Tourism

Places To Visit in The Immediate Jakarta Region

• Bandung - This is a 3 hour train or 4 hour drive southeast from Jakarta. In the 1920's this was the Dutch "social" capital of Java with rich expatriates heading up into the mountains to take advantage of Bandung's cooler climate. They also built many Art Nouveau buildings which were fashionable at the time. Consequently, Bandung is unique in Asia and almost throughot the world, bar Miami, for having these styles of building. Bandung has faded a bit since its heyday but is now a major University Town and also the base of the growing Indonesian Aircraft Manufacturing Industry, as well as retaining its resort status. It is well worth a visit for a weekend or longer and both the drive (by any of 3 routes) and the train journey are a must. The train journey itself is spectacular with the train crossing towering gorges over layered rice fields on thin bridges - almost giving the effect that the train is "flying" when you look out and see only space. On a sunny day, I think this can be the most spectacular journey in Indonesia. You can also buy first (executive) class tickets for about $12 and have a luxurious journey. Don't even consider buying economy tickets! The drive, particularily going east and then south (rather than south and then east) takes you through pineapple fields where you can buy fresh picked succulent pineapples at the road side for a few rupiah (pennies). When you're in Bandung you can stay at a wide choice of hotels. The antique Savoy has been restored to its former glory, but is expensive. (In my article later in this section we give some recommendations and contact numbers). Just ouside Bandung on its northern side is an active volcano where you can drive up to the edge and look in! You can also take walks from the top into the craters of attached extinct volcanoes or to some hot sulphur springs. The only drawback here is that you will get badly pestered by hawkers and peddlers of mostly tacky souvenirs. Back in Bandung, you can get good quality souvenirs at Aneka Lukisan, Jalan Cihampelas 96 (62 22 83405), Sin Sin, Jalan Braga 59 (62 22 438574) or Souvenirs, Jalan Cihampelas 39 (62 22 4205427). Jalan Cihampelas is also more famously known as Jeans Street. Here there is a seemingly endless series of shops, all selling jeans at rock bottom prices. Each shop features garish comic book style furnishings and decorations and all try to outdo each other to attract trade.
• Bogor Botannical Gardens - This is about a 60 minute drive due south from Jakarta on the Jagowari Toll Way. Towards the tollway end, take the Bogor exit and turn right into Bogor, following the signs to the Botannical Gardens. The gardens are an enormous park (an extreme rarity in Indonesia) and feature a world famous collection of impressive wild plantlife from all over the globe. They were imported by Sir Stamford Raffles in the 19th century when Britain still wielded influence over Indonesia. Within the grounds of the park is the Presidential Palace where President Soeharto hosted the 1994 ASEAN Summit.
• Pelabuhan Ratu (PR) - This is a delightful sleepy fishing village and resort area about a 3 hour drive from Jakarta located on the southern side of Java (Jakarta is on the north). Take the Jagowari Tollway south until the Tollway ends at a village called Ciawi. Thereafter continue going south for about one hour rising up into the hilly regions until the road forks. Take the righthanded fork signposted PR and follow this through an amazingly twisted road for about another hour until you reach PR. This latter part of the road is terrible but well worth the trip. When you are in Pelabuhan Ratu stay for the weekend at, if you like big hotels, the expensive and over rated Samudra Beach Hotel (about 5 miles beyond PR) or alternatively stay at one of the small resorts or pensions located along the coast. (If you retrieve my article later in this section there are contact numbers for an excellent German owned residence). From there on just have a leisurely time on either the "free" beaches, or use the Samudra Hotel's private beach for a small fee which includes a towel. Be prepared to be either pestered or entertained by Indonesian children, depending on your point of view. Everything to eat and drink in PR is very, very cheap compared to Jakarta. At night time try and eat at a restaurant looking out to sea so that you can be mesmerized by the many local simple fishing boats bobbing out at sea with their candle-lit lamps (can be very romantic.) If you are looking for a couple of diversions ask someone for directions to either the Bat Cave or the Hot Springs. The Bat Cave is a huge cave inhabited by millions of bats. At almost exactly 5pm daily, the bats all wake up and head out for food. This is a spectacular sight to watch. The Hot Springs are simply some natural sulphur springs which have been developd into a small park. Both of these attractions are within 10 minutes drive of downtown PR. If you're feeling very adventurous try the local fresh fish or shopping markets and have fun bargaining. Beware as foreigners (ie endless supplies of money) you will be charged exorbitant (by local standards) prices if you are not careful
• Puncak Pass - This is, traffic providing, about a 90 minute drive out from Jakarta going due south on the Jagowari Toll Road. Take the Puncak & Bandung exit as the tollway ends. (Not Bogor or Ciawi). From there on the road will wind through local villages before beginning to rise, zig zag style, through spectacular tea fields on ever increasingly steep mountain passes and gorges. The tea fields in themselves are a breathtaking sight to behold. At the top of the Pass are two restaurants and hotels. The first looking back north is more "local" but offers better views and is always busy. The latter looking further south into the valley beyond is called the Puncak Pass hotel and offers Western & Indonesian style food. We prefer this one and try and sit outside on the balcony. On your drive back down to Jakarta you are liable to see hang-gliders and para-gliders taking off and flying over the tea fields due to favorable winds.

Sports & Recreation

Jakarta has all the usual facilities, one could expect to find in the West. However, many of them are prohibitively expensive.

• Golf - Golf is almost prohibitively expensive. Courses can cost $60,000 plus to join or alternatively you can pay $100 a round at the weekend. At the weekend though, the courses are full of Japanese who line up evey three inch putt as though the US Open was riding on it. Consequently allow six hours for your round
• Football (Soccer) - Jakarta has a thriving international soccer league. Each nationality has there own team and currently in the league are Germany, France, Holland, Denmark, Japan, Korea, The Wanderers (A British Team), Russia, Do It United (a pub team, mostly British with a few Italians) etc. I played for Do It United and had great fun

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