06 Jakarta, Indonesia

Docking at Tanjung Priok we bussed to Jakarta where we walked around Taman Fatahillah Square seeing the colorful bicycles available to rent and the Portuguese cannon on display. The museum—a complex housing three of the city’s most interesting buildings that were once the heart of the colonial administration in the 18th century. The museum boasts thousands of puppets from all over Indonesia as well as many other items of historical significance. Two of the most famous are wayang kulit and wayang golek. These shadow puppets lend an exotic insight into the native theatrical scene. From there we went to the Istiqlal Mosque and had the unique opportunity to enter and observe a day at the mosque. Across the street was the Catholic cathedral. Last was a photo stop at the National Monument Monas, representing the Indonesian people’s determination to find freedom. This 450-foot-tall marble obelisk is topped with a flame coated with 77 pounds of gold. And the independence being celebrated is freedom from Japanese rule during WWII, not the final independence from European colonial rule.