Special Capital City District of Jakarta (DKI Jakarta)

1. Ancol: Jakarta BayCity
This is Jakarta's largest and most popular recreation park. Used to be known as "Jaya Ancol Dreamland", its extensive range of attractions includes sea and fresh water aquariums, swimming pools, an artificial lagoon for fishing and boating, a bowling alley, as well as an assortment of nightclubs restaurants, and massage parlors. The Ancol complex includes a marina, Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy World), a golf course, hotels and a drive-in theatre. The 'Pasar Seni' or art market has a varied collection of Indonesian handicraft, paintings and souvenirs on sale. An open-air theatre features live performances by local artists.
o Ancol Beach
This water park consists of various pools and slides that will thrill both children and adults that never quite grew up. Experience a day of fun-filled adventures by braving the rapids, diving down the slides, enjoying the exciting water rides or just splashing around. The theme park was refurbished several times to ensure safety and everlasting fun. Nonetheless children must always be supervised by adults. The poolside restaurant is popular for its variety of local dishes
o Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy World)
Indonesia own Disneyland where you can discover a cultural journey through Indonesia and many other countries. With the accent on fun, other attractions include a thrilling cork screw roller coaster, adventurous flume rides, turbo tour simulators, bumper cars as well as many other exciting fairground amusements. Open Mon to Sat, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sun from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
o Amusement Park
A village unto itself, this 24-hour park has hotels, nightclubs, shops, and amusement centers, including an oceanarium with dolphin and sea lion shows, a golf course, a race-car track, a four-pool complex with a wave pool, and water slides. Africa is represented by a comedy of mechanized monkeys, America by a Wild West town, Europe by a mock Tudor house, and Asia by buildings from Thailand, Japan, India, and Korea. Rides, shooting galleries, and food stalls surround these attractions, all set on 1,360 acres of land reclaimed from the bay in 1962. COST: Admission. Sat.-Thurs. 11-6, Fri. 1:20-10.
o Marina Ancol
This is a special port for yachts, motor and sail boats, and the port of departure to Kepulauan Seribu or Thousand Islands resorts. This is also a good location for windsurfing and other marine recreation. Beach facilities for the sea or lagoon area are amply provided: water cycles, canoes, sail boats, fishing gear and many others. Stalls are abundant, serving drinks and snacks along the beach.
o Seaworld
This giant oceanarium proudly introduces visitors to more than 4,000 fish and sharks from 300 species. Come and enjoy the deep-sea panorama while strolling through an 80-meter tunnel. The fascinating creatures live in some 500 million liters of seawater and are fed three times a day (some hand-fed). The attraction also features a theater which plays three educational films in English and Bahasa Indonesia. Open Monday to Saturday, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
o Ancol Golf
Built as part of the giant recreational area in Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta, the 18-hole plays to par 17 with a length of 6,501 meters. Here, the sea wind is often an interesting challenge for golfers. Padang Golf Jaya Ancol has no membership restrictions and is suitable for those wishing to combine golf with a family outing. Facilities at the clubhouse include club rental, pro shop, driving range, locker rooms, hot / cold showers and a spacious parking lot.
In Ancol Bay Area, there are so many things to do or see. If you like water sports, in Ancol Jakarta BayCity you can find jet ski rental there. You can do sailing or even visit Bidadari Island, one of the island among Thousand Islands Area.
2. Jakarta: Dining Experience in Metropolitan City
Jakarta to Indonesia is like New York to United States of America'a city that never sleeps. Many Indonesians go all the way from their remote hometowns to work in Jakarta, supplying the capital of Indonesia with unique contrasts of culture and palates. Jakarta has so many to offer if you know where to look. From street vendors to chic and elegant restaurants, Jakarta has everything. If seafood is your choice, then Muara Karang is your ideal place. Located in southern Jakarta, this is the perfect site to buy fresh seafood products. Don't worry if you can't cook, some restaurants in Muara Karang will cook the raw materials you have chosen. Or, to save time, just visit the restaurant and choose your favorite cuisine from the menu. Perhaps one of Jakarta's specialities is called kerak telor. It is made of eggs and other ingredients. Mostly sold by street vendors, this treat has gained popularity so now you can get your portion in some food courts and traditional restaurants. Gado-gado, ketoprak offer delicious taste and they're quite filling, too. Usually they are eaten with steamed rice or lontong a dish made of rice stuffed into banana leaves shaped into a tube, then boiled until it's ready to eat. Gado-gado contains beancurd sauce and various boiled vegetables in it, such as potatoes, lettuces, cabbages, and so on. A sauce made of grounded peanuts and other herbs is then added. Ketoprak uses a similar sauce, but it mainly consists of beansprouts, fried beancurd, and boiled bihun angel hair-like noodle. Ketoprak & gado-gado are available in street vendors and most traditional restaurants. Sate (meat on skewers) is tasty. Covered with peanut sauce and other ingredients, sate ayam (the main ingredient's chicken), sate sapi (beef) , sate kambing (mutton) are widely sought by many people. You can find sate in most traditional restaurants. You can also try sate sold by street vendors. Want to combine shopping and dining experience. Try the malls. All shopping centers in Jakarta have their own food courts and restaurants. Food courts tend to be noisy and crowded, so if you prefer privacy, choose restaurants/cafes, instead. Restaurants located in starred hotels are generally quite pricey but good in taste and service. Ideal for those who value quality. Cafes like Starbucks and Tea Leaf are favorites for both locals and tourist to interact. Try various types of Indonesian coffee, to freshen up your day. If you want to try Indonesian food, bear in mind that Padangese food tends to be spicy. Sundanese tends to be bland yet tasty, ideal for most people. Javanese food tends to be sweet. Ask locals for more information.
