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Jakarta is a huge megalopolis spread out over 290 square miles. While it is modernized quite quickly in the past few years, some places are still rooted in tradition. Dutch colonial rule, dictators with a serious edifice complex, and today's bustling democratic tide have all contributed to make Jakarta an endlessly fascinating place.
Go Antique-Hunting at Jalan Surabaya
Jalan Surabaya is an open-air antique market on the border of Menteng District (where President Obama lived for a few years). Its Central Jakarta location makes it easy to reach by taxi or "bajaj." Jalan Surabaya has a wide variety of stalls selling crafts, antiques, and many other souvenirs, some Balinese, some Javanese, some Dutch colonial, some unclassifiable.
Much of the antiques on display come from the Dutch colonial era left over from Old Dutch families or is they? A lot of the "crafts" on display are newer than they look, so it takes a good eye for detail and a willingness to dicker over the price to get the most out of your Jalan Surabaya shopping experience.
Encounter History at the Jakarta History Museum
Jakarta History Museum at Fatahillah Square brings you face to face with the Dutch colonial experience - a harsh period that the museum's curators do not whitewash.
The Dutch brought with them an alien culture and government, which they then imposed on the Indonesian nation. The building was an integral part of their rule, having been the Batavia Town Hall before independence where civic duties and penal functions were performed.
The interior of the museum is filled with cultural artifacts left over from Dutch rule. Around the museum perimeter, a covered-up well and a cramped casemate stand witness to the cruelty inflicted on Indonesian prisoners back in the day.
Commemorate Indonesian Independence at Monas
The National Monument commemorates Indonesian independence in its many forms - from an exhibition at the monument's base that relives the declaration of independence in August 1945, to statues around the perimeter that preserve key moments in Indonesia's post-independence history.
The monument itself towers over 137 meters over Medan Merdeka (Freedom Square), topped by a flame covered in 35 kg of gold. A cramped lift carries visitors to the very top of the monument, where visitors can get great views of Central Jakarta. Binoculars and a handy map of the surrounding buildings help visitors get a grip of the surrounding skyline.
Learn About Nature at Taman Mini Indonesia
Taman Mini is a huge park that attempts to represent the different provinces of Indonesia within its sprawling confines, and by and large, it succeeds. A series of museums with different themes (science, sports, even one on Indonesia as a whole), and an IMAX theater give a more complete picture of what the country is all about.
A cable car takes you above a large lake that contains a replica of the Indonesian archipelago. Around the park, you will find different traditional houses from all over the country, each one housing exhibits that explain the house's province of origin.
Encounter Wildlife at Ragunan Zoo
Indonesia is a white-hot center of biodiversity, so it is only natural that its capital should have a huge zoo to show its wildlife off to the world. The Ragunan Zoo in Pasar Minggu is home to almost 300 animal species from all over the world. It is also the site of the world's biggest primate center, with gorillas, gibbons, and orangutans on display in enclosures that mimic their natural habitats.
The zoo is 135 hectares in size, with miles of walkways shaded by trees. Featured attractions include a crocodile section, a hippopotamus pool, and a daily orangutan tour (they are brought around the zoo in a pony cart).
Go Sightseeing at Sunda Kelapa
Sunda Kelapa is one of the oldest parts of Jakarta; the city grew from this port and its attached town. The area is incredibly odorous, but once you get over that, you will want to come close to the lines of Buginese schooners moored along the wharf. Some of them will allow you to climb up the precarious gangplanks, and you will get a better view of the surroundings from the top deck!
A short drive nearby, a Dutch-style drawbridge still stands, a testament to the long Dutch presence in Indonesia. The drawbridge is still in use, but heavy traffic is not permitted to cross it these days.
The easiest way to get to Sunda Kelapa is by taxi. You can also ride the Trans Jakarta Bus way to Kota Tua, then take a taxi or bajaj to the harbor.
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