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Guide to Jakarta, Indonesia
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Jakarta A chaotic, disorganized city on the island of Java - off the coast of the mainland of Indonesia - is Jakarta, the most influential center of governmental operations and political events in the nation. You can traverse the streets of Jakarta to the docks (where much of the citys commerce occurs); or make your way to the city centre, where Indonesias most important monument stands; or try to make your way to the suburbs of the city for a bit of respite from the mind-numbing drone of car-horns. Its all very exciting, and the chaos makes for a more appealing city anyway. And its a wonder how in less than a decade Jakarta came from a city in economic shambles and poverty-stricken neighborhoods, to a center of innovation on the outskirts of country with such a rich history and diverse ethnicities.
When to go:
It hardly matters when you choose to visit Jakarta, since the temperatures rarely-ever fall below 80F (25C), though if youd like to avoid as much rain as possible, visit during summer. Spring and autumn are just as hot, but the days usually bring torrential rains and intense humidity, and all the icky weather trickles down into the winter months as well. Bring your sunglasses, and youll have a great summer trip in the city. Besides, you wouldnt want to miss the great events that attract loads of visitors from all over the country, especially for Indonesias Independence Day (August).
Getting there and around:
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is Jakartas gateway to the world, and brings in international flights from all over Asia, and throughout most of the world (though the farther the distance away, the less chance youll have of getting a direct-flight ticket). At arrival, youll notice the immense distance that Soekarno-Hatta is from the city center (a great 35km (21mi). And travel on the toll road that connects the city to the airport can make one grow incredibly impatient when the road is traffic-ridden.
Traffic is the greatest nuisance to both travelers and locals. Throughout much of the day, youll experience gridlock on the city streets, and dont think that walking will get you to your destination faster. Walking will only leave you repeatedly bumping into passing pedestrians, and give you greater risk of falling victim to a pick-pocket. The fastest way (we should really say least slow) of getting around is by bus or taxi. Taxi drivers can relieve some of your traffic stress by giving you a spontaneous tour of the city while driving to your destination. Motorized rickshaws are the daredevil way to go if you want to fear for your life.
Attractions:
The Jakarta History Museum is a fascinating place for a simple reason. A novice would come to believe that the museum would be full of historical Asian items and memorabilia, but as a matter of fact, the museum is nothing of the sort. Youll find all floors of the museum full of Dutch furniture, portraits, drawings, and other historic items from the time of the settlement of Batavia. Appropriately, however, the museum is housed in the old Batavia Town Hall, which has the nice touch of a bell-towered hall, and has historical relevance as well; Batavia Town Hall was used for administration, the official court, and main prison.
Merdeka Square is where you will find a few mundane sculptures dotting the landscape, but one prized historic monument in the center of the expansive field (on the end of a large, shallow bed of water) here. Indonesias National Monument stands stall here, complete with gold tip a symbol of national strength and independence. Youll find the National History Museum here, with chronological displays of Indonesias history (somewhat overreaching, if you ask us), and you can take a ride in the lift that brings you to the top of the monument for fantastic views of the city. Try going up in the evening, when the sun is setting.
Sunda Kelapa, Jakartas port, is a fantastic place to visit home to countless sailing ships. Most of the sailing ships are in full use for the countrys domestic commerce system, and you can even hire a row man to take you up close and personal with the many ships anchored in the harbour.
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