3. Paradiso: The Name Says It All
Paradiso is a resort consisting of four isles within Thousand Islands, Jakarta: Kahyangan, Bidadari, Onrust and Kelor. All of them offers spectacular views of both the forest and sea. The name Paradiso indeed comes from Paradise, for Kahyangan in Indonesian means Heaven in English, and Bidadari means Angel.
Worth trying:
o Visiting the ruins of VOC's (Dutch Colonials) Fortress. Used to be center of Jakarta's (known as Sunda Kelapa, then) defense against the British invasion. Circular in design with 23 meters in diameter, rows of windows for cannons are still visible. Seven rooms in this fortress still exist.
o Visiting the garden of medicinal plants. You can also see hundreds years old kepuh trees here. If you're lucky, you can even see some biawaks (giant lizard/monitor) around. Compared to Komodos, they're just toddlers, though.
o Jet skiing and banana boating. You can also swim on the pristine azure ocean and fish on the fishing pier.
o Outbound training. Enjoy your holiday with canoeing, rafting, and climbing tress in Paradiso!
4. Shopping Extravaganza: Jakarta
Whether you're a serious spender or half-hearted shopper, there's sure to be something for everybody in Jakarta, the countrys shopping capital. The wide variety of things that you can buy in Jakarta is mind boggling from the best of local handicrafts to haute couture labels. If you are looking for something unique, go and check out the antique, carvings and handicrafts at Ciputat raya where rows of stores are packed to overflowing with everything from antique furniture, brassware, ornate lamps, old Chinas, and faux antiques. If you prefer air conditioners comfort and designer labels, head for the modern shopping malls such as Plaza Indonesia, Plaza Senayan, Pondok Indah Mall, Pasar Raya, and Taman Anggrek said to be the largest mall in South East Asia. Find the best shopping for electronics in Mangga Dua Electronics Center I West Jakarta or Ratu Plaza in South Jakarta. Another interesting place is the Jatinegara gemstone market, where you can find a huge variety of precious and semiprecious stones. Stroll through the Pasar Baru pedestrian area and browse through the traditional textile shops. At the Barito area even lead you to an impromptu pet market while at the Pramuka bird market visitors are greeted with lots of pretty decorative birds.
5. Sunda Kelapa Harbor
The older parts of Jakarta offer the chance to view the sceneries of the past. Explore Sunda Kelapa Harbor and other places of interest to the fullest, where modernity and remnants of the past can still be found. Here, aside from Sunda Kelapa Harbor, you can found Harbor-Master Tower (Menara Syahbandar), Maritime Museum (Museum Bahari), Fatahillah Museum, Wayang Puppet Museum, Arts Museum and Beos Station.
To do:
o Climb Harbor-Master Tower to view Jakarta from the top.
o Watch the ships loading and unloading the cargo in the harbor.
o Buy fishing apparels to fish in this area, or buy fresh seafood from the market.
o Take pictures in Beos Station.
o Visit the museums.
o Attend the events done by the museum, such as open theaters portraying people in the olden times.
o Joining wayang workshops in the museum.
6. Taman Mini indonesia Indah: Exploring Indonesia in One Day
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah or Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park was built to be the showcase of Indonesia, in this park visitors will find many Indonesia natural & cultural richness such as unique replication of traditional houses (pavilion) from all around Indonesia, an Indonesia archipelago shaped lake and many other fascinating attraction. The park is an Ideal spot for week-end family outing and also international tourist who did not have enough time to explore Indonesia.
