Day 69 – Jakarta, Java, Indonesia

Viking Sky overnighted in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia and the world’s second-largest city. Jakarta’s historic mix of cultures has influenced its architecture, language, and cuisine, and today, I set out to explore some of this city.

My full day excursion, “Sunda Kelapa and Jakarta,” called for us to visit an ancient fishing port, mammoth monuments, and a miniature Indonesia. Here’s the description:

Mingle among trading fishmongers and explore the intriguing history of Jakarta. Visit the old port of Sunda Kelapa, a bustling hub for the fresh fish auctioneering trade, and admire the colorful wooden Pinisi schooners that line the harbor. Once a major port, Sunda Kelapa still teems with the activity of porters loading and unloading cargo. After a delicious Indonesian fusion-style lunch, proceed to the National Monument, stopping to admire and take photos of its 400-foot-tall marble obelisk topped with a gold-coated flame. Visit the National Museum of Indonesia, the pride of Jakarta, and gain insight into Indonesia’s long and complex history. Stop by Jakarta’s Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park, a representation of all of Indonesia’s provinces in minute, magical detail, before returning to your ship.

As in Semarang, our motorcoach had a police escort to guide us through the horrendous Jakarta traffic. The police had advised our guide to reverse the itinerary, due to morning protests taking place near the National Museum.

Therefore, we began our excursion at the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park, which is intended to showcase the sheer diversity of this archipelago of so many islands. This immense park is divided into separate areas for each of Indonesia’s provinces, and each area contains replicas of houses and other buildings that reflect that province’s regional architecture.

Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park

I had been a bit skeptical about visiting this park because I was afraid it might be a bit lame. I was under the misconception that miniature meant miniature buildings, not the full-size replicas that we saw. I was therefore surprised when we entered the park.

Our first stop was West Sumatra, where we were welcomed to the park by a dance troupe. We only had time to visit a few of the provinces, and I found each one to be quite different.

Welcome to the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park

West Sumatra Province

For me, visiting each provincial area allowed me to learn about the many vernacular architectural styles and building types throughout Indonesia.  I could also look more closely at the intricate craftsmanship and details.  I won’t try to write about each of the areas we visited.  I’ll just include representative photos of each province.

North Sumatra Province

Aceh Province (And, Yes, There Were Lots of Cute Cats)

Papua Province

Sulawesi Province

As we left the park, I noticed quite a few museums in the same vicinity, indicating that Jakarta is evolving into a city that supports cultural activities and venues.

On our drive through the city, we passed a few demonstrations. Although I am still not clear about the issues involved, one sign protested the eviction of people due to a proposed development plan.

Demonstrations Seem to Be Common in Jakarta

As we reached the heart of the city, we passed many of Jakarta’s landmarks. I was only able to photograph a few, including the National Monument, which commemorates the struggle for Indonesian independence; the Merdeka Presidential Palace, which originally was a residence for the governor-general of the Dutch East during the colonial era; and the Thamrin Fountain, which symbolizes the rich cultural heritage of the city.

National Monument, Presidential Palace, and Thamrin Fountain

During the 1960s, Indonesian President Sukarno ordered the construction of several projects in preparation for the Asian Games IV. One of these was the Hotel Indonesia, which was intended to showcase a modern Indonesia to the world. One of the first five-star hotels in Southeast Asia, it remains a major landmark of Jakarta.

Hotel Indonesia and the Selamat Datang Monument,
Located at the Center of a Roundabout Known as Bundaran Hotel Indonesia

It was at the Hotel Indonesia that we enjoyed an exceptional buffet lunch. The offerings were extensive, and I enjoyed sampling many of the Indonesian foods. The chefs and other staff were so friendly and helpful, and I learned a lot while talking with them. Our guide was quite excited to join us here for lunch. He explained that people like him could only afford to dine here once or twice a year.

A Wonderful Buffet Lunch at Hotel Indonesia

Very Friendly and Informative Staff at Hotel Indonesia

Our next stop was the National Museum of Indonesia, and we began our tour with an introduction by our guide to many of the numerous statues that were discovered throughout Indonesia and that date from the first century.

Ancient Statues at the National Museum

The museum also had an interesting “Java Man” type of exhibit that questioned whether Indonesia is the oldest civilization on earth. It seemed clear that the answer was in the affirmative.

Indonesia, the Oldest Civilization on Earth?

I was very interested in a panel on repatriation. Much of Indonesia’s cultural heritage had been “stolen” by the Dutch, and The Netherlands has been slowly returning historical and cultural objects. This is an issue that both Tim and I are familiar with, so I was especially interested in Indonesia’s experience.

Repatriation Timeline

We only had time to view a small number of the exhibits in the museum before it was time to head to our next destination. On the way, we drove through Old Town, Jakarta’s original downtown area, and saw many of the city’s colonial buildings. Although a few have been restored, it was sad to hear that the city can maintain only ten percent of these structures.

A Few Colonial Buildings in Old Town Jakarta

We soon arrived at Sunda Kelapa, a 500-year-old harbor area where the Portuguese and Dutch conducted their trading activities. Jakarta had its origins in Sunda Kelapa, and this port played a significant role in the city's development.

Today, the old port only accommodates pinisi, a traditional two-masted wooden sailing ship providing inter-island freight service in the archipelago. These iconic vessels reflect the craftsmanship, ingenuity, and seafaring traditions of the Indonesian people. As I walked alongside these ships and watched the workers load and unload these vessels, I thought I had stepped back in time 100 years. It was a fascinating cultural experience.

Scenes at Sunda Kelapa

After a long, but enriching, day in Jakarta, I returned to Viking Sky, anticipating the evening’s special event. Tonight, we bid a fond farewell to Cruise Director Matt and Assistant Cruise Director Tara as they prepare to leave us in Singapore. In a “A Night to Remember,” they performed their favorite songs and invited the Viking Guest Choir on stage for a special appearance. It was a wonderful show, and we will miss these two delightful individuals.

A Night to Remember

(Please note: Due to the slow internet, I am reducing the size of the photographs so I can upload the blog posts in a more timely manner.)