Mala in Chengdu | China

Apa yang muncul di pikiran kamu ketika denger nama Chengdu? Panda? Mala? Yak semuanya benar sih gak ada salah satu soalnya emang semua itu yang jadi iconic Chengdu 成都, salah satu kota yang di develop paling awal di jaman-nya yang ada di provinsi Sichuan 四川, China ini. 

Yang terkenal di Chengdu emang panda & mala 麻辣 kalau kamu suka masakan mala, basically semua makanan disini mala, even daily meal mereka. 

First impression begitu keluar bandara : wow cakep yah vibesnya kayak luas, traditional culture, dan orangnya ramah, lalu logat四川nya lucu banget haha

My morning view haha

Beda sama Shenzhen, disini masih wajar aja kalau belanja - belanja pakai cash jadi hidup lebih aman. 

Transport juga disini ada MRT dan udah cukup mencakup ke banyak tempat. 

Kalau cuaca, duh ileh kata warlok sih disini cuman ada summer & winter ---- gak ada spring & autumn soalnya kalau panas, panas banget, kalo dingin dingin banget. Padahal pas ada beberapa hari cuaca dingin tapi matahari besar itu enak banget dan indah beneran deh kota Chengdu tuh. 

Apa aja yang bisa dikunjungi di Chengdu? Yang pasti harus makan 串串sejenis sate tapi dimasaknya di rebus, lalu 麻辣火鍋udah pasti wajib --- resto untuk hari hari makan. 

Semua pedas semua berminyak

Nah kalau tempat, bisa ke Chengdu Museum gratis entrance asal tunjukin paspor soalnya kalo warlok pakai wechat nah kalo foregin pakai paspor --- bagus deh ini aku suka banget karena besar, tertata, dan banyak cerita yang bisa diliat. 

Untuk belanja bisa ke 環球 -- mall yang gede banget yang dalamnya kalau summer ada waterboom indoor. 

Disini lumayan banyak shopping mall sih yang menjamur dimana - mana tapi basically aku jarang banget belanja kalo di China entah kek jarang nemu yang sreg gitu.

Tapi kalo short time banget disini aku rekomen 寬窄巷 ini kayak alley jadul yang ada jualan disc jadul, ada buat photoshoot ala2 china jadul, ada juga jajanan, tempat minum teh, banyak deh, so far aku suka tempat ini karena berasa Chengdu-nya dan vibes jalan di jalanan-nya itu enak banget juga banyak yang bisa di visit. 

Starbucks iconic ini juga ada di dalam 宽窄巷

Bukan pecinta kopi tapi ini vibes nya uwaw banget

Suka sekali vibes ini dan ini gampang dicapai pakai MRT tapi lupa stasiun-nya gugel aja pasti nemu

Oh iya kalo ke Chengdu cobain resto namanya 烤匠 ada menu ikan bakarnya enak beut aku suka pol dan ubi bakar kejunya uwaw uga. 

So far kusuka Chengdu sih dan keknya cukup menarik buat balik lagi karena dari sini pintu ke banyak kota lain di China kek Tibet yang udah di wishlist. Cuman makan-nya aja yang gak nahan agak mules ya itu kebas banget hehe. 

6 Hidden Unique Culinary in Jakarta Tangerang

Well this post dedicate to you who want to have a nearby hangout around Jakarta Tangerang in short time but not main stream. If you think about Jakarta maybe only mall & cafe, but for me as you know I dont like mall yet cafe, I like something unique or have history value, then I discover some places that I also havent hear before but I like it so let me share hehe 

1. Wong Fu Kee Hakka Authentic 

This is an authentic Hakka 客家 resto since 1925 that hide on a little hidden alley in Kota nearby Pancoran Glodok then they expand to PIK but for me I prefer go to the Kota one it's more unique experience to eat in the hidden traditional chindo house. 

Instagram @wongfukie and you can follow the gmap here  it's accurate. Please be noted it's on a hidden alley so driving car is not recommend, best way is by bike. 

What to order? Mun Kiaw Mian 燜餃麵 is the iconic one. If you come by yourself just order this and the chrysantemum tea 1 cold bottle is enough. If you come 2 person you can add like fried pork intestine or ayam garam also good one. 

Price wise is a bit pricey but compare with the authenticity I think it still ok, I already come back here because of the Mun Kiaw Mian --- as it name, its a noodle that bun with seafood and dumpling and its a comforting one. 

2. Dapur Babah Elite 

Nah this one I found it accidentally when I go to Ragusa ice cream the mainstream ice cream that I dont think its include on this post because its not hidden haha. 

Then I found out actually the owner of Dapur Babah Elite is also the owner of some hotel that have hobby to collect the historical things. So it feels like you dining inside a museum. A bit smell of old things but I still found out it's really a good experience both for local and foreigner. 

Instagram @dapurbabahelite and you can drive easily here there are parking lot just in front of it. Located near Monas, Istiqlal, and neighborhood with Ragusa. 

Price wise it's quite affordable with the portion, taste, and ambience. It's really - really recommend and I see many event held there also, they have the private room. 

Every pieces of theirs have the history and when we were there the staff all is so kind and tell us for the menu also for the history of their pieces like the painting, the table, and many things. Feels like you are in the museum.  

3. Kapitan Lim 

Located in Tanah Abang which very crowded I dont recommend you to drive by your own or take public transport as it also have distance from the nearby train station. So the best way is take online transportation haha. 

It's unique because the building was former monastery and then become captain house and now become a resto. It combine the oriental & pop style. 

A good place after morning walk I think, it serve quiet standard food like hainan chicken rice, fried kwetiaw ---- the standard chinese meal & drink but the price is reasonable and the decoration is good. Especially when you look out from the window to the crowded road you feel very peaceful haha. 

Instagram @kapitanlimjkt

Went there after a morning walking tour to Juanda, read : Noordwijk Juanda Walking Tour & Kapitan Lim | Jakarta, Indonesia

4. Liu Jia Mian Dian 

Well not sure it can be count as hidden culinary or not since when I came its a lot of people already q-ing but I just know this place recently and found it good so I recommend it. 

Located in PIK fresh market, it sell the traditional chinese breakfast like soy milk and lot of chinese bread & dumpling. So many China people come here, ya the taste is quiet authentic but its too crowded and messy for me. But if you wanna try worth to try or when you miss China authentic traditional breakfast haha. 

Price wise its quiet reasonable not cheap not expensive. 

I think the ig not active but here is the gmap 

5. Warung Tuman  

A bit move from Jakarta, in BSD we have this hidden gems. It really hidden but it famous I think. You should drive here and park nearby by walking distance 5 mins because it is hide on the kampung and only by walking to get there. 

Along the way you will see the neighborhood selling banana or some fruit they are kind also, some of the house you can park and pay the parking fee to them. 

Price wise its cheap and service is good, so fast and clean. Also the taste is good. My favorite one is papaya flower & fried egg. 

To whom addict with nature & sun here is your place. 

Instagram @warung_tuman_bsd  and gmap here

6. Tahu Na Po Tet 

It is a old tofu factory in Tangerang, not too hard to find it even it’s inside the komplek but the area is quite large and easy to park also price wise it’s cheap but bear in mind it only suitable for tea time snack there is no main course here. 

Suitable if you want to slow down and just chill chit chat with breezy windy place. Instagram @tahukuningsari.id and gmap here 

Hopefully you also can try the experience and share me the new found hidden gems in Jabodetabek area so I can try also and completing my bucket. Happy holiday!