Braga makeover launched at bazaar

BANDUNG: The famous classic European-styles once found on Jl. Braga, an exclusive shopping area in the heart of Bandung, will reappear tomorrow in a one-day bazaar expected to help boost the area's ailing economy.

The bazaar, Braga Kaget, will be held to celebrate Braga's return to its original European look, a move designed to help revive Bandung's status as one of the nation's favorite tourist destinations.

Jl. Braga is a 200-meter-long street in the heart of the West Java capital. It is well-known for its high-class boutiques and shops.

Large contemporary billboards along the main street have been pulled down and replaced with smaller ones with a flare of past days.

Buildings have also been repainted with more classic colors and modern additions have also been removed.

The bazaar is being organized jointly by the Bandung Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), the Bandung Heritage Conservation Society and the Bandung city administration.

"We want to make Braga closer to the common people," Didi Kurniadi, Bandung's deputy mayor, said, adding that prices in the area would be more affordable. (mds)