The Largest City in Indonesia by Douglas Scott

Located on the northwest coast of the island of Java, is Jakarta it has an area of 661.52 kilometere square and a population of 8792000. It was formerly known as Jayakarta Batavia and Sunda Kelapa and is the capital of the island and largest city in Indonesia.

Central Jakarta offers more convenient places for tourists to stay whilst visiting. With an abundance of hotels in the area to suit all budgets,it also has a wide selection of restaurants, bars and brothels and shopping malls. Jalan Jaksa is the main backpackers street.

International airlines, including KLM and Lufthansa, fly into Jakarta, as do several domestic airlines. A toll road links the airport to the city and the journey takes about an hour. There is a good Damri bus service which runs every half hour. Boats are also a popular way of getting around once in Indonesia, many services run from Jakarta to destinations throughout Indonesia.

The tower clock was once returned to England to be repaired under a lifetime guarantee, which up to now has already lasted hundreds of years.

The island of Java has a good rail network, centred in Jakarta. Bus travel is also popular, but Jakartas four main bus stations are all a long way from the city centre it can take longer to get to the bus stop than to take the bus trip itself.

Jakarta is almost always hot and sticky. Average maximum temperatures stay above 30C throughout the year

The nightlife is among the best in Asia. From the upscale X Lounge to the seediest discos, Jakarta caters to all kinds of clubbers. The most famous night life district is Blok M in South Jakarta. While lacking the bikini clad go go dancers of Patpong, the meat market atmosphere is much the same with poor country girls turned pro. Tanamor prides itself as Jakartas best known discotheque. During the month of Ramadhan, all nightlife ends at midnight and some operations close for the entire month.

Jakarta History Museum is the place to go if you are into heavy, carved furniture and other memorabilia from the Dutch period. Among the more interesting exhibits is a series of gloomy portraits of all the Dutch governors general and early drawings and etchings of Batavia. Housed in the old Batavia Town Hall, the museum is probably the most solid reminder of Dutch rule anywhere in Indonesia. The large, bell towered hall was built in 1627 and housed the administration of the city, the law courts, and even Batavias main prison compound.

Author Resource: Douglas Scott writes for The Cheap Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for Indonesia Rental Site

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