Jakarta is often being associated with the congestion and the mess, but this city is truly unique and deserves to be explored. In fact, traffic congestion is becoming a way of life for many of the locals. You can spot the passengers doing video games, working on the laptop, watching you tube or even read a book in their cars, during a massive traffic jam.
There are a lot of special things to do and unique Jakarta attractions to be discovered, and here’s our top 4 pick.
image: www.jakarta-tourism.go.id
1. Shopping
There are too many shopping malls in Jakarta and the selection is often very up to date. The number of malls in this city alone is around 150, and still counting. There are also a lot of brand names that are not available in Malaysia, such as Christian Louboutin, Judith Leiber and etc. For cheap shopping, there’s ITC, Thamrin city, Tanah Abang and traditional markets around Jakarta.
image: Top 10 Rooftop Bars in Jakarta
2. Enjoy the Night Life
Jakarta is often called the “city that never sleeps.” The cities skyline with millions of lights looks beautiful and the best way to take in the sight is to visit a rooftop bar. Enjoy a drink outside in the open air and experience another sight of the city. Some of the hotels that are pretty near to the Jakarta nightlife are Hotel Mulia, Kempinski and Shangrila.
image: food map
3. Food
Jakarta’s restaurant scene is thriving, with a wide selection of budget treats, enticing mid range restaurants and booming luxury restaurants to experience. Of course, there’s no other better cities than Jakarta when it comes to Indonesian food. Enjoy the most authentic nasi uduk, gado-gado, nasi tumpeng and etc here. If you feel like splurging, there are plenty of upmarket restaurants serving everything from French to Italian to molecular cuisine can be found near all major hotels and malls.
4. Old vs New
The Old Town of Jakarta is also known as Kota Tua. It is a neighborhood comprising the original downtown area of Jakarta and is located to the north of the National Monument. Kota Tua is a remainder of Oud Batavia, the first walled settlement of the Dutch in Jakarta area. The area gained importance during the 17th-19th century when it was established as the de facto capital of the Dutch East Indies. This inner walled city contrasted with the surrounding kampung (villages), orchards, and rice fields. Dubbed “The Jewel of Asia” and “Queen of the East” in the 16th century by European sailors, the area was a center of commerce due to its strategic location within the spice trade industry in the archipelago. (quoted from wikipedia).
Enjoy museum hopping here, as you get to see various exhibitions on Jakarta’s history and culture. Colourful bikes are also available for rent in the main square of the Old Town, it is a good way to explore the charming old town.
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