Jakarta and Java
Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung and the rest of the island.
Things to Do in Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city in Indonesia, located on the island of Java. The “Big Durian” is definitely a shocking experience , at first sight.
The Schmutzer Primate Center: Jakarta, West Java
There are numerous refuges for primates scattered around the archipelago and most are in national parks where our nearest living relatives can live in relative safety.
Attractions of Banten: West Java
During the 16th and early 17 Centuries, the once important spice trade port of Banten was a powerful maritime capital rivalling the vast Javanese Mataram Empire .
Selarong Cave: Central Java, Indonesia
There are several sacred, culturally and historically important caves found in the areas outside of Yogyakarta in Central Java.
Ancol Theme Park: Jakarta, West Java
It certainly isn’t like Disneyland but the theme park, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol , is definitely worth a visit when you go to Jakarta and especially if you are travelling with children.
Image of the Day: Downtown Yogyakarta, Java
Jalan Maliboro is the centre of attention on New Year’s Eve with party revellers blowing cardboard trumpets, letting off firecrackers and in general having a great time.
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah: Jakarta, West Java
As much as most travellers would like, the idea of seeing all of Indonesia in the short time visas allow, it’s virtually impossible.
Classic Car Show: Jakarta, West Java
When we think of classic cars , the likes of MG’s and MGB’s come to mind, those built in the 40’s and 50’s of the last century. I suppose you could call my old car a classic.
The Betawi Language: Jakarta, West Java
On my numerous trips to Jakarta it has never ceased to amaze me the potpourri of languages spoken in the capital city.
'Koran Jakarta' Available Next Week: West Java
Koran Jakarta , a 24-page Indonesian newspaper with a special economics section, will be available at newsstands on Monday.
Book Review: Enjoy Jakarta Shopping
This week I was delighted to find out that the Jakarta City Government Tourist Office had done something constructive in order to promote our fair and lovely city.
International Organizations in Jakarta: West Java
A lot of International organisations have bases in Indonesia and the majority are located in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta .
Rumah Cantik: Jakarta, West Java
People call the house at the corner of Jl. Cik Ditiro ' rumah cantik ' (pretty house) or 'dream house'.
Batavia Ontel Bicycle Community: Jakarta, West Java
Every Sunday morning, members of the Batavia Ontel Bicycle Community (KOBA) gather at Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to talk, display their bicycles and remind Jakartans of their city's history.
Locking Up the Knickers: Malang, East Java
News from the popular resort area surrounding Malang in nearby East Java , is just too bizarre not to share.
Plaza Indonesia Marks 18 Years: Jakarta, West Java
With tough competition from shopping attractions in neighboring countries, Central Jakarta's Plaza Indonesia -- one of the city's oldest modern shopping centers - acknowledges its loyal customers…
Street Kids in Yogyakarta: Central Java
You will see them anywhere you travel in Indonesia and the tourist island of Bali is no different.
Kampoeng China: Cibubur, Jakarta, West Java
Kampoeng China (Chinese Village), located at Kota Wisata housing complex in Cibubur , East Jakarta , is full of miniatures resembling famous places in China -- Beijing's Forbidden City or the Great…
Tour de East Java
When it comes to the media broadcast of cycle races, I tend to be glued to the television watching the races and, especially the Tour De France .
Vagina Spa: Jakarta, West Java
The room is bathed in soft light. Your batik robe flows around you as you settle onto the special padded seat.
City Caricatures: Jakarta, West Java
A transvestite wearing a rowdy wig, gaudy makeup and shabby tank top singing a dangdut song in a baritone voice is not something most people want to see while sitting at a traffic light or stuck on a…
Deep Sea Fishing – Banten, West Java
A stone's throw away from Jakarta , Banten's Binuangeun waters are heaven for anglers .
Klithik Puppet Show: Kudus, Central Java
His voice was trembling and shaken, no longer clear like it used to be -- but 76-year-old puppet master Ki Sumarlan was doing his best to entertain his audience.
Joss Stick Makers: Jakarta, West Java
Smoke from burning joss sticks is believed to carry prayers to the deceased when it makes its journey upward into the sky.
