Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of the canal, from where frequent
pale-blue minivans (Rp2000) run back
to Kota and the Trans Jakarta.
the cache of golden artefacts discovered at
the foot of Mount Merapi in 1990.
he dazzling white, if rather unpre-
possessing,
Mesjid Istiqlal
looms over the
northeastern corner of Medan Merdeka.
Completed in 1978, it is the largest mosque
in Southeast Asia and can hold up to
250,000 people. For a small donation, and
providing you're conservatively dressed, the
security guards will take you on an informal
tour. At the foot of the minaret sits a
2.5-tonne wooden drum from east
Kalimantan, the only traditional feature in
this otherwise state-of-the-art mosque.
Medan Merdeka
he heart and lungs of Jakarta,
Medan
Merdeka
is a square kilometre of
sun-scorched grass and pleasant
manicured gardens in the middle of the
city. At its centre stands the
Monas Tower
,
a soaring 137m marble, bronze and gold
torch, commissioned by Sukarno in 1962
to symbolize the indomitable spirit of the
Indonesian people, and known as
“Sukarno's last erection” in recognition of
his world-famous philandering. You can
take a lift up to its top for an impressive
city view (Tues-Sun 8.30am-5pm;
Rp10,000); the ticket includes entry to
the
National History Museum
and the
Goblet Yard at Monas' base, a series of 48
dioramas that depict the history of Jakarta
and Indonesia's struggle for independence.
he
National Museum
(Tues-Sun
9am-3pm; Rp1500;
T
021 386 8172),
on the western side of Medan Merdeka,
is an interesting detour and a great
introduction to Indonesia. Many of the
country's top ruins have been plundered
for their statues, which now sit,
unmarked, in the museum courtyard.
Other highlights include huge Dongson
kettledrums, the skull and thighbone of
Java Man, found near Solo in 1936, and
Mini Indonesia
Eighteen kilometres south of Medan
Merdeka, on the road to Bogor, is the
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah
theme park
(Tues-Sun 8am-5pm; Rp10,000). his
peculiar oasis is like an Indonesian
Neverland celebrating the archipelago's
rich ethnic and cultural diversity with
gondolas offering the best view of the
sprawling complex. At its centre is a
man-made lake, around which are 26
houses, each built in the traditional style
of Indonesia's provinces.
he park also contains a reptile garden,
bird park and several museums. Among
these are the
Museum of Indonesia
(daily
8am-4pm; Rp5000), which has displays
on the country's people, geography, flora
and fauna, and the neighbouring
Museum
4
National Museum, Medan Merdeka & Kota
0
100
Garuda
ACCOMMODATION
Asri
Bloemsteen
Borneo
Delima
Hostel 35
Istana Ratu
KL Inn
Le Margot
Tator
8
3
7
1
6
2
5
4
9
JL KEBON SIRI
H
metres
JL KEBON SIR
IH
Popeye's
BNI
Bank
Cimb
Niaga
Bank
BDN
Building
EATING, DRINKING
& NIGHTLIFE
Beirut and Lebanon
Cocktail 'n' Friends
Dyna Pub
KL Village
Memories
Pappa's
Street Stalls
Warung Desa
6
1
8
3
2
5
7
4
Circle K
Wartel
Jaksa
Bookshop
S
N
AT M
Tourist
Police
Jakarta
Theatre
Hotel
Arcadia
Wartel
Inter
Asia
PT Bali
Amanda
McDonald's
JALAN JAKSA
Sarinah
7-11
Trans Jakarta
Bus Stop
Ibis Thamrin
Welcome Monument
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