![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/image.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTraffic lights are about as useful as a Christmas tree, and crosswalks are just white marks on the road\u2026 Some might think Hanoi or Palermo are the same, but Jakarta goes beyond anything you\u2019ve ever seen: the tourist spots in the city center are \u201csurrounded\u201d by extremely wide roads (three or four lanes), and crossing them is quite an adventure \ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WHAT TO SEE IN JAKARTA <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn a couple of days at most, you can cover the most important points<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monas Park<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Que](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/image-3-768x1024.jpg?resize=768%2C1024\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThis strange tower stands in a huge park in downtown Jakarta; it was one of Sukarno's last acts while in power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The park is huge, but strangely enough, its entrances are extremely hidden and narrow. Supposedly, after paying at the ticket booth, you can go all the way to the top to \u201cenjoy\u201d the views of Jakarta, but the truth is that the city doesn\u2019t have a skyline impressive enough\u2014in my opinion\u2014to make the climb worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Istiqlal Mosque<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Que](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/image-6-768x576.jpg?resize=768%2C576\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRamadan: Dozens of people lie on the floor or lean against the metal columns of this mosque. Next to them, a bottle of water. Exhausted, they lift their heads with effort to cast an indifferent glance at the tourists\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For me, this is a must-see on your list of things to do in Jakarta<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Mezquita-Yakarta.jpg?resize=1024%2C559&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe mosque is the largest Islamic monument in Southeast Asia: it is a 5-story metal colossus (representing the five pillars of Islam) with a dome 45 meters in diameter. The word\u00a0\u00abIstiqlal\u00bb<\/em>\u00a0The name comes from Arabic and means \u201cIndependence.\u201d Plans for its construction were conceived after Indonesia\u2019s liberation from Dutch colonial rule as a way to commemorate the country\u2019s independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt's open every day from sunrise, and admission is free, but you can't visit on your own\u2014you must always be accompanied by one of their guides. Unfortunately, they don't let you see the whole place either; they only let you go up to the upper balconies so you can take a few photos, and that's it.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Que](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/image-5-768x576.jpg?resize=768%2C576\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTo top it all off, you\u2019re going to have to put on this tacky robe and practically drag the words out of the guide\u2014they aren\u2019t very talkative\u2026 except when it comes to asking for the customary tip at the end of the tour \ud83d\ude13 I left him 10,000 Rp and he made a face like he was disgusted\u2014that\u2019s when the guy really showed his true colors\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next to the mosque there's a madrasa, but they won't let you in\u2014not even if you offer the guard a tip. I was more generous this time, but it didn't work\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cathedral<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"que](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/image-4-768x1024.jpg?resize=768%2C1024\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRight across from the mosque is the Jakarta Cathedral. It was built before the mosque, and the idea behind building them across from each other was to highlight religious coexistence in Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can see, the three spires are\u2026strange. They\u2019re made of wrought iron and were constructed from metal instead of stone to make the building lighter and more earthquake-resistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stepping inside is a delight, as birds fly in through the windows and you can enjoy a true concert of nature, amplified by the Gothic arches of the central nave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Museum Nasional<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nYes, that's spelled correctly\u2014it's \u201cNasional\u201d \ud83d\ude0e<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Que](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/image-7-768x1024.jpg?resize=768%2C1024\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFor just 10,000 Rp, you can visit the best museum in Jakarta\u2014and probably in all of Indonesia. It\u2019s organized by region\u2014by island\u2014and is well worth a visit, with some truly amazing exhibits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information: http:\/\/www.museumnasional.or.id<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nKota<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/image-9-768x1024.jpg?resize=768%2C1024\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nNo, it's not Havana. Nor is it Cartagena de Indias. Nor is it Spain. It's the maritime museum in Jakarta, in the Kota neighborhood, which was founded by the Dutch when they arrived in Java.