#5 Bandung Shopping: Cihampelas Walk
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Of all the shopping malls that are available in Bandung, Cihampelas Walk–more famously known as Ciwalk by the locals–is perhaps the one that I prefer visiting the most. It is not the largest nor the most complete, but one thing that I like about Ciwalk is how it manages to successfully confer a rather pleasant atmosphere all-around, where anyone can either dine, shop, or just fooling around in a comfy, cozy, and perhaps most importantly, friendly environment.
The mall itself features primarily an outdoor concept, where a large portion of its area is located outdoor. I have heard that they are trying to evoke the sense of walking through European streets, and although it is pretty debatable whether they are successful or not (and if they are, to what degree) in achieving that objective, the outdoor concept for me is a lot of improvement when compared to places with traditional indoor concepts such as Bandung Indah Plaza or Bandung Super Mall.
Shopping Malls. What can we do about them? The big, expansive, multi-floor air conditioned buildings where shops, stores, dining spots, food courts, cinemas, and other places where you can shop and spend your money to your heart’s content congregated together in one concentrated place for the convenience of people with a penchant for shopping. Be happy or not with them; whether you think their existence beneficial or harmful to the masses; it is undeniable that they have a tremendous effect on many people everywhere they are built, and that their presence often construed as a sign of a ‘proper’ city—a sign of a city’s increasing economic capacity and welfare.
