Jakarta

A final post before we start heading home. We arrived in Jakarta about 6pm and after collecting our baggage and locating our taxi transfer we made it to our hotel for about 7.30pm. After freshening up, we headed to the rooftop bar for a drink and a few hands of cards. We got a great view of the Jakarta skyline.

Today, Friday, we’d booked a day tour of the main sights. We’ve had a great day - Jakarta has surpassed our expectations, which - to be honest - weren’t that high!

First stop was Merdeka (independence) Square and MONAS, the national monument. A huge open space and, within the monument itself a good series of dioramas setting out the history of the country.

Then to the National Library for views over the city from the 24th floor, before heading to the National Museum (with ongoing repairs to the paving outside!). Good things to see inside, but on balance I think the museum in Yogyakarta had a better collection.

Then to the Roman Catholic cathedral and the Istiqal Mosque directly opposite. We couldn’t go inside the Mosque, because of Friday prayers, but it’s the largest mosque in South East Asia with a capacity of 100,000 over 5 floors inside and 100,000 outside. We did get inside the cathedral.

Next, via Chinatown, to the old centre of Batavia, now known as Kota Tua, still very Dutch-looking today.

We went to listen to a talk about Wayang puppetry / theatre which was very interesting - wonderful puppets (both two and three dimensional) and balsa wood face masks.

Our tour ended at the old port of Sunda Kelapa - very much the centre of Dutch trading activity here and still in use to some extent as a port today.

Back to our hotel, which used to be the telephone exchange in Dutch colonial times, for a swim before dinner tonight and a morning flight to Singapore tomorrow. We will catch up with Kit and Natasha over the weekend and then fly to London late on Sunday evening, arriving into Heathrow early Monday morning.