Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia, and situated on the island of Java. The climate in Jakarta is very hot and humid. The city of Jakarta was born in 1527 when a small harbour town called Sundra Kelapa was conquered by Prince Fatahillah from nearby Cirebon and he renamed his conquest Jakarta, which translates as Glorious Victory. The city was taken again in 1619 and renamed Batavia only to be fall under the control of the Japanese during World War II, who renamed it Jakarta. In the late nineteen nineties, with the economy collapsing and widespread belief of governmental corruption, riots took place in Jakarta in which 500 people lost their lives and there still obtains a social and political tension in the region.
Of course, there is also the diverse architecture and the traditional tourist attractions of the city and diversity is the operative word when talking about Jakarta. The National Monument, known as 'Monas' is a 137 metre tall obelisk which visitors can ascend for a terrific view of the city. Visitors shouldn't have any difficulty finding the Central Museum as there is a large stone elephant situated on the front lawn!
A more modern attraction is Jaya Ancol Dreamland. The complex houses numerous restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels. Also on site is Fantasy Land which is a terrific entertainment park where visitors can take a historical tour through old Jakarta, Africa, America, Europe and Asia. Jaya Ancol Dreamland is a fantastic resource. Jakarta is a fascinating mixture of the old and the new and has a lot to offer the tourist. MORE...
