Where to Stay in Bandung: Charming Sheraton Hotel & Towers

Wilayah Dago atas di Bandung selalu jadi primadona lokasi pilihan. Udara yang sejuk dan jarak yang sangat dekat dengan jalanan utama Dago dimana berjajar pilihan factory outlet dan cafe-cafe serta restoran Bandung yang menyenangkan.

Dago Atas is always be the most recommended part of Bandung to enjoy the fresh air and close distance to various factory outlets, café, and restaurants alongside the main street of Dago.

Hanya berjarak 10-15 menit dari jalanan utama Dago, Sheraton Bandung Hotel & Towers sangat strategis untuk menikmati kesejukan kota kembang ini namun tidak jauh dari jalanan favorit saya di Bandung.

Since it only took 10 – 15 minutes from the main street of Dago, Sheraton Bandung Hotel & Towers was such a right choice to enjoy the coolness of the city but also close enough from my favorite street.

Ada satu hal lagi, hotel ini baru saja "bersolek" dan mengubah tampilannya menjadi lebih modern namun classy. Chandelliers putih dan turquoise di lobby utama serta nuansa putih mempercantik Sheraton Bandung.

The hotel just redecorated its look became more modern yet classy. Chandeliers in white and turquoise colored which hanged on white shade main lobby, made Sheraton Bandung more beautiful.

Cozy room

Kamar saya langsung menghadap area taman dengan latar perbukitan di area Dago atas. Terasa nyaman seperti di rumah saat pintu teras dibuka dan kami membiarkan udara sejuk Bandung menggantikan penyejuk udara di ruangan.

My room had a garden view with the hills at Dago Atas as its background. Feeling so homey as the terrace opened and we let the fresh air fill the room instead of turning on the air conditioner.  

fresh dip in the morning :)

Selain kamar yang homy, area favorit saya lainnya di hotel ini adalah area pool dengan hut kecil berbentuk bawang untuk sekadar tidur-tiduran menikmati suasana. Udara bandung memang cukup dingin tapi tidak menghentikan kami untuk dipping dan mengambil beberapa foto underwater :)

Pool area was another favorite spot in my list besides the cozy room. An onion-shaped hut was available for just dozing enjoy the atmosphere. The cold weather can’t hold us for dipping and taking some underwater photos

Hal lain yang perlu dicoba di Sheraton Bandung adalah Sunday brunch di Feast Restaurant dengan varian masakan yang sangat beragam dan bahkan ada area khusus anak-anak dengan mesin pembuat cotton candy. Feast Restaurant juga menjadi area breakfast dan bagian teras dengan view kolam adalah area favorit kami :)

What’s next to do during your stay in Sheraton Bandung? Go have Sunday brunch in Feast Restaurant. We could find various cuisines, kids corner, and even the cotton candy machine. Feast Restaurant also used as a breakfast area, and terrace side with the pool view was our favorite spot.

Bandung selalu menyenangkan untuk menjadi tempat yang dikunjungi berkali-kali, bahkan sebagai warga Bandung yang sudah menetap di Jakarta, Bandung selalu jadi charming place you always wanna go back.

Bandung is always be a fun place to visit. Even if you are residents who live in Jakarta, Bandung will be a charming place you always wanna go back.

@marischkaprue - Born and raised in Bandung

Photo by Ferry Rusli

NOTES

• Sheraton Bandung Hotel &Towers berada di Jl. Ir. H. Juanda No.390, Dago, Bandung 40135.
• Sheraton Bandung Hotel & Towers is located on Jl. Ir. H. Juanda No. 390, Dago, Bandung 40135.

