Gedung Sate, Bandung
Well, I must say, this trip to Bandung is quite a disappointment overall, though great bargains for shopping (must go shopping, really cheap) was our only gain beside making new friends. For all the trips I have gone with, this is the worst one. It is worst because we have a lousy, not professional tour leader. He gives me that feeling that he's on vacation like us. This is why I think he is not professional:
- We were told to pay extra RM5 for baggage since we are taking AirAsia via email. But at the airport, we have to pay RM10 (if buy early on the internet is RM5). Personally, I think it should be included into the fees. If not, the tour agent should book early for us so we don't have to pay double. Worse still that he said it's new regulation by AirAsia (I have checked, the baggage handling was introduced in April 2008, how can a professional tour leader not know?).
- Hotel matters. He even explicitly told us if anything at the hotel is not satisfying, just call the hotel, not him. Furthermore, he told us that we are getting hair dryer and safe deposit box in every room, but in the end, only few hairdryers are available at the counter upon request and subject to availability. The run-down hotel room is ok for us, but some of our members felt dissatisfied, because they have loose taps, loose windows handle, and other wear-off items in their rooms, and nothing can be done. And, the hotel corridors have steps. I personally think that the room arrangement is supposed to arrange the elderly near the lift and not going through the stairs, but ironically, the elderly has to walk all the way to the other end with two flights of stairs to walk. I pity the aunties.
- I am not sure whether bringing tour leader and his whole family of five (father, mother, wife and a 3-year old kid) to this trip with us is acceptable professionally. Because how can you take care of your family and us, especially we have elderly. Also, I was told by our friend, that the tour leader's intention is to offset his family's heavy baggage with us (cos some of our members do not have many baggage).
- On one of the original itenery to the volcano (which half opted for shopping and not follow the tour), the tour leader didn't even come along. Left the tour guide with us.
- He didn't even get his facts right. Earlier said about RM5 baggage ended up we have to pay RM10; excess baggage is charged Rp. 50,000 per kilos, but I have checked, it's Rp. 30,000; facilities in the rooms not as promised; raining seasons was not informed (when in fact the tour guide told us ramalan cuaca stated showers expected for four days there during our first meeting with him on our first day). How can our tour leader not know?????
- No pre-departure briefing. And, in the end, we were caught in the rain for four days there for not preparing umbrellas.
- One of the trip we were supposed to get down from the mountain at a stated time, the tour leader saw our members still up there and never reminded them to come down (he was late that time). We asked him on the bus "ada orang lagi ke kat atas", he just said "ada orang lagi kat atas". What an answer!
Not to be mean, but I would
BAN any trip further with this
AR Travel company, and the tour leader
En. Zainul Akmal and will let my friends know about this. A good tour leader should know of our needs and relay those needs to the local Indonesian agent/ guide, and make necessary arrangements. I personally think that this tour leader has not carried out his job duly. I have sent one feedback form to organising committee. I am not sure whether it is affecting everyone, but my guess would be that our Malay friends were on shopping focus and more tolerable than the Chinese friends, because three of our Chinese friends brought their elderly mothers with them, which two mothers have difficulty of walking long distance.
During tour, punctuality needs to be observed. Ironically, our organiser is late. Not on one occasions, but several. I am not sure what this message is sent across to other members who were punctual. It's wasting time having to wait.
The food is delicious but has its shortcomings. This is my first time experienced under supply of food situation (usually excess food) for our trip. Perhaps everyone thought it was buffet (like always) and gasak everything without leaving some behind for the people coming behind (buffet usually have refills). Then, after talking to the tour leader in person that we realised that it is actually "set meal" in a "buffet setting" (no refills but lots of rice left). This means, everyone is expected to take lots of rice (Bandung people's culture is more rice with less dish, because most of them work in padi field needs the extra carbohydrate for energy). And I tell you one thing very funny is that, the chicken is really small, like pigeon size. So, you know, we Malaysian are big eaters, one piece of skinny chicken is not enough. Therefore, some members only have rice and 1 kind of vegetable, that's it for dinner. Perhaps what they should do is either inform us earlier that the culture is supposed to be like that or add more dishes to satisfy big eaters. For me, my mom and I are ok cos we don't really eat that much. So, I guess our members treat it as a "kurus badan" trip as well.
If it's not for the great bargain for apparels and shopping, the trip would have been a disaster. It is of a very unpleasant experience with this tour agent.
My suggestion for those of you are planning a trip to Bandung, go on your own. It's a shopping paradise! Original made-in-Indonesia factory outlets warehouse sells product cheaply. Imagine a Burberry T-shirt with collar sells at RM23; Giogio Armani jacket at RM60; genuine leather shoes RM30 a pair. If you are like Malay buy silk cloth to sew back home cost less than RM60 (if here, you are paying RM200 for the same piece). Watch out for tourist-inclined peddlers, they are annoying, but the things they sell is dirt cheap (Bandung printed T-shirts cost less than RM7, some lower quality less than RM4; leather sandals RM4). Full body massage also costs around RM 30 for an hour in a Spa-liked environment. Like my friend who had been there on his own once told me "how can you not buy things in Bandung?" and now I can understand why.The local Indonesia tour guide told us that you should also go to Garut to see the nature trail too. We had our share of volcanoes. And it is beautiful. And you can also take express train to Jakarta in 2 hours from Bandung (that's why lots of weekenders from Jakarta).