24 to 28 July 2011. This was a holiday about 6 months in the planning. I bought my air-ticket sometime in February when Air Asia had a good price on a direct flight. It was to be my first proper trip into Indonesia (apparently Batam doesn’t count). Work has been a little mad and I was craving that little bit of space. This trip out was a respite much needed. Joe who initiated the trip had to reschedule so it was just lil Nat, her colleague Noi and I. We didn’t plan to do much but got more than we bargained for at the end of the trip. My main thing was to meet up with some friends and I wound up making more new ones.
I spent most of the time hanging out and reconnecting with friends. (Mostly musicians I’ve met through work from the last few years.) It was so obvious that our love for pop culture, music and our life philosophy speak greater volume than language. Whilst we sometimes worried about being misunderstood, words used in approximation do just as well when you are feeling the same vibe. I like that all over the world, I have friends who’re just like me even though we are of different cultures. We listen to the same music, we love life the same way.
Despite the fact that Bandung has 100000 factory outlets and the supposed “best one” we went to (i.e. Rumah Mode) wasn’t as attractive as the little local indie designer shoppes. I ended up spending money in Lou Belle and shops like UNKL347 and Badger in Trunojoyo. Special thanks to Fitrah for driving us to Trunojoyo, our friend Riko’s Beat & Bite indie music+snack shack, Lisung and a very interesting food festival. It was great meeting Marin outside of my work environment and being able to see his instead! Meeting the young designers and indie crafters he works with and supports, is so rejuvenating and refreshing. I also managed to bump into Arina whom I haven’t seen in 2 years AND who is leaving Asia because she’s relocating to the USA after her wedding! (Sadly, Mocca has played their last show and I missed it by a few days.)
I bought a necklace made by MANNEQUIN PLASTIC from Lou Belle Shop and when I said I so loved THIS on the Mannequin Plastic site, they made me one! AND gave it to me for free! Now I own 2 of their creations! One green plastic cat and a pink/white T-Rex!
Bandung – so young, so creative! I’ll be back again!
An Exercise In Trivial Pursuits 
I’ve never really thought of going to Indonesia before, but maybe I will look into it now. Bundang looks like it has a really cool indie/alternative culture.
It does! And it’s really super affordable too!
Bandung is known as the indie pop capital of Indonesia!
The boyfriend told me about it last year but I always look at him with tolerant amusement (never trust the boyfriend on fashion) but now I am going to take note of the places and demand he brings me there! Hope I manage to find the indie shops!
Take taxis! Very easy to get around. You just need to know your hotel and then Jalan Setiabudi (outlet shopping & Lou Belle Shop) & Trunojoyo (imagine Haji Lane x 10)