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At the heart of the huge archipelago that makes up Indonesia , the country's capital is a noisy, boisterous city, trying to keep together the diverse cultures of this enormous nation. At the western end of the island of Java, Jakarta is a sprawling metropolis that until recently was bypassed by most tourists who would fly in and immediately move on to Java's other cities and towns. Over the last few years, though, more and more visitors have realised that Jakarta itself has plenty to offer, not only as a vibrant Asian city, but also as a centre of historical and cultural interest with a plethora of museums and colourful traditions.
The most interesting attractions for visitors to Jakarta now are its museums, which hold a vast array of artefacts and works of art from the city and the entire nation. The National Museum is the most impressive of these and provides a thorough insight into the country's past. Further afield, the rest of Java is waiting to be discovered, from the charming town of colonial Bandung to the great Buddhist temple of Borobudur. |
