#FidaWrites

Firzi and I are two young (ngarep boleh ya) couple who are still thriving for financial stability, whereas we mostly leave it up to Allah to give us the rizq, we also try to enjoy what we have by doing something fun yet simple and inexpensive. Then there comes our Bandung getaway for our honeymoon on April 17-20.

Some friends and family would ask us where we would go on our honeymoon and they expected us to say somewhere abroad or adventurous or challenging (considering what my instagram usually showed through #FidaTravels). But all I would answer was, "Bandung!" with pure genuine excitement. Because it's true, why would we spend shedload of money just for something we'd later be spending hours in bed anyway? LOL. I mean, we could go on a hot air balloon ride in Turkey sure, or a safari in Africa, but only to look forward to spending the rest of the night cuddling with each other. After all, it's a honeymoon, am I right?

So Bandung was the most affordable, distanced, perfect honeymoon getaway that we've planned. And yet, we were still able to make memories out of it! Here are the list of places and what we did during our Bandung honeymoon getaway:

1. Post Wedding Photography at Stone Garden, Padalarang

I was looking forward to this day for months before the wedding! I've always wanted to do a post-wedding photography instead of pre-wedding for many good reasons. And what a perfect timing that I've found a Bandung-based photographer that does perfect sessions on relationships photography. Anorumi Photo was chosen and they had the best location scouts for us to choose from. They allow us to do 2 locations for this post wedding photography and we chose Stone Garden as our first location and our hotel as the second.
I've been to Stone Garden in 2015, funnily with my later-wedding organizer friend, Andrika. And we enjoyed that time so much. I thought this time, Stone Garden is the most closest location from the city where we stayed and it hasn't been as popular as Tahura (Taman Hutan Raya) or Ranca Upas for Prewedding or Post Wedding photography.
Our photographer shown us some really unique places to pose on and what perfect location to dwell our eyes on nature as we could also breathe clean air up there during that chill morning session.
$$ Details $$:
Post Wedding with Anorumi: Rp. 4.250.000
Stone Garden Entrance Fee (for photography session): Rp. 300.000 (as a group)

2. Utara Cafe

What is a Bandung getaway without going to the latest hip and Instagrammable cafes? So I've been eyeing on some cute cafes to go to on Instagram and we manage to squeeze one for the book. Utara Cafe is located on the uphill Dago atas at Jl. Dago Pakar Utara, on the way to Tebing Keraton. The place is quite enjoyable and cool, especially when you went before the sunset, you could almost see the sun setting across the lowest horizon of the city. I suppose it would be magical hour, but when we were there, it was quite cloudy, so we just spent our time enjoying the shabu-shabu meal and snacking our face away. There was quite a long queue of waiting list when we were there at about 4pm, and to be honest, if it wasn't our honeymoon, we'd probably hate it there. LOL. The food was basic, the toilet was not as tamed, there was cats hanging out around our tables and the grassy setting you'd see on their Instagram page was not as beautiful anymore.
Overall we enjoyed our time anyway!
$$ Details $$: Approx. Rp. 200.000 for two people

3. Dasa Rooftop

Not far from Utara Cafe, we continue to enjoy our time in the upper Dago area after the sun sets, this time at Dasa Rooftop. I managed to change into a simple dress, just to try to go with the "mood" of the restaurant and we had a nice meal and dessert. We got a table just by the look out window, so we were actually pleased by the cool night air looking at the pearly light up Bandung city below. It was quite memorable.
$$ Details $$: Approx. Rp. 250.000 for two people

4. Se'i Sapi Lamalera 

Whoaa, one of the best meat-ful meal I've ever had in Bandung! And the queueing does not lie! It is actually really good, and very affordable. Found this on Instagram from several friends that had been there before, and Firzi and I really enjoyed every menu we picked. Se'i sapi sambal luat and se'i lidah rica rica, anyone? Firzi even told me he wanted to open a franchise in Jakarta or make one just as nice one day! Pray for us? :)
$$ Details $$: Approx. Rp. 150.000 for two people

Credit: Instagram/seisapilamalera

5. Art Deco Luxury Hotel & Residence

One of the best well-maintained Airbnb experience in a beautiful hotel setting I've ever found in Bandung! And very affordable for a two-night stay. We stayed in a jacuzzi suite at Art Deco Hotel, which was the most expensive room rate there, and we only got it for about Rp. 3.200.000 for two nights! Where as in other booking platforms, you can spend at least Rp. 2mio for 1 night. Not a bad deal, isn't it? And perfect for us honeymooners because look at these facilities in one place! Also, what a great spot to do a jacuzzi right? (Although Firzi freaked a lot of times, afraid people would see us :P)
Firzi and I also brought some groceries in the nearby supermarket and ended up making dinner and breakfast. We continue to enjoy our time, wondering what home with only the two of us would feel like. Netflix and wifi provided with a smart tv, we ended up just spending a lot of times in the hotel instead. Here is also where we took the rest of our post wedding pictures, and it did not disappoint!

