Jalan Braga, Bandung

Jalan Braga is located in central Bandung, and connects Jalan Asia Afrika, named after the famous conference of the non aligned nations in 1955, and Jalan Lembong. It is the place in Bandung where you can see remnants of its colonial past, and what happens to them if maintenance is disregarded. The once-beautiful buildings that line the street are now, with some exceptions, up for a complete overhaul or at least, a thorough renovation. The whole neighborhood displays a tired look of what it once was, and although it still is one of the sites where history is brought back alive, it's not alive and kicking, but more alive but tired. Interestingly there is a mal and the entrance is between the shops at Jalan Braga, not much of a shopping mall but you will find a well known supermarket there and a few famous eateries in the mall.

A golden oldie is the antique shop a bit further down the road on No. 59, called Sin Sin . Being in existence since 1943, it is filled up with antique furniture, woodcarvings and jewellery, and is probably more reliable than the streetside stalls selling paintings of unknown age and origin. If you are after street peddlers selling nice paintings you will have to bargain hard to get the price you wanted, I assure you it is worth the effort. They sel these painting all along the Braga road on the side walk.

Jalan Braga is, except for the bakeries, paintings and antiques, not really much of a shopping place. It becomes more alive when the shops are closed. There are several bars towards the Northern end of the street, with a somewhat shady atmosphere attracting mostly expats and tourists. If that isn't loud enough for you, there's also a disco, not too surprisingly called Braga Disco and a Dangdut bar , just off Jalan Braga.