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To take a stroll through this square, we need to know a little about the history of the Dutch East India Company. This forerunner of modern multinational corporations sought to gain a monopoly on spices (nutmeg, cloves, etc.) in this region and subjugated the local population to achieve this goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the arrival of the Dutch, the place was a thriving commercial port of the Sultanate of Banten called\u00a0Jayakarta<\/em>. In 1619, seeking a central, fortified, and strategic port for his ships, Governor Jan Pieterszoon Coen laid siege to the city and razed it to the ground, expelling its inhabitants; on the ashes of Jayakarta, he built a new walled city, which they named Batavia (the historical name of the region in the Netherlands).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/image-8-768x576.jpg?resize=768%2C576\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Dutch East India Company built this and other similar warehouses to store the spices it regularly shipped to Europe: enormous buildings with red-tiled roofs and pointed gables that surround both the harbor itself and a small canal that leads into the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These particular buildings are located on the Taman Fatahillah<\/strong>, something like the city's main square, which served as the seat of the Dutch governing bodies for this territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Mapa-Kota.jpg?resize=1024%2C559&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe square is wonderful at sunset when they set up a big flea market and musicians and puppeteers show up with all their gear. There aren't any annoying people here bothering you with their taxis and their stories\u2014just the locals enjoying life.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThis strange tower stands in a huge park in downtown Jakarta; it was one of Sukarno's last acts while in power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The park is huge, but strangely enough, its entrances are extremely hidden and narrow. Supposedly, after paying at the ticket booth, you can go all the way to the top to \u201cenjoy\u201d the views of Jakarta, but the truth is that the city doesn\u2019t have a skyline impressive enough\u2014in my opinion\u2014to make the climb worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Istiqlal Mosque<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRamadan: Dozens of people lie on the floor or lean against the metal columns of this mosque. Next to them, a bottle of water. Exhausted, they lift their heads with effort to cast an indifferent glance at the tourists\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For me, this is a must-see on your list of things to do in Jakarta<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe mosque is the largest Islamic monument in Southeast Asia: it is a 5-story metal colossus (representing the five pillars of Islam) with a dome 45 meters in diameter. The word\u00a0\u00abIstiqlal\u00bb<\/em>\u00a0The name comes from Arabic and means \u201cIndependence.\u201d Plans for its construction were conceived after Indonesia\u2019s liberation from Dutch colonial rule as a way to commemorate the country\u2019s independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt's open every day from sunrise, and admission is free, but you can't visit on your own\u2014you must always be accompanied by one of their guides. Unfortunately, they don't let you see the whole place either; they only let you go up to the upper balconies so you can take a few photos, and that's it.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTo top it all off, you\u2019re going to have to put on this tacky robe and practically drag the words out of the guide\u2014they aren\u2019t very talkative\u2026 except when it comes to asking for the customary tip at the end of the tour \ud83d\ude13 I left him 10,000 Rp and he made a face like he was disgusted\u2014that\u2019s when the guy really showed his true colors\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next to the mosque there's a madrasa, but they won't let you in\u2014not even if you offer the guard a tip. I was more generous this time, but it didn't work\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cathedral<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRight across from the mosque is the Jakarta Cathedral. It was built before the mosque, and the idea behind building them across from each other was to highlight religious coexistence in Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can see, the three spires are\u2026strange. They\u2019re made of wrought iron and were constructed from metal instead of stone to make the building lighter and more earthquake-resistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stepping inside is a delight, as birds fly in through the windows and you can enjoy a true concert of nature, amplified by the Gothic arches of the central nave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Museum Nasional<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nYes, that's spelled correctly\u2014it's \u201cNasional\u201d \ud83d\ude0e<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFor just 10,000 Rp, you can visit the best museum in Jakarta\u2014and probably in all of Indonesia. It\u2019s organized by region\u2014by island\u2014and is well worth a visit, with some truly amazing exhibits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information: http:\/\/www.museumnasional.or.id<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nKota<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nNo, it's not Havana. Nor is it Cartagena de Indias. Nor is it Spain. It's the maritime museum in Jakarta, in the Kota neighborhood, which was founded by the Dutch when they arrived in Java.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To take a stroll through this square, we need to know a little about the history of the Dutch East India Company. This forerunner of modern multinational corporations sought to gain a monopoly on spices (nutmeg, cloves, etc.) in this region and subjugated the local population to achieve this goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the arrival of the Dutch, the place was a thriving commercial port of the Sultanate of Banten called\u00a0Jayakarta<\/em>. In 1619, seeking a central, fortified, and strategic port for his ships, Governor Jan Pieterszoon Coen laid siege to the city and razed it to the ground, expelling its inhabitants; on the ashes of Jayakarta, he built a new walled city, which they named Batavia (the historical name of the region in the Netherlands).