| Indonesia, a Country of thousands of beautiful and | | | | hard to cope with all of the hustle, dirt, crime and |
| exotic Islands, that spark off your imagination | | | | cost, but if you can you will find an exciting City |
| with thoughts of fine sandy beaches, huge temple | | | | with plenty to offer.Kota - This is the old Town |
| complexes, great diving and the giant dragons of | | | | of Batavia, which was the capital of the Dutch |
| Komodo. The islands of Indonesia are spread | | | | East Indies and the best example of the colonial |
| over a vast expanse of ocean and technically | | | | era in Indonesia. Though much of the old town |
| speaking is divided by two Continents.Some parts | | | | has been destroyed or demolished over the |
| of the Country can be as different from each | | | | years, some of the old Colonial buildings are still in |
| other as black is from white. The hustle and | | | | active use, and the area has a definite Dutch feel |
| bustle of the modern capital Jakarta is like another | | | | to it.The centre of the old Town is the pebble |
| planet when compared to the traditional Papuan | | | | stone square known as Taman Fatahillah and this |
| tribes of the Baliem Valley.Jakarta - Not only is it | | | | is the key to being able to orientate yourself |
| the largest City in the Country, Jakarta is also the | | | | around the sights of the old Town. The canal of |
| heartbeat. Indonesian's from all over the | | | | Kali Besar is one block to the west of the square |
| archipelago come to the City to try and find their | | | | and runs alongside the Ciliwung River. This was a |
| fortune or just to survive. The face of the City is | | | | very prosperous area and on the west bank are |
| constantly changing due to the construction of | | | | some of the high class homes that date from the |
| new skyscrapers, shopping malls and | | | | eighteenth Century.The Chicken market bridge is |
| hotels.Jakarta is mainly a business and political City | | | | the last remaining drawbridge from the Dutch era, |
| and not really a tourist destination, but the older | | | | it is at the north end of the Kali Besar. Buses |
| colonial parts of the City are very interesting and | | | | always come by on their routes and the city train |
| the museums have a lot of fascinating | | | | also has a stop here.Jakarta History Museum - |
| exhibits.Jakarta, like you would expect, is the | | | | This museum is housed in the old town hall of |
| most expensive place in Indonesia, as well as the | | | | Batavia, which is on the south side of Taman |
| most polluted and most congested. It can be very | | | | Fatahillah. |