New Gramedia Bookstore: Matraman, Jakarta, West Java
Let me lose in a bookstore and you have lost me for the whole day. I can browse through the bookshelves with utmost joy and I simply adore the fresh odour of newly printed paper.
Book Review: Culture Shock! Jakarta
Most seasoned travellers will be aware of the term " culture shock ", which is an all-encompassing expression to cover the feeling of disorientation that often affects people thrust into new…
Traditional Markets to Get Upgrade: Jakarta, West Java
I have always had a penchant for traditional markets wherever I have travelled in the archipelago and can spend literally hours wandering around them and taking to the vendors.
Bookshops in Jakarta: West Java
The bookshelves I have at home are full to the brim, books are stacked on the floor and my desk, my office looking more like a library!.
Travelling in Java
I recall on one of my numerous trips to Bali hearing a group of tourists at a restoran in discussion about visiting Java.
Tourism Summit: Jakarta, West Java
Jakarta is set to host the Jakarta Tourism Summit from Nov. 6 to 9 in conjunction with Jakarta's sister cities.
Sampoerna Strategic Square: Jakarta, West Java
It is not clear what the owner of Sampoerna Strategic Square is trying to achieve with the building's revamp. Is he trying to copy the gardens of Buckingham palace or the Hanging Gardens of Babylon?
Safe Viewing at Anak Krakatau: West Java
The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center believe the status of Mount Anak Krakatau , located in the Sunda Strait between Banten and Lampung , is still within a safe limit to observe…
List of Emergency Numbers: Jakarta, West Java
Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and is a city of vast expanse. Like any other major city it does have its pitfalls such as crime and in these cases it is useful to know who to contact besides…
Pesta Blogger Party 2007: Jakarta, West Java
A popular ustadz (Islamic preacher) got angry and threatened via email to report a blogger in Yogyakarta to police for defaming Islamic preachers.
The Charms of Yogyakarta: Central Java
It's easy to fall in love with Yogyakarta ; not so easy to explain how it is that the city so beguiles and enthralls the visitor.
West Java to Boost Tourism Industry
At a session of the Pacific Asia Travel Association ( PATA ) meeting in Bali , tourism officials from West Java predicted the number of foreign visitors to the province would double by 2010.
Red-Light District Dimmed during Ramadan: Surabaya, East Java
Millions of Muslims across Indonesia flocked to traditional markets and department stores earlier this month to snap up special foods, gifts and clothing ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Bridge to Connect Java and Sumatra
Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiah says her administration has agreed with Lampung province to start building a bridge over the Sunda Strait separating Java and Sumatra in 2009.
Regol Jogja Magazine: Yogyakarta, Central Java
Regol Jogja magazine has a distinct and colorful way of telling a story about Yogyakarta 's people, their daily lives, cultural heritage, local pastimes and traditional cuisine, said its founder and…
Paragliding: Malang, East Java
For Malang lawyer Sunu Setyonugroho, who has a deep and irrational fear of heights, there's only one cure. He goes halfway up Mount Banyak at Songgoriti , Batu , East Java .
New Maritime Tourism Facility: Jakarta, West Java
The city hopes its seafront areas will become tourism destinations as a private sector firm takes aim at establishing a maritime tourism facility at Sunda Kelapa port , North Jakarta.
The Antique Strip: Jakarta, West Java
Since the 1980s people have been visiting Jl. Ciputat Raya , the street that divides Tangerang and South Jakarta , for its antiques and teak furniture .
Salihara Art Enclave Begins: Jakarta, West Java
Spurred on by the success of Utan Kayu arts community in East Jakarta , several noted Indonesian cultural activists led by poet-writer Goenawan Mohamad have established Salihara community with an art…
Bandung Polishes Its Image: Bandung, West Java
Traffic jams have become a regular weekend sight in Bandung 's main street as thousands of tourists flock to the West Java capital city for retail therapy and culinary cuisines.
Minimarkets Targeting Suburbs: Jakarta, West Java
They are brightly colored, well lit and air-conditioned -- but the logic behind sprouting minimarkets in Greater Jakarta suburbs is no different to the opening of streetside cigarette stalls.
