One of the largest contributors to the ASEAN economy, Indonesia has made headlines for many things like volcanic eruptions, currency crisis, women’s right etc. What it hasn’t made the headlines for, is its rich cultural diversity and ethnicity. Influences of Hinduism and Buddhism in a predominantly Islamic country amazed me on my recent trip to Jakarta, the island capital of the archipelago. It is not very common to see a country run so efficiently despite the constant currency crisis.
Historic Influences
Before diving into the natural beauty of Indonesia that beguiled me for a second time, let’s learn a little bit about the origin and importance of Indonesia as a country. Being a cluster of close to 18,000 islands, this country holds proof of life, a million and a half years back from now. Unbelievable, isn’t it! The remnants of the Homo Erectus and Homo Floresiensis have been found on the islands by archaeologists and palaeontologists.
In fact, it was amazing to see the bones of the single dwarf Floresiensis woman who is believed to be the only resident of a remote island.
So Indonesia has not only been home to the traders in the later centuries but has been home to our predecessors for much longer.
Today the country is a well-known tourist destination and also a large source of rich minerals, thanks to its igneous formations. However, my trip to Jakarta wasn’t all about the fascinating history. In just 3 days, I ended up on an island, roamed on the streets of Old Town Batavia, explored many museums and shopped to my heart’s content. Not to forget the lip-smacking seafood I couldn’t take my hands off of!
Jakarta – the city
I did not imagine Jakarta to have the skyline it does! Beautiful high-rises, tastefully done Dutch inspired streets, beautiful roads and efficient public transport greeted me into the metro city. Staying at the Manhattan Hotel, my room overlooked the commercial district and the cityscape at night truly enchanted me.
Exploring the city did involve a bit of pushing in the traffic as the number of two-wheelers is sheer magnanimous! I also found the scooter taxi service quite enchanting, with startups like GoJek and Grab making life easier for daily commuters. The TransJakarta bus service is definitely a must try for tourists on a budget due to the incredible frequency and comfort it offers.
Cafes and Restos
Food is always a highlight for me and Jakarta was no different when it came to satiating the taste buds. You may choose beef as the predominant meat, especially if you miss that in India with the current bans. However, my recommendation will be to try the seafood at Cafe Batavia, an iconic restaurant in the heart of the old town dutch colony. For traditional grilled fish, Jimbaran Resto at the Marina Bay is the must visit!
Island Hopping
A trip to the thousand islands regency is a must do for a spectacular day trip experience away from the city. Out of the 342 tiny islands, only 36 are decreed to be developed for recreation.
I happened to set foot in the green-blue waters of the Big Tiger Island (Pulau Macan) and small tiger island, experiencing a unique eco-resort experience. The coral reefs that have died due to crushing environmental damage and fishing is now being replenished by the private owners of some of these islands. To mark my first underwater experience, I braved to go snorkelling here and here is what I saw!
So to sum up, if you are planning to visit Jakarta on your trip to Indonesia, meet the locals, have great food and experience the culture in a short time. A little museum and island hopping will tell you so much about the incredible culture and traditions of this island country. Also, do not forget to shop at local stores run by cute Bahasa women who will share the delight of a sale with you and make you truly happy about buying that piece of traditional Batik!