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Dutch East India Company built this and other similar warehouses to store the spices it regularly shipped to Europe: enormous buildings with red-tiled roofs and pointed gables that surround both the harbor itself and a small canal that leads into the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These particular buildings are located on the Taman Fatahillah<\/strong>, something like the city's main square, which served as the seat of the Dutch governing bodies for this territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe square is wonderful at sunset when they set up a big flea market and musicians and puppeteers show up with all their gear. There aren't any annoying people here bothering you with their taxis and their stories\u2014just the locals enjoying life.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRamadan: Dozens of people lie on the floor or lean against the metal columns of this mosque. Next to them, a bottle of water. Exhausted, they lift their heads with effort to cast an indifferent glance at the tourists\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For me, this is a must-see on your list of things to do in Jakarta<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mosque is the largest Islamic monument in Southeast Asia: it is a 5-story metal colossus (representing the five pillars of Islam) with a dome 45 meters in diameter. The word\u00a0\u00abIstiqlal\u00bb<\/em>\u00a0The name comes from Arabic and means \u201cIndependence.\u201d Plans for its construction were conceived after Indonesia\u2019s liberation from Dutch colonial rule as a way to commemorate the country\u2019s independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It's open every day from sunrise, and admission is free, but you can't visit on your own\u2014you must always be accompanied by one of their guides. Unfortunately, they don't let you see the whole place either; they only let you go up to the upper balconies so you can take a few photos, and that's it.<\/p>\n\n\n To top it all off, you\u2019re going to have to put on this tacky robe and practically drag the words out of the guide\u2014they aren\u2019t very talkative\u2026 except when it comes to asking for the customary tip at the end of the tour \ud83d\ude13 I left him 10,000 Rp and he made a face like he was disgusted\u2014that\u2019s when the guy really showed his true colors\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next to the mosque there's a madrasa, but they won't let you in\u2014not even if you offer the guard a tip. I was more generous this time, but it didn't work\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Right across from the mosque is the Jakarta Cathedral. It was built before the mosque, and the idea behind building them across from each other was to highlight religious coexistence in Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, the three spires are\u2026strange. They\u2019re made of wrought iron and were constructed from metal instead of stone to make the building lighter and more earthquake-resistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stepping inside is a delight, as birds fly in through the windows and you can enjoy a true concert of nature, amplified by the Gothic arches of the central nave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, that's spelled correctly\u2014it's \u201cNasional\u201d \ud83d\ude0e<\/p>\n\n\n For just 10,000 Rp, you can visit the best museum in Jakarta\u2014and probably in all of Indonesia. It\u2019s organized by region\u2014by island\u2014and is well worth a visit, with some truly amazing exhibits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information: http:\/\/www.museumnasional.or.id<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n No, it's not Havana. Nor is it Cartagena de Indias. Nor is it Spain. It's the maritime museum in Jakarta, in the Kota neighborhood, which was founded by the Dutch when they arrived in Java.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To take a stroll through this square, we need to know a little about the history of the Dutch East India Company. This forerunner of modern multinational corporations sought to gain a monopoly on spices (nutmeg, cloves, etc.) in this region and subjugated the local population to achieve this goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before the arrival of the Dutch, the place was a thriving commercial port of the Sultanate of Banten called\u00a0Jayakarta<\/em>. In 1619, seeking a central, fortified, and strategic port for his ships, Governor Jan Pieterszoon Coen laid siege to the city and razed it to the ground, expelling its inhabitants; on the ashes of Jayakarta, he built a new walled city, which they named Batavia (the historical name of the region in the Netherlands).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n The Dutch East India Company built this and other similar warehouses to store the spices it regularly shipped to Europe: enormous buildings with red-tiled roofs and pointed gables that surround both the harbor itself and a small canal that leads into the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These particular buildings are located on the Taman Fatahillah<\/strong>, something like the city's main square, which served as the seat of the Dutch governing bodies for this territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The square is wonderful at sunset when they set up a big flea market and musicians and puppeteers show up with all their gear. There aren't any annoying people here bothering you with their taxis and their stories\u2014just the locals enjoying life.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Cathedral<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nMuseum Nasional<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nKota<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n