Jakarta Off The Beaten Path

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Walking on Jalan Kali Besar (Kali Besar means great channel) from Pasar Ikan towards Taman Fatahillah, you can have a look at old Batavia; there are the big VOC warehouses, some patrician mansions, and streets bordered by more modest houses with typical colonial architecture.
Walking along the Kali, south of the VOC Gulangan (second picture) building you can discover another VOC warehouse, U shaped with a big yard (first picture), with a restaurant on the north side (Raja Kuring restaurant). Very close is this strange staircase (picture 3), a bit like a boat mast; behind you see a typical roof of a Sundanese pavilion, like there are in the yards of the VOC warehouses areas.
Going further North, on Jalan Kali Besar, you also see houses and warehouses which look to be under renovation, but since long time, apparently (picture 4) and as a big contrast, when you arrive at the southern end of Jalan Kali Besar, you arrive at Jalan Bank, and as a contrast the palace of the National bank seems very well maintained! On the fifth picture is a view of the backyard of the bank.
North Jakarta, Jalan Kali Besar area.

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Walking in the streets of old Batavia is a very interesting and enjoyable thing to do; the old buildings, the people around, the quiet atmosphere when you just left the heavy traffic in the nearby streets, all is here, to relax a little bit! Many people, professionals and amateurs come in these streets to make photographs and I “stole” a few pics of a model who was posing for three photographers there.
Jalan Pintu Besar Utara has been laid out as a pedestrian area, where it is very nice to stroll, and it is very interesting (in some way) to look how the street has been renovated, but the buildings are still in their initial state, with lots of charm, with their almost ruined walls. . . . just nice to walk!
South and west sides of Batavia old square (Taman Fatahillah); a few small streets.

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It is in the historical building hosting the Wayang Museum (first picture) where you can meet the founders of Batavia (the conquerors of Jayakarta, a little village which became Batavia); in north Jakarta are a few buildings remaining from the Dutch colonial time, but there is almost nothing left of the former colonialists (statues, monuments, plaques. . . ) in public areas.
In the lower level of the Wayang museum is a small garden, between high walls and a few plaques, gravestones are kept there. On picture 2 you see a commemorative plaque from the 19th century dedicated to Jan Pieterzoon Coen, general administrator of the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie , United East Indies company), the founder of Batavia, on the ruins of Jayakarta, in 1619.
A few tombstones (picture 3) made of black basalt, of Dutch dignitaries are displayed against a wall in the garden, some nicely decorated with the arms of the Dutch families (picture 4). On the last picture is a plaque displayed in the Fatahillah museum, the former town hall of Batavia, plaque dedicated to two governors of Batavia, who built (one began, the other finished) the town hall. The big buildings of Batavia are in fact what the former rulers of Batavia have left. . . . few Indonesian remember the names of the former rulers. . . . and understandably, colonial times were not nice for everybody. . . . .
Jalan Pintu Besar Utara No. 27 Jakarta Barat 11110
(021) 6927289, 6929560
Open
Tuesday Sunday
09.00 - 15.00 WIB
Closed Mondays and public holidays
Entrance: Rp. 2.000

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In Jakarta at good weather you can`t see much of southern stars- the air pollution and light pollution is too strong. Everytime new seems discussions (see TheJakartaPost) what should to do, but it seems no solution yet- to much cars and so on....

So If you interest in Astronomy like me, you must go outside for to see the bright southern sky with the southern cross ....
But there is one place in Jakarta, where you can see clear skys every evening: Inside the planetarium.
Inside is since 1998 installed a modern "Carl Zeiss Universarium MVIII" -.
For the moon and the bright stars one can of course use a telecope- see the Photos.

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Drive about 3 hours west and a little bit south , and you'll be in the town of Charita ,but beware they don't see very many tourists and everyone in town has something for sale. When on the beach only bring your towel and shoes and head straight into the water or you will be hounded by people selling things , and if you decide to bargain expect to pay about 40% less than what they offer, the surf is strong ,but feels great. While there try to bargain with someone who approach's you to take you to see Ana Kracatau The new Volcano that formed after the last one blew up some 125 years ago ,usually a maximum of 6 can go , and they will say its $250.00 per trip well you can bargain down to about 200.00 or 1.8 million rupiah. We got to bargain with water and rice for lunch as well as scuba/snorkeling included. You will need alot of water as it is a hot steep climb to reach the top. If they say you can't go to the top go up without your guide. Its worth it. Allow 1 hour and 45 minutes to the island if the seas are good as well as the same getting back and 2 hours on the Volcano as well as at least 90 minutes for snorkling/scuba diving. While looking for hotels shop around some have strict rates while others can bargain a bit. And there are no big hotels there only small ones that have 10-15 rooms, although farther north they do have some that are convention hotels, but expect to pay handsomely .have fun and good luck on your adventure to see a Live Volcano.

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Don`t be suprised when you get to Jakarta you find out that you a millionare. The currency here starts from 1000 rupiah bills , 5000 , 10 000 , 20 000 , 50 000 and 100 000 bills

I think the exchange rate when I was there was 1US$ is equal to 10 000 IDR.

I always heard of how bad the pollution is in Jakarta. When I arrived in Jakarta on the 1st day there and the sun started setting I can see why everyone always says the pollution is so bad. I guess the high volume of traffic and the emmissions from the cars has a big part to play. In my pic you can see it looks like this thick blanket of smog over the city.

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Taking the bus from Tanah Abang to Block M for my shopping experience was indeed a good experience.

I cant remember where was it but it just before a junction within Jakarta city after passing the Sendayan complex where most busses stop to pick up more passengers.

While waiting, there are some small time sellers come up the bus to sell drinks, tissues etc.

The thing unique was, one guy come up the bus I ride with a guitar in his hand. He start playing one Indonesian song - cant remember the title - but its one of the famous song by the Indonesian band - DEWA.

I believed it is one of typical scene since the driver did not chase the person down.

After he finished singing, he will inform his name with an empty plastic in his hand where he expected some token from the passengers.

You are not oblige to give but why not? After all you have just listen to a famous song by a famous bus singer