WHEN it comes to shopping destinations, locals are known to be inclined to travel to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

But with the availability of budget airlines, many are now opting to travel to the city of Bandung for their shopping fix.

Located in the vibrant capital of West Java province, 180km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung’s illustrious past can be seen in the stunning tropical Art Deco architecture and Dutch colonial buildings.

Practically a neighbour of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, it is a city well known mostly because of its relatively cooler temperature compared to most other cities in the archipelago.

SHOP TILL YOU DROP: Besides factory outlets, Bandung is also home to Paris Van Java, the city’s high-end shopping mall.

The creative vibe of Bandung is reflected in bistros, international and home-grown fashion labels available at the many factory outlets that have mushroomed in the city.

For those who have never heard of factory outlets, they offer a great variety of clothes and shoes each tagged with a price that’s lower than those sold in retail outlets and department stores.

Word has it that factory outlets came about when these fashion items (many of branded quality) were meant for export to manufacturers of the outlets but failed to meet the quality control. The items were then sold at a fraction of the price to the local market.

Bandung has more than 40 factory outlets carrying international brands such as Gap, MNG, Topshop, Levis, Dockers, Banana Republic and even designer brands like Louis Vuitton, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Calvin Klein and many more.

Shopaholics throng these outlets particularly on weekends. Locals from Jakarta will take the opportunity to drive down to Bandung for a weekend getaway.

First-time visitors may be overwhelmed by the sight of the many outlets practically ‘cluttered’ all over the city but the popular ones are located along the streets of Jalan Dago, Jalan Riau and Jalan Setiabudi.

One of the most famous factory outlets in Bandung is none other than Rumah Mode (pronounced mo-day), which houses almost an entire fashion collection of popular fashion labels at affordable prices.

What also makes Rumah Mode a favourite shopping destination is its comfortable environment — manicured landscaping amid its laidback theme — and the availability of restaurants and fast food outlets within the compound itself.

Besides shopping, the itinerary for visitors to Bandung should also include a trip to Tangkuban Perahu, an active volcano, 30km north of the city.

The name, which, in Sundanese, roughly means ‘upturned boat’, refers to the local legend telling of Dayang Sumbi who cast away her son Sangkuriang for being disobedient and in her sadness, was granted the power of eternal youth by the gods.

After many years in exile, Sangkuriang decided to return to home. Apparently, both he and Dayang Sumbi had forgotten about each other and could no longer recognise each other after the long separation.

It so happened that Sangkuriang fell in love with Dayang Sumbi and planned to marry her, only for Dayang Sumbi to recognise his birthmark just as he was about to go hunting.

To prevent the marriage, Dayang Sumbi requested Sangkuriang to build a dam on the river Citarum and a large boat to cross the river, both before sunrise.

Sangkuriang obliged and summoned mythical ogre-like creatures to fulfill Dayang Sumbi’s request.

On seeing that the tasks were almost completed, she called on her workers to spread red silk cloths east of the city to give the impression of an impending sunrise.

Sangkuriang, thinking he had failed, kicked at the dam and the unfinished boat, triggering severe flooding and the creation of Tangkuban Perahu from the hull of the boat, hence the name till this day.

This popular tourist attraction allows visitors to hike or ride to the edge of the crater to view the hot water springs up close and even purchase eggs boiled on the hot surface of the crater.

Other places of interests include the Ciater Hot Spring where visitors can swim in the sulphurised water known to aid in healing rheumatism and skin problems.

AirAsia flies directly to Bandung’s Hussein Sastranegara Airport from Kuala Lumpur.

Sarawakians can also take a direct flight to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta from Kuching and then hire transportation to Bandung, about two hours via the highway.