Traveling to South East Asia was always on my bucket list. Even though the cost of living in these countries is relatively cheap, the airfare from my hometown Athens is quite expensive. I recently read that Singapore Airlines low-cost carrier Scoot would start flying directly from Athens in June 2017, making a trip to South East Asia affordable.
One of the countries I always wanted to visit is Indonesia and especially its capital Jakarta. Most tourists that visit Indonesia head straight to Bali or another beach destination like the Komodo Islands and skip Jakarta. There are many things one can do in this vibrant city that deserves a visit even for a few days.
Indonesian Food
- Museum National of Indonesia
The Museum National of Indonesia is located in the Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat area of Jakarta. It is also known as the Elephant building because of the elephant statue on the front. It houses one of the biggest and most complete collection of archaeological artifacts in the whole SE Asia. Its vast collection includes Hindu-Buddhist sculptures, gold, and precious artifacts mostly originated from ancient Java, ceramics from all over Asia, a variety of objects used in the Indonesian daily life and much more.
- National Monument of Indonesia
The National Monument also known as Monas is located in Merdeka Square in Jakarta. It was built to commemorate the Indonesian independence. The monument stands at 132 m high and has an observation deck at the top where you can admire incredible views from the entire city. Other interesting things to see inside the monument include the National History museum that holds a large collection od dioramas that depict the history of Indonesia and the Hall of Independence that is situated inside the goblet and has the original text of the Proclamation of Independence.
National monument
- Pasar Baru Market
Located in the heart of Jakarta, Pasar Baru market is a place not to be missed. Here you will find many shops selling beautiful textiles, vintage and second-hand clothing and accessories as well as shops selling golf equipment. Don’t forget to stop at the Indian mini market to see the colorful spices. Here you will also have the chance to taste some of the best local Indonesian cuisine.
Indonesian fabrics
- Shopping
Jakarta is home to a large number of malls. You can head to Plaza Indonesia for designer goods, Pasar Ikar for souvenirs, Pasaraya for handicrafts and the Jalan Surabaya flea market in Menteng for antiques and more.
Jakarta offers many more interesting things to do according to Lonely Planet.
Where to stay in Jakarta
There are many hotel options available in Jakarta. After doing some research on the internet, I discovered that there are some excellent deals in luxurious accommodation like the Fairmont Jakarta hotel located in one of the best areas of the city in Senayan. For more options, you can have a look at traveloka hotel deals.
Jakarta here I come……
Have you been to Jakarta? Did you like it? Do you have any more attractions to add to my to-do list?
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