Jakarta, Indonesia

This capital city of Indonesia is located on Java, one of 13,466 islands of this independent republic.  With a population of ten million, the city swells an additional 1.5-2 million each day as workers pore in.  Our guide, Jan, met us just outside the ship and we headed in to explore.  Immediately, we were struck by the sea of shacks housing so many of the country's desperately poor. 

Starting with Sundra Kelapa Harbor, the fishing boats are influenced by the Portuguese ships which came here in the 1500s.  Followed by the Dutch in the early 1600s as they expanded their spice route.  The colorful Phinisi Schooners are made from Sulawesi ironwood which gets stronger when wet.  Though the integrity of several appeared questionable, Jan pointed out a few that were over one hundred years old.  As the primary port for inter-island transport of goods, ships were laden down with product.  

From the harbor, we made a short stop at Kota Tua (Old Town), which reflects the Dutch impact on architecture.  Taman Fatahilla Square is a complex housing the museums highlighting the history and art of the area.  The Wayang Museum

houses thousands of Indonesian shadow puppets.  Brightly colored, large-tired bikes are available to rent in the square, they even include a wide-brimmed straw hat with the rental.  But, most renters seemed to stay within the confines of the square, not daring to venture out into the city traffic.   

Our next stops focused on religion.  First, we checked out the oldest church in the city, the Black Portuguese Church built in 1695, followed by a visit to the Jakarta Cathedral completed in 1901.  But the star of the show was the Istiqlal Mosque built in 1978.  As the largest mosque in SE Asia, this 5-story building is designed to handle up to 200,000 worshippers at one time.  During our visit, the facility was being scantly used.  We were asked to remove our shoes and were given appropriately modest robes to wear for our visit.  Selfies with Western tourists were a phenomenon we had heard about and several women approached me with cell phones in hand and politely requested a photo with themselves and their children.  

Taman Mini Indonesia was our final stop.  In a setting of parks and gardens, combined with an amusement park, visitors can see life-size replicas of traditional housing for all 34 provinces of the republic, unique and beautiful structures.  

Jan has worked a number of years as a tour guide, which he supplements with tutoring jobs, where he can make substantially more than his engineering degree provided.  As an engineer, his earnings were about $300/month.  Doctors at the public hospitals earn $800/month, school teachers in public schools $200/month and at private schools $150.  Corruption is wide-spread and endemic with politicians and police at the top of the heap.  If you are somehow able to accumulate extra monies you can bribe a local official to get a public service job, so the rich continue to get richer.  Education is mandatory from preschool through 12th grade.  Minimal basic health care is provided but individuals with serious ongoing health issues are on their own to obtain medicines that might help treat their ailments.  

Now it was time to move back across the city to Tanjung Priok Port.  Driving through this congested city is not for the faint of heart.  Chaos reigns everywhere, but we arrived safely at the port for a timely departure.

Black Portuguese Church

Jakarta Cathedral

Largest Mosque in SE Asia