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Jakarta Mini Guide

Jakarta, the capital and largest city of the island country of Indonesia is all of the above, but all the more exciting for it. It is the tenth largest city in the world and was established in the 4th century. There is a central business district, lots of modern skyscrapers and shopping malls, but also the older areas such as Chinatown which tend be rather rundown, but such fun places to visit with ethnic restaurants and street stalls together with entertaining bars if you're looking for nightlife.

Not to miss in Jakarta
As Jakarta is such a city of contrasts, just travelling around and drinking it all in is a must, however there are several places of interest in the city which it would be a shame to miss if you have the time:

• The National Monument: This monument to Indonesia's independence was opened to the public in 1975, it is a 117.7m tall obelisk carrying a bronze flame weighing 14.5 ton.  It's design incorporates the numbers 17, 8 and 45 representing the date 17th August 1945 when Indonesia was declared an independent state at the end of World War II.
• The Fish Market: This is one for the night owls – or very early risers as the daily catch is auctioned off before 5.00am! At the entrance to the market is the Museum Bahari, housed in a building which dates back to the first trading post of the Dutch East Indies, it has relics of the old ships which used to sail around the islands.
• The Merdeka Palace: This Presidential Palace was built in 1874 as a residence for the Governor General of the then Dutch East Indies. It was re-named the Merdeka Palace in 1949 following the independence of Indonesia, (Merdeka meaning freedom). An impressive building, it is now the official residence of the President and used to host state visits and banquets.

Getting out and about
The Thousand Islands - No, not the well known salad dressing! Just off the coast of Java lie a chain of islands known as the Kepulauan Seribu or Thousand Islands.  The closest of the islands are only about 14km from Jakarta, making it an ideal weekend getaway place for the locals. They are currently being developed as a marine tourism venture with various types of accommodation on different islands being available from sleeping under the stars to luxury hotels. The idyllic beaches and clear seas are a paradise for divers, swimmers and sunbathers alike.