It started with the idea of the late Ibu Tien Soeharto (former Indonesia first lady). The construction of TMII began in 1971 and it was official inaugurated on April 20, 1975.
Since its existence and in the course of time TMII continues to grow and developed in line with the dynamism of the community life of Indonesia. People are the more aware of the great advantages of the existence of TMII, with the mission to be a vehicle for the preservation and development of the culture and a means to strengthen the unity and integrity of the people of Indonesia.
TMII is considered as a vehicle presenting the diversity of the people of Indonesia and the variety of cultural wealth enables the community to gain interesting experience, knowledge and information regarding various aspect of culture, tradition, customs, forms of art as far as the introduction of cultural objects.
The beauty and cultural wealth presented by TMII can easily be observed by the community through the availability of a more complete and interactive means of information. It is expected that through the website the information can be disseminated widely all over the Archipelago and even abroad so that it will facilitate the community to better know about the culture and customs of the people of Indonesia.
Province Pavillion
The bulk of the facilities at TMII is made up of the regional pavilions. With more than twenty five pavilions to walk through, representative of the architecture of each province of Indonesia, the visitor is provided a very unique opportunity to view the breadth and scale of the full range of regional architecture. Each pavilion presents at least three typical examples of the regional style it represents.
Don`t have the time or the fortitude to venture to distant or out-ot-the-way locations? No need. Visit every pavilion and you will come away with a very clear impression of the diversity and richness of Indonesian architectural and living styles. To point out just a view, there is the `Bogonjong` house of the Ranah Minang from West Sumatra, a `Lamin` of the Dayak people from deep in the interior of East Kalimantan, a `Tongkongan` from Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, a traditional Batak `Bolon` house from North Sumatra; a `Joglo` house from Central Java, etc.
o Istana Anak-anak Indonesia: Indonesia Children Castle, featuring fairy tales painting from Indonesia and all over the world.
o Perahu Angsa Arsipel Indonesia: Swan Boat to explore Indonesia archipelago shaped lake.
o Taman Among Putro: An amusement park for children fully equipped with games and fun activities.
o Taman Ria Atmaja: a 60 Sq m stage in an 4000 Sq m area, well known as Dangdut Terminal (Dangdut: popular unique music genre in Indonesia).
o Taman Renang Ambar Tirta: Swimming pool for adult and children, equipped with trainer and lifeguard.
o Teater Imax Keong Emas: A shopisticated IMAX technology snail shaped theatre, with several IMAX movies featuring Indonesia natural and cultural richness.
o Desa Wisata: When a day is not enough to explore TMII, there is Desa Wisata, a hostel for individual or groups visiting TMII from outside Jakarta to stay overnight.
o Transportasi TMII: The means of transportation, get you around the "Archipelago".
o Titihan Samirono/Aeromovel: Another way to get around is the fast train, Aeromovel. This is an example of the fast and efficient train that could provide nowaday mass transportation for Indonesia.
o Sky Lift Indonesia (Kereta Gantung): Want a quick and easy geography lesson? Take the Sky Lift for an aerial tour of the park and one of the sights that will stay with you is a scale model of the islands of Indonesian archipelago set in a smalll lake.
o Teater Tanah Airku: The "Tanah Airku" Theatre is the first in Indonesia equipped with high technology to an international standard. The physical aspect of the "Tanah Airku" Theatre is a marriage of the typical Indonesian and the international aesthetic. Indonesian ornamentation such as 'gunungan' (mountains), elements from Javanese puppet shows, the roof shapes of Sumatra and Sulawesi, with a touch of Kalimantan Dayak style, all is harmoniously blended. Combine this with modern sound and lighting effects and the complete stage equipment of a state of the-art theatre and you have a dramatic experience long remembered.
o Panggung Parkir Utara: The North Parking Stage is a permanent stage for various entertainment activities for the visitors. Situated next to the Pancasila Flame Monument Plaza and belonging to the North Parking area the open stage has been built by the participation of private enterprises that care about the national cultural wealth presented in TMII. The 20 m x 18 m large stage with a triangular roof is the biggest stage in Taman Mini.

7. The Jakarta History Museum (Fatahillah)
The Jakarta History Museum (also known as Fatahillah Museum) is housed in the former City Hall located in the old part of the city now known as Jakarta Kota, some hundred meters behind the port and warehouses of Sunda Kelapa.