• Booking melalui website SheratonBandung di sini, atau telp di +6222 2500303
• Booking via Sheraton Bandung website here, or call at +6222 2500303 

• Buffet di Sheraton Hotel & Towers sangat menyenangkan, jika tidak menginap di Sheraton pun anda dapat menikmati berbagai buffet dengan harga mulai dari Rp. 135.000,-++ (breakfast), Rp. 150.000,- ++ (lunch) atau Rp. 198.000,-++ (Sunday brunch).
• Starts from Rp 135.000,-++ (breakfast), Rp 150.000,-++ (lunch), and Rp 198.000,-++ (Sunday brunch) you can enjoy the fun of having buffet in Sheraton Hotel & Towers, although you don’t stay in the hotel. 

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Flyboarding: Fly Fly Fly Like Iron Man!

Sebelum benar-benar mencoba flyboarding, saya sudah sering melihat foto dan video aksi watersport ini di Instagram penggila extreme sport yang saya follow dan melihat betapa "genic" dan kerennya flyboarding, sudah sejak lama pula saya ingin mencobanya.

Flyboarding was one of some extreme sport that I used to see the photos and videos in Instagram. I saw it so genic and cool that I kept telling myself one day I have to try it.

 

Saat tahu bahwa sudah ada penyedia flyboarding experiece untuk umum di Indonesia, saya sangat senang dan sangat excited saat ada kesempatan mencoba "terbang" di air ini.

Knowing that flyboarding experience for public was available in Indonesia got me so happy and excited. Can’t wait to try flying on the water!

Tools check before flyboarding

Flyboard atau Personal Water Craft (PWC) adalah perangkat yang memungkinkan penggunanya untuk bergerak ke berbagai arah dengan tekanan air dari water jet yang terhubung dari jetski ke flyboard melalui selang khusus. Tekanan air ini memungkinkan kita meluncur tinggi hingga 15 meter (tentunya khusus untuk yang sudah mahir bermain flyboarding).

Flyboard or Personal Water Craft (PWC) is a device we use to move in any direction by the water pressure from water jet which connected from jetski to flyboard by the special hose. This water pressure got us to lift up till 15 meter (only for those with an advanced level in flyboarding).

Balancing just to stand is a hard work at the beginning

This is right before I fell :)

Sejak pertama kali melihat watersport ini, saya yakin flyboarding tidak mudah dan ternyata saat mencobanya, dugaan saya benar. Pertama-tama instruktur akan membantu memasangkan flyboard yang berbentuk seperti sepatu boots yang menempel di pelat yang terhubung dengan selang panjang. Nah dari selang inilah tekanan air akan mengangkat kita ke udara.

I never said that flyboarding was such an easy watersport, and I knew it right even in my first trial. First of all, the instructor will help to put on the boots-shaped flyboard which stick in the plate connected to the long hose. Then, this hose would release the water pressure for lifting us up to the sky.

Marshall is a fast learner!

Up up to the sky!

Hal tersulit saat pertama kali mencoba flyboarding adalah berdiri. Yes, untuk berdiri kita harus memposisikan kaki sedemikian rupa agar flyboard lurus menghadap ke bawah dan tekanan air akhirnya mendorong kita ke atas. Kemudian itu belum cukup, setelah berdiri kita harus bisa mengatur keseimbangan agar tidak segera terjatuh.

A simply standing was the hardest thing to in your first flyboading experience. Yes, for just having a standing position, we needed to manage our feet so flyboard will go down-straight and the water pressure soon lift up our body. It didn’t stop there, we had to keep the balance in order to avoid getting fall.

Carefully adjusting balance

While Marshall already in action

"Kaki lurus," ujar instruktur saya berteriak memberi arahan pada saya yang berulang kali terjatuh hanya beberapa detik setelah sukses berdiri. Saat awal posisi kaki harus lurus dan saya harus mengatur keseimbangan, setelah bisa berdiri barulah saya mencoba untuk bergerak sedikit demi sedikit dengan menggerakkan dan membelokkan kaki pelan-pelan.

“Legs straight!” my instructor was shouting at me, who kept falling after standing for only few seconds. At first, the legs should be in straight position, adjust the balance to stand still. Soon after, we could try to move our body and bend the legs slowly.

