"The center of it all" Jakarta by Assenczo

Jakarta is the capital and major city on the islands of the Indonesian/Malayan archipelago and as such becomes a center of things all Indonesian and beyond. It has the typical fervour of similar huge urban areas plus the added buzz from the inefficient transport system forcing myriads of cars and motorbikes on the streets vying for space and time. Predictably, it is a mish-mash of modernity, colonial remnants, local grandomania and outright misery. To add to the mix one has to mention the pervasive humidity even in the dry season and the smoggy atmosphere accompanied by the prayer calls of mullahs and street vendor/manufacture action. Major activities for the visitor include the dilapidated by now Dutch colonial center, the Merdeka square with the “Sukarno’s last erection” thing, the local Champs Elisee boulevard and of course the many shopping malls lining it.

• Pros:All of Indonesia at your finger tips
• Cons:Trafic, trafic, trafic
• In a nutshell:Contrasts abound solely for the entertainment of the visitor