Survivors to Remember Java Quake: Yogyakarta, Central Java
An estimated 3,000 people are expected to attend a ceremony to be held at the Trirenggo field in Bantul on Sunday to remember the devastating earthquake that hit the region last May.
Secondhand Markets an Experience: Jakarta, West Java
Flea markets still have a place in many Jakartan's hearts, offering goods that just can not be found in more modern shops. One example is the flea market on Jl. Surabaya in Central Jakarta .
Flohmak Flea Market: Tangerang, West Java
Jakarta's fashionistas and homemakers must definitely be in need of a break from the comfort of gigantic, air-conditioned and European label-laden shopping malls when they start to find solace and…
Mat Rempit Woes in Jakarta
In Malaysia, illegal motorcycle riders are called " Mat Rempit " but their counterparts in Indonesia, especially Jakarta , are dubbed " Balap Liar ".
Architectural Treasures in Pasar Baru: Jakarta, West Java
Kibout, 59, spent the afternoon sitting in front of the old Chinese shop in Pasar Baru market , Central Jakarta .
Spas and Relaxation: Jakarta, West Java
Leave behind your busy schedule for a while to pamper yourself and find balance of mind, spirit and body with the pleasing sensation of relaxation uniquely conforming to the urban lifestyle: a spa.
Seibu Coming to Jakarta Soon
Publicly listed retailer PT Mitra Adiperkasa (MAP), the local franchisee of a large number of major international brands, is expanding its high-end retail business by opening Jakarta's first outlet…
Rainy and Windy May: Jakarta, West Java
Jakartans should get ready with umbrellas and raincoats, with May slated to see heavy rain and strong wind in the afternoons, according to the Meteorological and Geophysics Agency (BMG).
Honey Bees as an Alternative Medication: Jakarta, West Java
Practiced for the first time in China and later in Egypt centuries ago, bee acupuncture today exists in cities across Indonesia .
Chinese Garden at Taman Mini: Jakarta West Java
In the scorching heat of East Jakarta last Wednesday, construction workers unloaded carved solid marble blocks, placing them under an unfinished 24-meter wide Chinese gate .
My Spa Offers Different Treatments: Yogyakarta, Central Java
If you like to enjoy the refreshing and rejuvenating touches of a massage, but not greasy massage oil or cream, then My Spa at the four-star Novotel Yogyakarta hotel could be the answer.
Bikini Party Enrages Locals: Yogyakarta, Central Java
Muslim groups near Yogyakarta in Central Java are up in arms at a local night club which has organised a Baywatch Bikini Party , inspired by the American television serial based on Californian surf…
Tsunami Detection Buoys Deployed: Java
It might be a case of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted with regard to the devastating Tsunami that hit Aceh , but, at last Indonesia will deploy a new tsunami detection buoy off the…
Anyer – A Tough Life: Banten, West Java
Many Indonesians are told during their childhood that to be Indonesian is lucky. This is because Indonesia is a country blessed with abundant natural resources, both on the ground and deep under the…
Blitz Megaplex: Jakarta, West Java
I used to really enjoy going to the cinema complexes in Yogyakarta . They were in some ways an adventure.
Semarang: Central Java
If you travel to Java then the northern coastal harbour-city of Semarang is one place you should not miss out on seeing.
Semarang – Places to See: Central Java
Semarang was once a very important and busy trading port for the dutch during their occupation of Indonesia , and, subsequently there still remains some excellent examples of dutch architecture.
Planetarium Jakarta: West Java
I have always been fascinated with the stars and have visited many planetariums on my travels.
Sunda Kelapa: Jakarta, West Java
Located at the mouth of the Ciliwung River and also known as Pasar Ikan , 500-year-old harbour area of Sunda Kelapa was a vital link to markets of the outside world for the 15th century kingdom of…
Jakarta Monorail
Jakarta plans to build two monorail routes , a green line and the blue line, at an estimated total cost of US$650 million.
Hyatt Bandung Feast: Bandung, West Java
I have never been one for 5 star hotels or restaurants much preferring to stay in losmens or homestays and eating at warungs or street stalls.
