#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.
Cihampelas Street is one of the most famous places to visit in Bandung, and only a short observation is required to understand why. Rumored to be the longest stretch of continuous road in the world dedicated wholly to garment/fashion shopping, Cihampelas Street is filled from the beginning to the end with numerous shops and stores, all vying to invite customers to visit their places with their own unique decorations, promotions, and selection of items to purchase. It is perhaps no wonder then, that this street is always seemingly crowded with people unable to resist its temptation.