Credit: Airbnb

Here is the hotel link where you can book at reasonable price through Airbnb, or sign up using my LINK to get extra $$$ and more discount!
$$ Details $$: Approx. Rp. 3.200.000 for two nights

I don't know when the trend started, but I'm guessing since Indonesia have been a lot more outspoken about their vast destinations, people started to follow the trend and wanted to be out in the wild and open. They don't want to miss out on the beautiful sceneries the country has to offer. Including those who prefers suitcases instead of backpacks.

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Pada hari Minggu yang cukup terik, suasana jalan Cihampelas, Bandung kian ramai. Bukan sekedar memang pusat para penduduk lokal dan luar daerah menghabiskan waktu untuk jalan-jalan dan berbelanja, tapi hari itu jalan Cihampelas yang satu arah dan cukup panjang itu terasa lebih teduh. Ternyata jembatan layang di atas jalan tersebut sudah mulai hidup dan beroperasi.



'Skywalk' itu disebut dengan nama Teras Cihampelas. Berdiri sekitar 10 meter dari permukaan aspal jalan (I didn't really measure, actually), Teras Cihampelas itu menjulang tinggi dan jauuuh berkilo-kilo meter sepanjang Jalan Cihampelas (again, I wasn't counting, but pretty sure Google Map knows its exact KM).





So what is Teras Cihampelas? Orang-orang bilang itu adalah tempat para pedagang kaki lima/asongan yang sering diusir dari pinggir Jalan Cihampelas untuk kembali berjualan di tempat yang lebih rapi dan tidak mengganggu lalu lintas jalan. Jadi, the infamous walikota of Bandung, Bapak Ridwan Kamil (or Kang Emil biar SKSD) membuat jembatan layang tersebut demi mengakomodir mereka yang tetap ingin berjualan. Dan memberikan pengalaman baru untuk para pembeli yang dapat berjalan kaki sepanjang jembatan tersebut sambil menikmati rangkaian stand dan merasakan keindahan kota Bandung dari ketinggian. Amazing work done really. Especially setelah beliau juga berhasil membangun tempat rekreasi outdoor yang rapi dan nyaman di Alun-Alun Jl. Asia Afrika dan lapangan olahraga Gasibu di depan Gedung Sate. So, urban development-wise, he's amazing!



So that Sunday afternoon, saya dan teman-teman menari saya yang sudah terhibur dan bahagia menjadi supporter teman kami yang mengikuti kompetisi tari Inspyro Moves pada hari sebelumnya, makin terhibur melihat keramaian di atas sana. Kami yang juga datang sambil menunggu keberangkatan shuttle kami untuk kembali ke Jakarta penasaran dan memang ingin membeli makanan untuk mengisi perut sebelum perjalanan. Setelah menaiki kira-kira 3 putaran tangga, we were exhausted but really impressed! Tempatnya begitu ramai dan betul, banyak pedagang! Misi kita di sana hanya satu: ingin makan. Dan lihat-lihat juga of course. We ended up strolling around -almost- end to end. Kita tidak berhasil mengeksplor dari ujung ke ujung karena shuttle kita pulang untuk jam 11 dan kita hanya memiliki waktu sekitar 45 menit untuk menikmati Teras Cihampelas.



Yang menarik dari tempat ini adalah fasilitas umumnya yang sangat baik. Contoh, ada beberapa Musholla atau tempat sholat kecil yang dilengkapi dengan tempat berwudhu di beberapa sudut jembatan. Tidak lupa juga adanya toilet yang hampir selalu ada di setiap ujung. Pada beberapa stand kuliner juga terlihat tempat duduk berinovasi yang terbuat dari semen/beton. Tersedia juga wastafel untuk mencuci tangan apabila kamu memutuskan untuk makan makanan yang lumayan heboh. Teras Cihampelas juga sangat disabled-friendly! Atau sangat nyaman untuk kaum difabel dan penyandang cacat. Adanya lift disetiap ujung jembatan, dan ramp sangat membantu untuk yang membutuhkan.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Musholla mini di tengah-tengah jembatan[/caption]