Originally called the Stadhuis, this building was the administrative headquarters of the Dutch East India Company, and later of the Dutch Government. Built in 1710 by Governor General van Riebeeck, this solid building hides below it notorious dungeons and filthy water prisons. Most prisoners, both Dutch rebels and Indonesian “natives” were publicly flogged, barbarically impaled and executed on the square called the Stadhuisplein--now known as Fatihillah Square--while the Dutch overlords looked down superciliously on the proceedings below from the portico and windows above.
Indonesia’s freedom fighter Javanese Prince Diponegoro, who was treacherously arrested, was imprisoned here in 1830 before being banished to Manado in North Sulawesi. Another freedom fighter earlier imprisoned here around 1670 was Untung Suropati from East Java.
In the center of the square is a fountain which served as water supply for the colonial capital, Batavia, while to its north is a Portuguese cannon, believed to be a font of fertility.
Today, the Jakarta History Museum displays the history of Jakarta from prehistoric days to the founding of the town of Jayakarta in1527 by Prince Fatahillah of Banten, and through Dutch colonization from the 16th. century onwards until Indonesia’s Independence in 1945.
The collection includes a replica of the Tugu Inscription that dates back to the 5th century under the reign of the great King Purnawarman, evidence that the center of the Tarumanegara kingdom were located around the present day seaport of Tanjung Priok.
Further historical evidence of thriving Sunda Kelapa Harbour is a 16th. century map and replica of the 1522 Padrao monument, commemorating the friendship treaty between the Portuguese and the Sunda kingdom. Furthermore, maps and drawings show the establishment of the City of Jayakarta in 1527 by Prince Fatahillah. While the rich collection of Betawi and Colonial style furniture dating to the 17th, 18th and 19th century belongs to one of the most complete in the world. This collection reflects the influences of various cultural elements on the City of Batavia, namely from Europe, especially from the Netherlands, from China and India as well as from Indonesia itself.
And to bring more life and activities to the Old Batavia square, today the Jakarta Government has organized regular attractions involving local communities and their cultures. On Sundays, shows are performed presenting the Zapin dance, a combination of Betawi and Middle Eastern influences, the Barongsai Chinese lion dance, the Portuguese influenced keroncong music, the typical Betawi Tanjidor music, batik fashion shows, vintage cars parades, food and souvenirs and fireworks.
8. The National Monument
The main Sudirman-Thamrin avenue in Jakarta leads to the Merdeka Square, where in its center stands the National Monument (also known as Monas--Monumen Nasional) which houses the first red-and-white flag flown at the Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945. This flag has now become threadbare, and so nowadays on Independence Day ceremonies, the original flag is taken out but only to accompany the replica flag to be flown in front of the Merdeka Palace. The 137 meter tall National Monument is obelisk shaped, and is topped with a 14.5 meter bronze flame coated with 32 kilograms gold leaf. Within the pedestal is a museum depicting in diorama Indonesia’s fight for Independence as well as the original text of the Proclamation of Independence. A lift takes visitors up to the look-out platform at the base of the flame for a grand view of Jakarta.
Surrounding the Monument is now a park with a musical fountain, enjoyed by the Jakarta public on Sundays for sports and recreation. Deer roam among the shady trees in the park.
Merdeka Square is the center of most important government buildings. During Dutch colonial days here was the center of government, known as Koningsplein or the King’s Square. The north side is dominated by the Merdeka Palace once the home of the Dutch Governor Generals, which now also houses the office of the President and the Cabinet. To the South is the office of Indonesia’s Vice President, Jakarta’s Governor and provincial parliament building, as also the American Embassy , while to the West is the National Museum, the Constitutional Court, the Ministry for Culture and Tourism and the Indosat building, Indonesia’s first international telecommunications company.

9. The National Museum
Located on Medan Merdeka Barat, the National Museum is the pride of Jakarta, providing visitors an insight into Indonesia’s long history in cultural heritage from prehistoric days up to today. Having recently been expanded, the Museum houses an impressive collection of no less than 109,342 objects covering Indonesia’s Prehistory, Archaeology, Ethnography, Numismatics-Heraldic, Geography and Historical Relics.
Here are statues and stone inscriptions discovered on sites throughout the archipelago starting from the first century AD, a complete collection of batik cloths and woven textiles produced through the years in the different islands. While on the top floor one finds displayed the collection of gold and silver ornaments and jewelry once owned by the rajahs and sultans of the archipelago.
The Museum was initiated in 1778 by the Batavia Society for Arts and Science, a private organization whose aim was to promote research in the arts and sciences, especially in the history, archaeology, ethnography of Indonesia and in physics, and published their various findings.