Managed to control my balance and it feels so good!

Then selfie!

Sensasi bermain flyboarding sangat seru, awal-awal instruktur hanya akan mengatur tekanan air untuk mengangkat tubuh kita sekitar 1-2 meter saja. Kemudian saat kita sudah lebih dapat mengatur keseimbangan, tekanan air akan ditambah sehingga kita terangkat 3-5 meter, sangat seru melihat dan merasakan melayang tinggi di air!

Flyboarding was really exciting. The instructor would start setting the water pressure for about 1-2 meters high. After getting capable in adjusting the balance, the water pressure would be increased so that we could up 3-5 meters high. “Flying” on the water was extremely fun!

 

So many cool actions

Saya masih benar-benar pemula dan baru dapat berdiri dan bergerak sedikit-sedikit namun itupun sudah sangat seru. Saat kami istirahat, salah satu instruktur kami, Bayu memperlihatkan keahliannya bermain flyboarding. Bayu dapat "terbang" sangat tinggi, backroll dan kemudian langsung meluncur ke atas lagi, terjun dan langsung membumbung naik lagi seperti lumba-lumba, sangat seru dan benar-benar seperti Iron Man!

As a newbie, it’s already satisfied me to stand and make a slight move on the flyboard. During the break, our instructor, Bayu, showed us (a bit) of his flyboarding skill. He could “fly” so high, do backroll, and glide back to the sky, jump down, and suddenly going up like a dolphin. It’s like seeing an Iron Man in action. 

A bit of selfie while flyboarding won't hurt us ;)

Went flyboarding with these guys, they're surely a better flyboarder than me :)

Skill flyboarding saya sangat jauh dari Iron Man, mungkin masih kategori magang (haha!) dan perlu berlatih dan berlatih lagi. I'm surely gonna try and practise "flying" again. This is also (surely) a thing you must try!

My flyboarding skill was almost nothing compared to Iron Man, let’s say I’m just an apprentice (haha!) who has to keep practice. I’m surely gonna try and practice “flying” again. This is also (surely) a thing you must try!

@marischkaprue - wants to fly like Iron Man and dive like a dolphin

Photos by Ferry Rusli & me 

NOTES:

• Flyboarding kini ada di Tanjung Benoa, Bali (Pandawa Marine Adventures). Biaya untuk mencoba flyboarding adalah Rp. 800.000,- per sesi (15 menit, terdengar sebentar namun di awal-awal kita akan lelah juga setelah 15 menit dan umumnya tidak bisa berlama-lama karena kaki sudah tidak kuat untuk berdiri di flyboard lagi).
• Flyboarding is now available in Tanjung Benoa, Bali (Pandawa Marine Adventures). It costs Rp 800.000,- per session (15 minutes, sounds too short but actually it will get us tired after the first 15 mins because our legs cannot stand any longer on the flyboard).

• Tidak perlu booking untuk flyboard, namun jika datang dengan group cek availability di 082226667339.
• No need for advance booking, but in case you are on group, check the availability at 082226667339

• Don't worry kalau terjatuh, anda akan instantly muncul ke permukaan lagi karena kita akan menggunakan vest pelampung saat flyboarding :)
• Don't worry to get fall, you are gonna come up instantly since you will use life-vest in playing flyboarding 

Here's the map to the water-sport area:

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Village Hotel Changi, a Getaway from Busy Singapore

Biasanya Changi hanya menjadi gerbang masuk dan keluar Singapura bagi saya, namun ternyata Changi memiliki sisi menarik untuk dieksplorasi, hotel di Changi pun bukan hanya hotel transit untuk pebisnis yang hanya punya waktu singkat dan harus segera meluncur ke bandara. 

All this time, Changi is only such an exit and entrance gateway to Singapore for me till I find out the other interesting side to be explored. Even the hotel in Changi is not only a transit hotel for businessmen who just had a short time before rushing to the airport.

