Central Jakarta, Jakarta

The selamat Datang within Central Jakarta is well known-

but if you look for an good photo motif is recommended see it from Hyatt side-
and here together with second greeting Monument -
symbol of the seas maybe...see the Photo!

The "Jalan Thamrin" in Jakarta is one of the main streets
and so the architecture goes higher and higher to the clouds!

On of central points - is the Bunderan HI -here in rainy weather from taxi -
a view to south, in mid at photo is seen the "Selamat Datang" monument -
remembering to history, to the time of first Indonesia President Mr. Sukarno in Djakarta.

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St Mary cathedral is a rather recent building in Jakarta; this neo-gothic church has been inaugurated in 1901. To me its main interest is that it is a western and Christian building, toady “lost” in the Muslim far East.
It looks impressive, if you forget the nearby mosque, with the high tower; it is the first time I see painted steel structures on top of church towers. . . ! (first picture); from Lapangen Banteng (Banteng Square, located south) it looks more like a provincial church rather than a cathedral (picture 2), but we must think that Batavia, at the time the cathedral was built was not a big city, the majority of Dutch were protestants, and most of the population were Indonesian and Muslim.
Neo Gothic? That is what the guides write, but the round arches of the nave are Roman (picture 3); gothic are the choir, the low sides and the towers outside. It is not a beautiful church, the decoration has no masterpieces, be it the Pieta (picture 5) or the stations of the cross (start here, on picture 4) made with painted tiles or ceramics., . . . . well, it is a nice place to visit, however, to have a look at; after all we are in a Muslim country, and places which are out of the norm are always interesting, and some may like to find a place where to pray.
I would have liked to attend a mass, the Indonesian Catholics have a great fervour.

From Monas park to direction northeast is the Historic Gereja Sta. Perawan Maria Diangkat Ke Surga.

If one is in Jakartas city, and it is a little time, the Kathedral Jakarta is a good place for a stop and for a rest.

Its very historical site for Indonesian, because Soekarno-Hatta, declared Indonesia's independence, on 17 August 1945 an than the folowing day Soekarno becmae first President of Indonesia and The vice-president is Hatta
The statue of Soekarno stands at 4.6 meters and weights an immense 1,200 kilograms, while the slightly lighter statue of Hatta measures 4.4 meters. The proclamation text between Soekarno-Hatta statue carving on bronze 600 kg, Zoom in 200X from the original text.

See my travelogues page :
Proclamation 1945 Monument

I got reallly cheap airfares to Jakarta so yup was there to shop a few back.

In Jakarta... e.g. ITC Mangga Dua (pronounced as E TEH SEI Mangga Dua... have to haggle... maybe start 50% off...) ... that big place is probably for thrift-of-sorts shopping.

Otherwise all the other malls are mostly high end I guess.

Rules:
(1) Blue Bird Taxis only. Pls ensure u c the stickers "BLUE BIRD GROUP" pasted on their windscreen.
(2) Take their thuks thuks only if u dare... must haggle, shld cost less than 10000 rupiah for a 10min ride.
(3) Roads are quite polluted... u might want to avoid walking on the open streets (and highly NOT recommended by locals for safety reasons).

Suggestions:
(1) go to Bandung for a day trip. take a 3hr (quite scenic) train ride from Gambir train station in Jakarta early in the morning... and back on the evening train. Buy in advance pls.
At Bandung there are many fashion Factory Outlets... I would suggest u go to say 2 of the following 3 streets:

Jalan Dago (where u can find Katikasari Kueh Lapis and more factory outlets)
Jalan Riau (The Secret's good)
and Jalan Setiabudi (shld b correct; for Rumah Mode (mo-dah), and Natural (produce passport for 10%))

can move around Bandung by Blue Bird cab (apparently cabs here do not use argo... so probably have to set on a price first... or board a mini bus... angkot. ... about 3000rupiah per ride... ask which ones to take before boarding, e.g. the angkot heading to Ledang goes to Rumah Mode etc.)

If u have time head to see the volcano in Bandung (once again NOT recommended to go alone/pairs by locals!)

Remember to give urself ample time to catch your plan/train.

stay safe.

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Young people of Indonesia are always curious and interested in foreigners; Indonesian are very (very very) polite and will never dare bother or disturb a foreigner as long as he does not give a sign he is “open”, is ready to have an exchange, wants to communicate. When contact is done, in some way, a few words exchanged, then it is almost as we are friends since long time.
It is just fun and nice to have a chat with these young people, very refreshing, and my Bahasa Indonesia skills are challenged; I like that! The young people here on the pictures, of course wanted souvenirs and we exchanged cameras and took lots of pictures of each other and finally, you end up with more than twenty people wanting to be on the picture with you; souvenirs for everybody! I like the second picture (no not my stupid smile!), where two faces of Indonesia, a muslim face and a more liberal face, pose with me, and on the third picture, it is not me who insisted for the picture to be taken. . . . Smile at the feet of Monas, laugh, look at the young girls, their smiles are just warm and a nice reward for the “Bule” (*) wandering around the “Monumen Nasional”, looking at the monument, but also at all surroundings, which are worth to be looked at.

* A “Bule” is a foreigner in Indonesia.

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Monas. . . . it is the acronym of Monumen Nasional, national monument, the monument representing the Indonesian Nation. It is quite a sober monument, but very high, dominating the city, visible from far on the city avenues. At the height of 137 m a flame, covered with 35 kg of gold enlightens the city and Indonesia. . . . .
A lift takes up to the summit of this square tower, and from there you can have a circular view over Jakarta.
This monument is located on a very wide square, not accessible to cars, with landscaped alleys, high trees, gardens . (picture 1). It is a very wide open park (picture 3) and many people from all over Indonesia come to visit the Monas and the park around is a visit destination for many Jakarta inhabitants, just a place where hang out, have a chat with friends. . . . (picture 2); the big tower, on top of a small pyramid and a reversed pyramid is impressive when getting closer (picture 4), and for having a look at the flame on top of the tower, you may need binoculars or a tele-objective. . .(picture 5).

Park open 8 am- 6 pm.
Monument open Tuesday-Sunday, 9 am-3pm

Lift to the top and museum: 2000 Rp

If you know Jakarta at all you'll think that touring Ciliwung and Galur is the last thing you'd want to do because these places have the reputation of being full of criminals and drug addicts. However, they're really just full of poor people trying to survive. You can catch an informal walking tour of these two areas, led by Ronny Poluan, Jakarta resident of 40 years. I've been on all the tours he does, and they're all excellent, taking you into areas that are probably impenetrable any other way than with a guide.

The tour of Ciliwung introduces you to one of the poorest areas of Jakarta, on the banks of the winding Ciliwung River, which regularly floods each year, dislocating thousands of residents to nearby parks and shelters. You get to visit Ciliwung Merdeka, a neighbourhood self-help organisation that runs education, health and nutrition, environmental and arts and culture programs in the area. And sit with the residents in their homes and chat. It's an extraordinary tour that everyone should do.

Galur is another poor area nearby that is home to thousands in its narrow lanes. The host of this tour is a chap called Bakti, who was also the lead character in two documentaries about Galur: 'Eye of the Day' and 'Shape of the Moon'. You visit tempe and tofu 'factories' that look like scenes from The Inferno and chat with mums and their happy, lovely kids, plus see an apartment block full of tiny rooms cheerfully decorated and home to hundreds.

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This monument is located lower south of Central Jakarta. Its was built in 1962 to welcome the atheletes participating in the Asian Games and since then has become a tourist attraction. The recommended to view of this monument once during the day and once at night.