Jakarta is the crowded capital of Indonesia. The city is home to over ten million people, and space is almost non-existent here. Jakarta is an incredibly welcoming place, and it is a testament to the hospitality of its people that even a large city like this, usually characterized by anonymity, can provide a personal and friendly experience to a visitor.
Museums
The Museum of Jakarta is both a good introduction to the history of Indonesia and a chance for a little relief from the heat and the crowds. Indonesia was brutally ruled by the Dutch for a long time, and the curators of the museum have not sanitized the stories, so if you have small children, be prepared to explain things like the metal casemates that were used to crush prisoners to death, or the other instruments of torture and oppression that were routinely used under the regime. Despite these gruesome displays, the museum is a treasure trove of artifacts, some dating back to the third century BC (in the case of the money collection).
Down the road, the Maritime Museum is a nautical history of Indonesia's various colonial rulers, and even has a few examples of old-fashioned pirate ships that once plundered the waters around the islands.
Istiqlal Mosque
Indonesia is the largest Islamic country on the planet, so it is quite fitting that it should have one of the biggest mosques. The Masjid Istiqlal is in downtown Jakarta and can hold around quarter of a million people across its five floors. On almost any day of the year you will have the place virtually to yourself. The only exception to this is during the fast of Ramadan, when worshippers are packed shoulder to shoulder.
Ragunan Zoo
Ragunan Zoo is more than 130 hectares of wildlife – almost 300 species in fact – and has the largest primate collection on earth. This is largely due to Indonesia's rich ecosystem that has been fought for by environmentalists and is now becoming more extensively preserved, while rare and endangered primate numbers are swelled by Ragunan's world-class captive breeding programs.
Sunda Kelapa
Sunda Kelapa is a little like the Old Town of Jakarta and is a port town a small way from central Jakarta. The legacy of Dutch colonization is still evident, with the purely Dutch design of he drawbridge that connects the piers with the mainland. The bridge is getting older, so motorized vehicles are no longer permitted to cross it, so wear comfortable shoes for a stroll around the piers – if you're lucky, you will be invited onboard one of the enormous schooners for a look at the view from the top deck.
Shopping
Shop at Jalan Surabaya, an open-air market just a short taxi or bajaj ride from downtown Jakarta. As well as curios, clothes and local artifacts, fresh produce is sold here and if you are staying somewhere with cooking facilities, this is the place to buy some of the ingredients that go into that delicious Indonesian food.
Food
If you don't like the idea of cooking for yourself, try traditional Padang at Sari Bundo on Jalan Hayam Wuruk 101. The basic idea of Padang eating is that you sit in front of the grill in an open-air stall and are served dish after dish until you are full. The final price of your meal depends only on what you have eaten, and with Indonesian prices being so low, you can fill your belly with spicy shrimp, beef rendang, or more adventurous flavors like ox brain or cow lung for around $4.
Hotels
Hotels in Indonesia's capital are around $70 per night, or you can get a luxury spa suite close to the city center for around $200 per night.
Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder to find top accommodation and cheap hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia.
(Photo:iStockPhoto/bo1982)
