Jakarta Tourism Indonesia: History Environment Security Travel Guide and Information

Jakarta Tourism Indonesia. History Environment Security Travel Guide and Information. One of the worlds greatest megalopolises Jakarta is a dynamic and vibrant city. Its chaotic charm and juxtapositions can be found on every street. An organism unto itself Jakarta is a town in the midst of a very public metamorphosis and despite the maddening traffic life here is lived at speed driven by an industriousness and optimism thats palpable. With this fast developing pace come challenges. Its no oil painting yet beneath the new high-rises relentless concrete gridlocked streets smattering of slums and a persistent blanket of smog Jakarta has plenty of pleasant surprises including a world-class food and coffee scene. Its citizens even the poorest among them remain good-natured and positive and compared to many world capitals crime levels are low. From the steamy potent streets of Chinatown and Glodok to Kotas vestiges of a colonial past the old city is the prequel to Jakartas development. The newer Merdeka Square is where Indonesia presents the face it wants the world to see: bold and confident. Further south luxurious mega-developments are plopped next to humble neighbourhoods with pockets of emerging art scenes and bohemian coffee shops. Across the city its possible to rub shoulders with Indonesias future leaders and thinkers in sleek restaurants and roof-top bars. Hedonists can go clubbing and drinking till dawn much to the dismay of the current administration. In Jakarta you can find all of Indonesia. Its not just that people pour in from all corners looking for a better life (as theyve done for centuries) its that they bring along their wonderful melange of cultures beliefs and desires from the nations 17000 islands. Walk down an alley with food stalls and youll find a huge diversity of flavours while the glitzy malls and hotels offer fine dining from around the archipelago and the world. Meanwhile goods come in from all over and are sold at shops and on street corners around the clock. Jakarta is where Indonesia puts on its best face. It has the countrys top museums the greatest diversity of restaurants and public spaces in countless shopping malls that rival anything in Singapore or Bangkok. You can stroll the grand boulevard of Jl Thamrin when its closed to vehicles on Sunday mornings and marvel at all thats been built. Although religious pressure has slightly dimmed Jakartas reputation as a place to party beyond bounds it is still a city where people can enjoy long nights in lounges and clubs or linger with gatherings of friends