Top sights and activities for those who teach English in Jakarta
Jakarta is a seething, breathing megacity. It occupies a massive cut-out of Java island between the Indian Ocean and the Java Sea. Most travelers to Indo will come for just a few days before ditching the capital for the surf breaks of Bali. