Where to go in Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia. Home of about 10 million people and has an area of 255,41 sq mi (740 km2), Jakarta is the twelfth largest city in the world. As a country's economic, culture and political centre, Jakarta is always bustling, never sleep. Just like other big cities in the world. Its become a magnet to every people from other side of the country to come to try their luck, hoping to change their destiny. From Skycrapers, single story residential houses, modern apartment complexes to survivalists shanties - all coexist in this city. So why should you visit Jakarta ? Maybe with the same reason you would visit Singapore, or New York, or London, or Paris or other big city.

Beside its cultural complexticity, that makes almost every kind of entertainment we could find in Jakarta. There are some places that worth to visit, which called Jakarta wonder. There are 10 Jakarta wonder, such as follow :

1. Schmutzer Primates Center


2. Fatahillah Museum


3. Taman Impian Jaya Ancol / Ancol Dreamland


4. The Thousand Islands / Kepulauan Seribu


5. Rawa Belong Flower Market


6. Malls Galore


7. Jakarta's Chinatown


8. Monas (National Monument)


9. Museum Nasional


10. Sunda Kelapa Harbour
    

If you want to know more, just click on it. And you will see why Jakarta is worth to visit just like other big cities.

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Travelling to Jakarta - Jakarta Wonder No. 10

The Historical Sunda Kelapa Harbour
Text by Mirandhika Mirza Photos by Jan Dekker


Sunda Kelapa harbor (Pelabuhan Sunda Kelapa) in North Jakarta is no ordinary port. With a land area of 760 hectares and docking waters of 16,470 hectares and comprising two main harbors and the Kalibaru Harbor, it is a place of great historic importance. It was the starting point of the city of Jakarta, which celebrates 22 June 1527 as the day of its founding.

Sunda Kelapa harbor was already well known as early as the 12th century. At that time, it was the most important port of the Sunda Kingdom, which had its capital at Pajajaran, and was a famous pepper port. Foreign ships, from China, Japan, South India and the Middle East stopped to do business with local traders. They brought exotic goods such as porcelain, coffee, silk, cloth, perfumes, horses, wine, and dyes to trade for spices.

When Islam and European explorers both came to the region, Sunda Kelapa became a venue of conflict between the kingdoms of the Archipelago and the Europeans. Eventually, the Netherlands took control of the harbor, and held on to it for over 300 years.

The conquerors changed the place names in and around Sunda Kelapa, but in the early 1970s the old name "Sunda Kelapa" was restored as the old port’s official title.

The Jakarta city government has made Sunda Kelapa harbor an important historical tourism destination. Not far from the harbor is Museum Bahari, the Maritime Museum, featuring Indonesia’s maritime history and relics from the Dutch colonial period.

To the south of the port, which is managed by state-owned port company PT Pelindo II, are the old shipyards and buildings of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which have been renovated. Unfortunately, Sunda Kelapa harbor lies within the area of the 500-hectare coastal reclamation project that is planned to expand the multifunction Ancol Timur terminal.

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Travelling to Jakarta - Jakarta Wonder No. 9

Museum Nasional Tested by Time
Text and Photos by Teguh Sudarisman


You might not believe that the origins of Indonesia's National Museum go back to 24 April 1778. That was when the Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen (Batavian Society of Arts & Sciences) was founded in Kalibaru, Kota, by Dutch newcomers who were interested in arts and sciences.

That means that the museum was already here 12 years before the VOC (Netherlands East Indies Company) collapsed and the Dutch government took direct control of Java. It was also 167 years before Indonesia became independent. It's quite amazing that through so many chaotic eras, people have been able maintain a museum, untouched by the passage of time. Even more amazing: the ticket price to see the museum's collections is only Rp 750 for adults and Rp 250 for schoolchildren.

Although the collection of ancient manuscripts and books was transferred to the National Library in 1987, and the art works moved to the National Gallery in 2000, the National Museum still has a collection of 142,000 items that are well worth seeing.

Standing proudly on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat (opposite Monas), with a neoclassic façade with Doric columns, is the old building. A new seven-story building called Gedung Arca, just north of the old building, was inaugurated last year. Four stories are used as display rooms, with a new classification system and layout.

One interesting item on the second floor is Prasasti Kota Kapur, the Limecity Inscription, a mini obelisk with a carved inscription in Old Malay written in the Pallawa alphabet. The message is a curse upon those who oppose the Sriwijaya Kingdom, which at that time was trying to conquer Java. On the fourth floor, you can see four carved golden bowls portraying the Ramayana legend. They also note that the jewelry shown in a statue of Kertarajasa Jayawardhana, founder of the Majapahit kingdom, is identical to this actual gold jewelry from nearly the same era.

The National Museum may not be the world's greatest museum, but it certainly tells us a lot about Indonesia.

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Travelling to Jakarta - Jakarta Wonder No. 8

Monas: Jakarta in 360 Degrees
Text and Photos by Teguh Sudarisman


The National Monument, or Monas, is a kind of irony for Jakarta residents. It's located in a luxuriant 90-hectare park smack in the middle of Jakarta, and every day thousands of people pass by it, but just ask them how many of them have ever been up it? For that matter, if you asked where and how people can enter the monument, even more people wouldn't know. (Clue: First find the statue of Prince Diponegoro riding a horse.)

The only "saviors" of Monas, then, are the local schoolchildren who are brought here in hordes for Social Studies assignments, and schoolchildren from out of town who come on study tours after finishing their yearly exams. It was like that one recent morning; it was a working day, but surprisingly, to take the elevator to the top of Monas, I had quite a long wait, queuing behind a third grade class from Depok.

Construction began on 17 August 1961 on the orders of Indonesia's first President, Ir. Soekarno. Monas was actually finished in 1967, but only opened to the public in 1975. The 132-meter plinth has a giant "flame" on the top that symbolizes the Indonesian people's spirit of struggle; it's made of 14.5 tons of bronze, plated with 50 kilograms of gold.

The design of Monas represents the lingga and yoni, the combination of masculine and feminine elements in Hindu-Javanese symbolism, though it is frequently euphemized as being a mortar and pestle (the tools for pounding rice). Pay Rp 8000 for a ticket, and you can enter the yoni section and take the (one and only) lift up to the observation tower at the top, just under the golden flame.

In the yoni section is the Independence Room, an amphitheater where you can hear a recording of Ir. Soekarno reading the independence proclamation. Below it is the National History Museum, a big, cool space, with dioramas on all four sides portraying the journey of the Indonesian nation from prehistoric times to after independence.

The observation area offers a full view of Jakarta in all directions, with telescopes available for use in each corner. When the weather is clear, you can see the Java Sea to the north and Mount Salak far off in the south.

There are two unfortunate aspects: First, for some reason, the observation section of the tower is fenced in with steel grills, which makes it difficult to take decent photos, or even to see if you're short. It might be better if they replaced these gratings with heavy glass. And second, where's the gold?

From the lookout post, you can't see the gold, which is just above your head – except, if you're lucky, you might be able to see and even touch the gold through the door on the east, which is usually kept locked. It's only opened when someone comes to clean the flame, and there's no fixed schedule for that.

So though it's far from perfect, when you come down from the tower and start exploring the huge park, you realize that this is a great place to go jogging, or to bring your family for a stroll in the morning or late afternoon.

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Travelling to Jakarta - Jakarta Wonder No. 7

Jakarta's Chinatown
Text by Mirandhika Mirza Photos by Teguh Sudarisman and Mirandhika Mirza


The Pancoran area of West Jakarta is the largest Chinatown in Jakarta, and full of unusual and unique shopping opportunities. If you like exploring while shopping, be sure to visit this area for an extraordinary shopping sensation.

The pulse of life in this district is intense, starting from early morning. Tasty aromas emanate from the numerous food stalls in the little alleys on either side of Jalan Pancoran leading toward Petak Sembilan.

Gang Kalimati is one such alley, packed with a huge variety of enticing eats – everything from little snacks to get you going in the morning to full meals of rice and side dishes, and all in a strongly Chinese atmosphere. Many local residents still speak their ancestral language daily, and the indigenous architecture betrays strong Malay/Chinese influences. In many of the traditional Chinese coffee stalls, you can find older gentlemen enjoying yam cha, the tea drinking tradition originally from Guangdong, South China, which still thrives here.

Chinatown is also known for its medicine shops, which sell a wide range of dried herbal Chinese medicinal ingredients. These are one of the area's most interesting sights, all along Jalan Pancoran and heading toward Pintu Kecil. Nearby is a Chinese-language bookstore, Nadarin Bookstore, which features books on history, literature, and management as well as children's storybooks in Mandarin.

If you're a shopping freak, don't miss Pasar Pagi Asemka, where you can find a wide variety of high-quality imported accessories at low prices. There's also the Mangga Dua area, with all kinds of necessities such as clothing, bags, and watches, all at very affordable prices.

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Travelling to Jakarta - Jakarta Wonder No. 6

Malls Galore
Text by Mirandhika Mirza Photos by Doc. Senayan City and Mall Kelapa Gading


Grand Indonesia Shopping Town
One of Jakarta's largest malls is located right in the heart of the city. Standing on an area of 250,000 m2, Grand Indonesia Shopping Town is a favorite destination for those who enjoy comfort when shopping. Grand Indonesia Shopping Town offers 135,000 m2 of retail space in three zones: East Mall, West Mall, and Skybridge.

At West Mall you can find a full range of high quality domestic products – food, clothing, and many other necessities and luxuries, while East Mall features international brands such as Chanel, Botegga Veneta, Gucci, and Celine.

Grand Indonesia Shopping Town also contains a Blitz Megaplex and a variety of restaurants, including The Grand Duck King and Crystal Jade Golden Palace.

Taman Anggrek Mall
Taman Anggrek Mall is more than just a complete shopping center; it's also the perfect recreation venue for you and your family. The shape and concept of the outlets is very different from most other malls in Jakarta; the outlets are much more like those you might find in malls abroad – attractive, with varying amounts of space, and very clever interior design.

Taman Anggrek Mall also includes an Ice Skating rink – another feature reminiscent of malls in other countries.

Pacific Place
Strategically located in Jakarta's main business district on Jalan Sudirman, Pacific Place employs a mixed-use concept, combining a mall, offices, and a five-star hotel, The Ritz Carlton.

Many luxurious branded products can be found in this six-story mall. And since it's located in an office district, it's no surprise that Pacific Place is full of exclusive eating places offering unique taste experiences.

The special feature of this mall is Kidzania, a children's theme park in the form of an interactive miniature city where kids can learn how things really work, including a mini airport and hospital. Blitz Megaplex is also there to meet your cinematic needs.

Senayan City Mall
Senayan City Mall is really more like a complex or even a district, because in addition to the very luxurious mall it includes several skyscrapers, serving as a 17-story five-star hotel, a luxurious 25-story apartment complex, and an exclusive 21-story office complex that includes the headquarters of one of Indonesia's major television stations.

On an area of 48,000 m2 and comprising eight luxurious stories, Senayan City Mall has a huge selection of foreign branded goods, making this mall one of the most exclusive shopping centers for Jakarta's well-to-do residents, with 244 stores in all. Located across the street from Plaza Senayan and Senayan Trade Center, Senayan City also has a Cinema XXI.

Mall Kelapa Gading
One of the first exclusive, luxurious malls in North Jakarta, it opened in 1990 as Plaza Kelapa Gading. As the Kelapa Gading neighborhood has grown and become an exclusive residential district, Mall Kelapa Gading has also grown, and now covers an area of 130,000 m2, making it one of the most lavish shopping centers in Jakarta.

Mall Kelapa Gading has a number of special zones, such as The Catwalk, containing boutiques from 32 of Indonesia's best-known designers; Bridal World, with a full range of goods and supplies for those getting married; Fashion Hub, the most complete zone for young people's fashion needs; Gourmet Walk, an area of cafés and restaurants, and Food Temptation, a 6,000-m2 food court seating 1600.

It also has two luxury cinemas, a children's play area, and bowling, billiard, and fitness facilities.

