TOUR AROUND WEST JAVA

From the cool, creative city of Bandung to the fizzing surf of Pelabuhan Ratu and hundred places in between, West Java offers a lot.There are beatiful landscape, invigorating cool aor and a relaxing, unhurried pace or, on the area's three coastline, a vast array of sights and activities.

The west coast has been developed as a new tourist destination and offers the chance to visit the infamous Krakatau volcano. On the rocky southern coast facing the Indian Ocean, the fishing settlements of Pelabuhan Ratu and Pangandaran offer surf, seafood and unspoiled scenery.

On the northern coast, the ancient spice ports of Banten and Cirebon provide a glimpse of history and an enduring cultural tradition. Inland, the colonial hill resort of Garut and the traditional valley settlement of tasikmalay show two different facets of the region's distinctive character.

Shopping
This is the reason most locals go to Bandung these days. The city has a reputation for cheap clothes and shoes and is particulary famous for the dozens of Jeans shops along Jl. Cihampelas plus an ever reproducing swathe of new factory outlets. Jl Cibaduyut attarcts tourist looking for good value footwear.

For more upmarket designer clothing, tey Bandung Indah Plaza on Jl. Merdeka, one of the city's chief shopping areas. Thi city is also in the process of building a major new plaza to match those in Jakarta.

The Sarinah Departement Store on Jl. Braga is good for local craft even if the prices are a little high. The Alun-alun area in the centre of town is surrounded by shopping centres, particularly on Jl. Dalem Kaum. On Jl. Braga there are a number of antique, craft and leather shops.

The cheapest textile, batiks and clothes are at Pasar Baru in Chinatown, the site of the first market in Bandung back in 1812. Other shops selling batik, Batik Keris and Danar Hadiare, are on Jl. Tamblong