Penempatan letak di Teras Cihampelas Skywalk juga sangat rapi teratur. Misalnya, dibagian tengah adalah khusus pedagang kuliner. Rangkaian makanan khas Bandung dan Jawa Barat bisa kamu dapatkan di sini. Batagor, tape uli, ketan bakar bahkan keripik-keripik setan/basreng yang super pedas durhaka itupun dijual di sini. Lalu di bagian pinggir adalah penjual pernak-pernik dan oleh-oleh seperti kaos, kalung, gelang, dsb. Teras Cihampelas dilengkapi dengan papan-papan directory atau penunjuk jalan agar kamu bisa mengetahui letak kamu berada. Beberapa warning signs juga dibuat lucu khas Ridwan Kamil seperti papan peringatan "Dilarang membuang sampah sembarangan" yang dibuat humoris dengan mengungkit issue ke-baper-an manusia muda saat ini.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Papan pemberitahuan unik[/caption]

Overall, Teras Cihampelas ini sangat menarik perhatian para wisatawan lokal dan juga luar daerah. Selain dibuat dalam desain modern, penuh warna dan artistik, skywalk ini juga teduh di beberapa tempat, thanks to overgrown trees di pinggiran jalan tersebut yang dapat memberikan bayangan. Namun, apabila matahari sedang terik atau sedang hujan, tempat ini juga bisa sedikit meresahkan.



Oh, do try some of the Batagor there, dan bertemulah dengan para pedagang-pedagang yang sangat baik hati ❤

Totally recommended place to enjoy a nice weekend out in Bandung.

As we're about to welcome the mysterious new year 2017, I would like to bid adieu to 2016 in a more or less respected ways as this year have lead me to many travel opportunities. Whether they are purely purposed as a new traveling experience, or as a notably full-of-agenda kind of travel, 2016 wouldn't let my feet anchor.

Here's a recap of what #FidaTravels looked like in 2016.

January - A Kuala Lumpur Wedding Bound

One of my best mates from University, Syafira wedded her Russian husband at her hometown in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Growing up having girl talks about relationships with this girl is always amusing and insightful. So I was gloriously ecstatic to attend this Malay wedding and watching her mualaf Russian husband in a Baju Melayu. Such a beautiful couple (with now a cute little baby boy!). Came here with my all time favourite travel partner, Amanda and her boyfriend to as always explore and eat all the glorious foods! <3

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March - Travel Beyond Infinity to Belitung Island

So I have this gang of dancer friends who unites in a group called Infinit8. We made this group for a performance back in 2015. Years later of constant meet ups and dances, little did we know that there is another reason we can bond so well with one another. And that is traveling! So I requested a gathering for us to travel together. Belitung Island was chosen as it was within everyone's budget and it was still quite 'home' for me and another one of my dance friends who used to live there. Not all of the Infinit8 crew could join, but we still had a great time together. We personalised a hashtag for whatever we posted on that trip as #TravelBeyondInfinity :)

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April - A Wedding slash Adventurous Agenda in Yogyakarta (Jogjakarta)

My best friend's sister invited me to a wedding in Yogyakarta in late April. I have always loved Jogja (short for Jogjakarta) because there will always be something new to discover every time I went there. Knowing someone who was residing there at the time, I took the opportunity to have an adventurous exploration with him. Places unknown and those I never been to in Jogja was successfully explored, and I had a jolly good time. Beach, hills, temples (candi),  theme park, and hang out places were checked in as well as that wedding I had to attend to.

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May - Siblings Tag Team Story to Derawan Islands

Early May as it was the Labour day weekend, My brother and I was lucky to be chosen as a trip leader to Derawan Islands. Picked by our good friends from Wuki Traveller, it was the first time Zaki and I went together to lead a group of awesome travellers. We had a blast meeting a bunch of full of life people ranging from different age groups. We went through a few challenges on the trip such as from miscommunication, ill-mannered boat crew, and bad weather conditions. But thanked God for the most patient participants and the most understanding and presentable brother as a partner, this tag team trip leader stuff paid off really well. And what to do if the place you keep coming back to will always capture your heart more and more every time? Derawan is love.

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July - A Japanese Family Retreat

Finally some family traveling after a long time. My family and I basically has a rare condition of travel bug bites that never heals. We are so used to traveling on our own, until finally this year we can travel again together for the Eid Holidays. Japan was picked, it was our first time there for my brother, mother and I, and we did not use any tour of any sort. It was a remarkably emotional journey filled with laughter, rage, new experiences and love towards another culture and family. We went from Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and finally Tokyo moving from one train stations to the next, bus stops and long walks, and prayed so much for the well-being of my parents. They're tough guys, who I finally realise how much older they're getting every day, but still possesses that young heart and wisdom we adore so much. Mom and Dad, may we continuously be blessed to be able to taste many more experiences together <3

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End of July, my best friend slash one of my best travel mate was about to leave the country pursuing greater study. Of course we had to take a farewell trip together and Bandung was the option. Endless laughter, serious talks over local foods while riding the bus and Gojeks never felt more fun and memorable. We also met up with former Derawan travel mate who resides in Bandung and had a great time catching up over coffee in the woods. Bandung is forever the best go-to place out of the city.