Yogyakarta Tourism Suffering: Yogyakarta, Central Java
It appears that the Governor of Yogyakarta , Sultan Hamengku Buwono X , considers the series of disasters in the recent past have greatly affected tourism in the cultural city.
Sea World Oceanarium – Ancol Dreamland: Jakarta, West Java
As I have mentioned before, most of my life I have lived by the sea and so anything associated with the oceans I enjoy visiting. One of these places is Sea World in Jakarta .
Identifying the Deceased: Yogyakarta, Central Java
It seems that experts are struggling to identify bodies badly burned when the Garuda Indonesia plane overshot the runway and burst into flames as it landed in killing more than 20 people.
Improving Downtown Yogyakarta: Central Java
In the city of Yogyakarta all, or most of, the retail activities are concentrated in downtown Jl.
Villagers Reforest Barren Lands: Klaces, Central Java
Klaces is a village located in the north-west part of Nusakambangan Island , an island renowned for its penitentiary.
Madura Island: East Java
Madura is the relatively small island to the north of Surabaya . Its culture and people are delightful and interesting, especially the bull races.
Symposium to Help Kotagede: Yogyakarta, Central Java
The 4th International Field School for Asian Heritage (IFSAH) and the International Symposium on Asian Heritage Conservation are to be held in Yogyakarta from Feb. 17-25.
Deadly Flooding Disastrous: Jakarta, West Java
It has been a week now since the Indonesian capital was struck by the worst floods in recent memory and although the waters had receded in many districts, conditions remain grim where the city's poor…
The Ghosts of Surabaya’s ‘Spookhuis’: East Java
Indonesians are renowned for their beliefs in the spirit world, good versus evil, and the power of shamans and duduks .
Jakarta Prepare for Worse Floods
Every time the rainy season arrives, you can guarantee that certain areas in Jakarta will be virtually under water from flooding.
Sunda Kelapa - Ancient Seaport: Jakarta
Once a trading hub for centuries this 500 year old harbour connected the area today known as Indonesia with numerous Asian and European cities.
Love that Jazz!: Jakarta
It seems as though the International Jazz Festival has just finished but it has been a while.
Kebun Bibit: Surabaya, East Java
Surabaya is one of those cities that you wither love or hate. A booming city and is the industrial and commercial hub in Java.
Traders Relocated: Banten Lama, West Java
Banten Lama is an historical city and is now part of the Serang Regency located north of the city of Serang and was once the capital of the Indonesian Sultanate of Banten .
Giant Orchid Ready to Bloom: Bogor, West Java
I am a great lover of orchids and have numerous varieties growing in my garden but for the hell of it I couldn’t tell you what their names are!.
Kali Adem: Yogyakarta, Central Java
Not long after the recent horrendous earthquake that hit Yogyakarta and left countless homeless, Gunung Merapi once again raised its ugly head and spewed out lava threatening even more lives.
Bandung's Town Square Reopens: West Java
I was so pleased to read an article in the JP that after being closed for so long, the town square has been reopened with a dramatic facelift making it one of the great attractions in the city.
Karimunjawa Tourism Suffers 'Bad Blues' Weather: Central Java
Extreme weather affecting parts of the archipelago has damaged the Karimunjawa islands tourism trade after several ferry services to the islands were cancelled locals said.
Agrotourism in Central Java
Agrotourism is not aggressive tourism!. Rather, it is the utilisation of applying aspects of tourism to facets of agriculture within a country.
Casting Producers Suffering: Yogyakarta, Central Java
I have seen it on my travels overseas over the past decade or so and that is the cheaper products mass produced by Chinese manufacturers.
Alun-alun: Bandung, East Java
Alun-alun in Bahasa Indonesia is basically a town square. In Java , you will generally find a mosque on one of the sides and the alun-alun is a centre for numerous activities.
'Love Bahasa' Campaign Launched: Yogyakarta, Central Java
In an article in the Jakarta Post, dozens of students from universities in Yogyakarta have launched the "Love Bahasa Indonesia Movement" to protect the Indonesian language from foreign influence.
Paragliding in Bogor: West Java, Indonesia
For those who have been to Bogor then you know of its beautiful scenery and cool climate, and friendly people.