Jakarta

Sprawling, smoggy, chaotic, Jakarta can frustrate the impatient traveller, but rewards those who take the time to peel the unsightly outer layers of this vast city. In a nutshell, the capital is the heart and soul of Indonesia. It is crammed with all the bad and good of Indonesian life.
Beneath all the concrete jungle and shabby slums, the city is filled with delightful surprises. The old town of Kota is an insight in Jakarta's colonial roots, boasting a number of museums that display that rich history. In contrast, the Taman Impian Jaya Ancol is a showcase of Jakarta's modernity - housing hotels, theatres, sports and leisure facilities, and a park.
The National Monument, seemingly reaching for the heavens at 130 metres high, is the centrepiece of Independence Square. A visit to Jakarta's most impressive museum, the National Museum, is a worthy destination for any tourist. It houses early Chinese ceramics and a bronze elephant statue that was a gift from the King of Thailand.