I. Adagio: the serene beauty of the past of Jakarta in the present

II. Andante: a walk through Jakarta's parks and interesting areas.
III. Allegro: the high spirit of Jakarta.
IV. Finale: the farewell and intro to the rest of Indonesia.

Sunda Kelapa, also known as Pasar Ikan (Fish Market).

Sunda Kelapa was the origin of Jakarta. As far back as the 16th century, it was the marketplace where the Portuguese and the Padjajaran Kingdom conducted their business. This was also the starting point of Dutch colonialization of Jakarta and the rest of Indonesia.

You can catch the remnant of this trading activity in the form of a fish auction market that happens in the early morning. The entrance road to this fisherman's wharf is now lined with shops selling various kinds of shells, decorative turtles, and other mementos of Java Sea. At times, you would feel as if you were transported back a few hundred years as you see a very picturesque, tall-masted Bugis schooners anchor there, loading or unloading merchandise that they are still carrying across the waters of Indonesia.

Old Portuguese Church

Old Supreme Court building

Has been converted into a museum of fine arts, housing an excellent Chinese porcellain of the late VP Adam Malik.

Jakarta Museum (Old Town Hall)

Built in 1627, this building was the country rep office of the Dutch East Indies Co. It supposedly functioned as a dungeon to keep Diponegoro, one of Indonesian freedom fighters, before he was exiled to Sulawesi. With its long history, it now appropriately houses historical documents and colonial furniture. The building is guarded by a 16th century Portuguese cannon which stands across the cobblestone square.

Central Museum

Established in 1778 by U.M.C. Rademacher under the auspices of the Batavia Association of Arts and Sciences, it offers historical, prehistorical, archaeological and ethnographic aspects of Indonesia through its extensive collection of artifacts and relics which date as far back as to the Stone Age. It has one of the most complete collections of bronzes and ceramics dating back to the Han, Tang and Ming Dynasties. The Museum has one of the finest numismatic collections in the world, including cloth and money which was used on several islands until recently. The religious art section is filled with statuary and sculpture salvaged from sites of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic edifices. Its collection of cultural instruments, household utensils, arts and crafts provide an introduction to the life of the various ethnic groups which populate Indonesia. This museum is popularly known as Gedung Gajah or "Elephant Building" because of the stone elephant offered by King Chulalongkorn of Thailand in 187 1, placed on the front lawn of the building.

The Wayang Museum

This puppetry museum on the western side of Taman Fatahillah in "The Old Town" area has displays of wayang puppets from all parts of Indonesia and some from other parts of Southeast Asia as well. The wooden and leather puppets displayed here represent the finest craftsmanship in this particular form of traditional theater. The museum also shows shortened performances of the wayang kulit leather puppets every Sunday morning.

Portuguese Church

Situated in downtown Jakarta is the Portuguese Church, built between 1693 and 1696 for the Portuguese speaking people of Batavia. Although rather plain from the outside, its interior is quite impressive with its baroque pulpit and organ.

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