in all, it was a tiring walk and I was sweating profusely upon arriving at the car park but nonetheless such adventure was a worthwhile experience for all of us.

We then had our lunch at the infamous Kampung Daun restaurant, a must place to go for anyone who visited Bandung. It is located in a natural surrounding of craftsman village in a deep jungle valley. With fresh air and cool breeze, its the best choice of place to be i.e. to relax your feet after the long walk.

The entrance to Kampung Daun Restaurant

Entering our hut

ermmm from the menu, which buntut to eat? hehehe

Time to hit the Kentongan, to call for services
from the traditional clad waiters

Lunch is served...time to eat....

Time to take a nap...


Inside the village....

Most visitors took their picture here...

The driver then sent us to Rumah Mode, the most talkabout FO in Bandung. Being a Sunday, this beautiful FO inclusive of a cafe and a spa were full of people especially those from Jakarta and many Malaysian too. At the cafe, I bought 2 cups of a delicious 'durian sensation' sundae.

Later, we went to Toko Tiga, the place where they sell original jeans. I bought an original 501 Levi's jeans for about RM100. Our last FO were the Heritage and its adjoining FO, the Cascade. Personally, I love Cascade much better than Rumah Mode and decided to come again tomorrow to shop after I change the balance of my money to Rupiahs.

To tired to eat outside, our driver drove us to the best Bakso Restaurant in town according to him. It was the Baso Malang Karapitan where we ordered a take-away food for our dinner. We then headed back to our hotel, exhausted...

Next day will be our shopping day....

JAKARTA/BANDUNG TRIP 15 - 19 MAY 2009 - PART 2

Day 2 - 16 May 2009 (Saturday)

At 8.30am, from our hotel, we walked out to a Mall in front of Sarinah Mall and had our breakfast at Dunkin Donut there. Later, in Sarinah Mall, Ajib had his hair cut and then highlighted it in a hair saloon. While waiting for him, A and I went to a supermarket inside the same Mall. There, I bought 3 original DVDs (Indonesian movies - Laskar Pelangi, Perempuan Berkalong Serban and Chika). I also bought a nerd looking reading glasses in the supermarket to replace the one I brought which was broken due to a mishap at the airport.

Ajib at the saloon, highlighting his hair

At 11.30 am, after checking out from the hotel, we took a Blue Bird cab to Gambir Train Station. There are two operating trains going to Bandung i.e The Argo Gede and the Parahyangan. Since Parahyangan was the earliest to depart, we bought the last 3 remaining executive tickets. We then had our bento like lunch at a Japanese restaurant at the station.

The Gambir Train Station, the picture was
taken a day before from MONAS Tower

The fully air-conditioned executive coach was not only clean but spacious and the comfortable seat comes together with a small clean pillow. They also served a nice box containing a bun and mineral water. You can also order food and drinks with their set menus from the attending waitress. Your order will be sent to your seat or you can eat at one of the coaches which served as a canteen.

The inside of the executive coach

The smooth three hour journey covers a picturesque route through paddy fields, villages, mountains and tea plantation. It was a thrilling experience for me as I have never been in a train for a long distance journey before.

We reached Bandung Station at 4.30 pm. The weather was nice with the temperature around 24-25C. We were then picked by the Hotel Grand Serela's chauffeur, the hotel that we will be staying for the next 3 nights.

Bandung Train Station

Ajib, posing in front of the Grand Serela Boutique Hotel

Our room

Another picture of our room

Afterward, we took a minibus called 'angkutan' to go to Dago Street, where a few major Factory Outlet (FO) are situated. There, we shopped a bit and then had dinner at Grande's FO. Back at the hotel, A and I had our foot reflexology massages while Ajib did the whole body massage at the hotel spa.

End of day two of our trip and day one for us in Bandung. We had already booked a local driver to drive us around Bandung for two days and he will pick us up tomorrow morning at 8.00 am.