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Travelling to Jakarta - Jakarta Wonder No. 5

Rawa Belong Flower Market
Text by Sari Widiati Photos by Yoppy Pieter

Twenty-four hours a day, there's always something happening in Jakarta. One bustling center of activity is the Rawa Belong flower market, a flower and ornamental plant promotion and marketing center in West Jakarta.

The action begins each morning at two, when nearly all the flower dealers start unloading their flowers. The best time to visit is between 3 and 7 am, when the flowers and plants are still fresh and the selection is still complete.

Rawa Belong Flower Market was established on 25 July 1989 on an area of 1.4 hectares and has since been the barometer for the growth of Indonesia's flower and ornamental plant business. The supplies of cut flowers and ornamental plants are brought in from farmers in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, and East Java, and are then distributed to various places to meet the demands of consumers, both within Jakarta itself and elsewhere in the country, and even for export.

Each day, transactions take place involving between 500 and 1000 customers – florists, individuals, offices, hotels, social halls, and caterers.

Flower products such as orchids, subtropical (mountain) flowers, roses, bouquets, decorative leaves, and other such accessories are available, all fresh and in excellent condition. You can also buy agricultural supplies – fertilizer, pesticides, shears, and spades, and a complete range of garden decorations.

Pasar Bunga Rawa Belong
Jl. Palmerah, Jakarta Barat

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Travelling to Jakarta - Jakarta Wonder No. 4

The Thousand Islands Paradise
Text and Photos by Teguh Sudarisman


There are only a handful of world capitals that have on their doorsteps islands with lovely white sand beaches that can be reached in minutes or just a few hours. Jakarta is lucky to be among this elite group of world cities; and it has not just two or three, or even five islands, but over 105!

The Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu in Indonesian) are called that because they seem so numerous, and they are indeed difficult to count, unless you're in a helicopter at low tide. It's a paradise waiting to be enjoyed, but few people ever visit. Yet there's plenty to do; you can go sailing and looking for dolphins, take photos like a model, sunbathe, enjoy spectacular sunrises and sunsets, go snorkeling, diving, or bird watching, see the ruins of an old Dutch fortress, or simply observe the daily life of the 15,600 local residents on several of the islands.

But again, most people have never set foot on the islands, and some are even destroying them by dumping factory waste into the sea, which is killing off the coral reefs and the fish in the waters of the Thousand Islands.

Those who have been to the islands have probably only visited a few of the islands, since it's such a huge area. The island nearest the mainland of Jakarta, Pulau Bidadari, can be reached in just 20 minutes by speedboat from the dock at Ancol Marina. But the furthest, Pulau Sabira, 126 km north of Jakarta, is over two hours away by speedboat, and much longer if you take a wooden ship from Muara Angke harbor.

There are so many islands that it's hard just to remember their names. When we hear someone say "from Pulau Rambut, see the preserve of the brahminy kite," or "at Pulau Peteloran, see sea turtles, monitor lizards, and monkeys" (all this is in the Thousand Islands), we tend to react, "Are there really kites and monkeys out there?" or even "Are there really islands with those names?"

Several of the islands –Sepa, Bidadari, Ayer, Kulkul Kotok, Pelangi, and Pantara – have accommodation and attractive holiday facilities: everything from swimming pools, restaurants, bars and discos to snorkeling and diving equipment rental and sports and rides such as flying fox, banana boat, jet skiing, big marble, and marine walks.

The government is reportedly planning to extend the airstrip on Pulau Panjang, and this should be finished in March 2009. But long before then, the Thousand Islands await your arrival.

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Travelling to Jakarta - Jakarta Wonder No. 3

The Remarkable Taman Impian Jaya Ancol
Text by Mirandhika Mirza Photos by Doc. Taman Impian Jaya Ancol

Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, or Ancol Dreamland, contains a tremendous variety of family recreation experiences – from Dunia Fantasi to the newest ride, "Extreme Log" (a simulator theater experience) and the Atlantis Water Adventure for those who enjoy swimming.