Officially opened in 1868 the Museum came popularly to be known as Gedung Gajah (The House of Elephant) or Gedung Arca (The House of Statues). It was named Gedung Gajah after the bronze elephant statue in the front yard, which was a donation from King Chulalongkorn of Thailand in 1871. It was also known as Gedung Arca on account of the large variety of statues from different periods on display here.
In 1979 the Museum was officially named the Museum Nasional or the National Museum. The Museum is not only a centre for research and study into the national and cultural heritage, but it also functions as an educative, cultural and recreational information centre.
To serve the public, the Museum offers Consulting and Conservation Services:
Museum curators provide detailed information and guidance on collections-related subjects during working hours. While daily activities at the Museum Nasional include the collection, the caring for and protection of collections, and providing information on the museum and its collections to visitors and the public at large. The Indonesian Heritage Society (HIS) voluntarily assists the museum in handling the inventory of the collections.

10. The Old Batavia
Similar to other major cities in the world, Jakarta is a megapolitan city with a long history. In the past, Jakarta was an important harbour called Sunda Kelapa. Although Sunda Kelapa was only a harbour, this area had villages which turned into the city of Jakarta. If you would like to know more about Old Batavia, you must visit the Fatahillah Museum. Built in an area covering 13 thousand square meters, the museum is situated at Taman Fatahillah street No. 2, West Jakarta. It has 17th century architecture. By visiting every corner of the museum, you would feel the ancient city previously called Jayakarta (1527-1619) and Batavia (1619-1942). The Fatahillah Museum has a classical Barok architecture and consists of a main building with two wings on its east and west, complementary building used as an office, court room, and underground prisons. These frightening prison cells have iron balls believed used to detain prisoners and slaves.
11. The Schmutzer Primate Centre : One of the largest primate house in the world "The Schmutzer Primate Center"
The Schmutzer Primate Center is one of the largest in the world and houses many different primate species amongst which gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans. The facilities have been designed in innovative ways where the animals can decide if they want to be seen or not and where natural food is growing in the enclosures, the only place in the world where this is the case. The primate center is constructed in such a way that it offers new ways of looking at the primates. For instance a seven meter high bridge crosses part of the gorilla enclosure, a very long tunnel guides you through the world of orangutans and swinging canopy bridges provide you with a feeling how it is to be living in the trees. In its short existence the center reaped much praise for its very large enclosures and natural design. Several young animals were born here already. The center intends to contribute to the wild population by sending groups of healthy apes and monkeys back to the wild to be released there. The primate center opens seven days a week from 09.00 till 16.30. Entrance costs 5.000 Rp for adults and 3.000 for children.
12. The Thousand Islands, a Sensational Maritime Tourism
As your plane slowly descends for its approach to Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta international airport, you can see a large number of large and small islands dotting the sea in the Bay of Jakarta. These are known as the Thousand Islands, or Kepulauan Seribu. In fact they are a cluster of 76 coral islands with more appearing and disappearing with the tide. Located 45 km north from the city, this part of Jakarta offers a huge change in pace and experience from the hustle and bustle of the city, but is near enough for residents and visitors to enjoy the exhilarating marine environment within just one day excursion. Here are diving, snorkeling and fishing opportunities, or just good for lazing in the sun with nothing to disturb one’s mind except the chirping of birds amidst the gentle lapping of the waves. The idyllic Thousand Islands are in fact a marine nature conservation area. Here are a wealth of sea biota species which form part of its coral reef ecosystem, there are 144 species of fish, 2 species of giant clam, sea worms of various colours and 17 species of coastal birds. The Park is a hatching site for hawksbill turtles and green turtles. The hawksbill turtle is an endangered species, rarely found in other waters. They are primarily bred on the island of Pramuka. Most of the islands are ringed by coconut palms and mangrove forests, where iguanas, golden ring snakes and pythons can be found. The islands of Pramuka, Semak Daun, Kelapa, and Panggang are interesting for turtle breeding, animals observations and marine tours, while for wreck diving the best places are at Pramuka, Opak and Karang Congkak. With Laga, Kotok, Gosong, and Koja Karang islands best for diving and snorkeling.
13. Waterbom Jakarta
Waterboom Jakarta is now open as the leading water park and recreation destination in Jakarta. Located at Pantai Indah Kapuk in North Jakarta, next to the Damai Indah Golf Course, it covers an area of about 35,000 m2 plus a parking area that can accommodate 1,000 cars. It has a direct toll road access and only 10 minutes to the airport and to the heart of the city as well.

(references: www.indonesia.travel and www.my-indonesia.info)