 

Terletak di sisi timur laut Singapura, Village Hotel Changi berada di pesisir pantai dengan laut biru yang terlihat jelas dari hotel. Berada di hotel ini saya tidak merasa berada di tempat yang sangat touristy dengan kedatangan bus-bus pariwisata dan ramainya turis yang hilir mudik namun lebih dapat menikmati waktu dan ruang eksplorasi tanpa kehilangan kenyamanan akomodasi.

Located in the north-east side of Singapore, we can find Village Hotel Changi at the seashore with a clear view of the beautiful blue sea from the hotel. This hotel didn’t make me feel like staying in a touristy place with a crowd of tourists and the traffic of travel bus because I could take my time to explore around without losing the comfort of accommodation.

Infinity Pool

Creek pool at ground level, do your best swimming pose here because everybody can see you underwater :D

Lokasi favorit saya tentunya infinity pool yang langsung berhadapan dengan laut. Ada dua pool area di hotel ini yang sama-sama menarik, creek pool di ground level dengan salah satu sisi dari kaca, serta infinity pool di level 8 dengan pemandangan tidak hanya laut namun pesawat-pesawat yang mendekati Changi International Airport.

My favorite spot is the infinity pool with a direct view to the ocean. There were two kinds of pool and both are quite interesting. Creek pool at ground level was made with glass in one side, while infinity pool at level 8 not only satisfied you with an ocean-view but also the airplanes heading to Changi International Airport.

Around Village Hotel, Where to Go?

Ini juga pertanyaan saya pertama kali, sayang rasanya jika menghabiskan waktu seharian di hotel tanpa menjajal keseruan area Changi. Ada beberapa pilihan yang bisa dilakukan di area ini:

This was also my first question, spent the whole day at hotel and missed lots of fun activities around Changi of course not a good idea. So, here I give you fun-to-do-list during your stay:

Menjajal Kuliner Singapura

Tasting Singapore Culinary

 

Hanya berjarak lima menit berjalan kaki (yes, lima menit) terdapat berbagai warung makan yang menarik di sisi kiri dan kanan jalan. Salah satu tempat tersibuk adalah 89,7 Supper Club, banyak pilihan makanan di sini yang seru untuk dicoba :)

It’s only five minute walk (yes, five minute) to find food stalls alongside the road. One of the busiest place was 89,7 Supper Club with interesting choices you have to try.

Join Makanbus

Masih serupa yaitu menikmati kuliner namun Makanbus membawa kita berkeliling beberapa tempat yang merupakan lokasi makan favorit warga lokal di Changi sehingga terasa sangat tidak touristy. Guide yang menemani juga akan bercerita tentang setiap lokasi yang kita datangi.

Still about culinary, with Makanbus we enjoyed visiting favorite culinary spot of local people in Changi that not so touristy. The guide who accompanied us during the ride will also share the details info in every place.

Pulau Ubin

Meski menurut saya pulau-pulau di Indonesia jauh lebih stunning dibanding Pulau Ubin, tidak ada salahnya mampir ke pulau ini saat menginap di Village Hotel Changi. Jaraknya sangat dekat dan murah untuk menyeberang (hanya 2 SGD untuk menyeberang naik kapal), Pulau Ubin menyenangkan untuk berkeliling naik sepeda dan diakhiri makan di warung-warung yang ada di dekat dermaga.

According to me, Indonesia islands are more stunning than Pulau Ubin, but this also could be a good one to drop by when you stay at Village Hotel Changi. It had a close distant and cost you very cheap (about 2 SGD for crossing by boat).  Pulau Ubin was a fun place to ride a bicycle around and ended with enjoy eating at stalls near the dock.

@ marischkaprue - she always enjoy a different feeling of a destination

NOTES:

Village Hotel Changi

1 Netheravon Road Singapore 508502

Contact: +65 6379 7111

Reservasi: reseasy@fareast.com.sg

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