As the third wonder of Jakarta (see wonder no. 2 and no. 1). It also features Gelanggang Samudera, where you will be entertained by trained animal performances and sophisticated 4-dimension technology, and many other family recreation venues and facilities, such as Ice World, and the Kereta Sato-Sato that will transport you to beautiful Pantai Carnaval. There's also the Gondola, where you and your family can enjoy the beauty of the Jakarta Strait and the view of all of Taman Impian Jaya Ancol from an aerial tramway, and Sea World Indonesia, an enormous walk-in aquarium.

For those who enjoy culinary tourism, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol offers a great variety of food in a pleasant atmosphere on the shores of Jakarta Bay, with restaurants such as Jimbaran Resto, La Bridge, Bandar Djakarta, and The Back Stage. And after your hard day's recreation and eating, you and your family don't even need to face a long drive back home – you can stay at the Putri Duyung Cottages, with luxurious, comfortable accommodation cooled by gentle sea breezes.

If you like art, check out Pasar Seni, the Art Market, where painters, sculptors, and other artists produce their works and offer them at affordable prices. And while you are appreciating the art works, you will be entertained by music in various styles played by local bands.

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Travelling to Jakarta - Jakarta Wonder No. 2

Fatahillah Museum
Text and Photos by Sari Widiati


An impressive, classical-style building, surrounded by several other museums also in classical style, the former City Hall is now a culturally protected historical treasure. The records show that it took three years to build; construction began on 25 January 1707 under Governor General Jan Van Hoorn and was completed on 10 July 1710 by Governor General Abraham Van Riebeeck.

It also served as the Raad Van Justitie (courthouse), as evidenced by the five underground jail cells for those who resisted the Dutch. National heroes once detained here include Pangeran Diponegoro and Untung Suropati. Outside the jail are a statue of the god Hermes and a huge cannon called "Si Jagur".

The Fatahillah Museum is full of historical relics – the antique lamps that were formerly used here, ceramics, teak furniture (mostly from the 18th century), paintings by Raden Saleh and S. Sudjojono, and the sword that was used for beheadings.

In the same building, visitors can also see a display of Jakarta's history from past to present in the Jakarta Historical Museum inaugurated by Governor Ali Sadikin on 30 March 1974.
There's also the Ruangan Prasasti, with information on the culture and kingdoms of Indonesia, containing duplicates of ancient inscriptions and other relics.

The Fatahillah Museum receives many visitors every day, especially on weekends. It's a great place for many sorts of activities, and popular with young people for photography.
Museum Fatahillah is open to the public every day from 09.00 to 17.00.

Museum Fatahillah
Jl. Fatahillah No. 1
West Jakarta

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Travelling to Jakarta - Jakarta Wonder No. 1

Schmutzer Primates Centre

Text by Sari Widiati Photos by Yoppy Pieter


This is one of the best animal attractions in Jakarta, and also plays an important role in conserving Indonesia's primates. Located within the Ragunan Zoo in a 13-hectare complex, the concept is an "open zoo," where the protected creatures live as if in their original habitat.

The Schmutzer Primate Center was opened on 22 August 2002, realizing the dreams of a primate enthusiast, Mrs. Pauline Antoinette Adeline Schmutzer Versteegh through the Gibbon Foundation, with the aims of conserving primate species while both educating and entertaining visitors.

The collection comprises around 190 creatures of 21 species, both Indonesian and foreign, ranging in size from the huge gorilla down to the tiny tarsier including Orang Utan from Kalimantan. The Primate Center is one of the few zoos in Asia that maintains any gorillas. It's also home to the world's second oldest chimpanzee, now aged 63.

The primate center is full of greenery, and the space is allocated very attractively. The education center presents complete information on the primates, including photos, with a very orderly layout. The open area includes special spaces where the primates can display their behavior, large cages for primate groups, a canopy for visitors who wish to observe the primates from a height of 15 meters, and a 250-meter orangutan tunnel.

Of course, visitors must obey certain rules to protect the comfort of both visitors and the "residents" who are found in nearly every corner of the area.

Pusat Primata Schmutzer
Jl. Harjono RM No. 1
Ragunan, Jakarta 12550
T. (62 21) 780 6975
F. (62 21) 780 5280

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