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August - Trip Leader-ing to Belitung Island

Yes, I went to Belitung twice this year and I do not regret it. Again from Wuki Traveller, I took about 30 people for their first time in a journey of the island of big stones, tin mining and sweet-mannered locals. Teaming up with the local guide who basically did everything (making me feel like part of the travel participant and not the guide :P), we went to landmarks and tourist spots we shouldn't miss. Of course each trip to the same place would never be similar. It is always different, and I experience many new things too. Most memorable part of the trip for me: having the tiniest participant named Binar. She was two years old who was traveling with both her parents of avid adventurers. The parents mentioned that she has been traveling and camping around since she was 8 months old! Truly inspirational!

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September - Dreaming of Nepal and India

Hands down the best month of the year and one of my most awaited travel this year. After months in purchasing the tickets of Jakarta - Kathmandu - New Delhi - Jakarta, we finally went. My cousin Michelle and her friends, Caron, Viviea and I equipped with only a 7kg backpacks take on Nepal and India for 10 days. It was one of the best eye opening journey I have ever been to. Despite missing Indonesian foods so much, India and Nepal has captured my heart. I mean, Nepal despite being one of the world's least developed countries is home to beautiful mountainous natural views and locals who are helpful and overly friendly and hospitable. Nepal also won as my overall favourite aerial view ever! India on the other hand is also far from what we've imagined and what the media have portrayed. Traveling through three cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, we've discovered how beautiful the country was with all of its heritage. Yes there are many poor people on the streets begging, yes they are loud, horns can be heard everywhere, but still, it represents as one of the best travel experience I have ever done. It was madness of fun!

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October - Birthday Dance Treap (Treat/Trip) to Bandung

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Since 2012 I have always gift myself a birthday treat of traveling. As this year I was less involved with my other love of dancing, I decided to take a dance class for the weekend all the way in Bandung. Yes some of them thought why would I go all the way to Bandung just to attend a dance workshop. Honestly, having Bandung as one of the best place for arts and where creative youngsters unite, I just had to join. It was a workshop led by an inspiring Japanese dancer named Akiyoshi Nita. It was a great way to reward myself for not dancing contemporary the entire year, and I learned so so much.

November - KL Bound with the family

A random conversation with my mom and aunt of "I haven't had a stamp on my passport this year" led to a sudden purchase of return tickets from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur. Hahah! So end of November, my aunt, my cousin, mom, brother and I went for a weekend of gang-banging the wallets and credit cards in Kuala Lumpur. LOL. Going to KL with them was so much fun, as we went to the must-visits to Colmar Tropicale in Bukit Tinggi for a nice afternoon stroll in a European setting.

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December - Social Traveling in Alor, East Nusa Tenggara

Maybe I won't stop saying how amazing this kind of traveling opportunity was for me. It was my first time traveling for a cause, and having to colour the island of Pura in Alor along with meeting the friendly locals really made a memory. It was a trip done by Thank You Indonesia movement and I went with two of my office mates. Definitely something that sums up the end of the year with great traveling memories. Read about my recent travel to Alor here. It was a blast.

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Thank you 2016 for giving me endless traveling opportunity. 2017, Let's do this <3

Tips to staying alive:

1. Wake up early

2. Have a destination in mind

3. Grab your wildest most random partner

4. Explore!

On Friday, June 5th 2015 my friend and I decided to have a random day trip to Padalarang, West Bandung, West Java 3 hours away from Jakarta to one of the most interesting secluded place I’ve ever been to called Stone Garden & Goa Pawon Padalarang

To make a long story short, our adventure started in the morning where we met at Citos and took the public bus to the nearest Bus Terminal, Kampung Rambutan. At the terminal, we took an intercity bus to Bandung that pass through Cipularang highway and exited Padalarang toll exit. We were dropped off at the edge of the toll exit and found that we could go to Stone Garden and Goa Pawon by Ojek (motorbike taxi). After haggling and agreed on paying 60 thousand Rupiah for a return tour from Padalarang toll exit, Stone Garden, Goa Pawon and back to the nearest city bus terminal, we were off for our adventure.

Stone Garden was such an eye pleasing sight! It was as if I was somewhere in Europe in a whole different era. People called it like we were in The Flinstones movie set. Same goes to Goa Pawon or Pawon Cave. It was known that the fossils of early human beings was found here. The cave has such an exceptional sights and amazing topography. We are so glad to still have found adventure just nearby our home ❤️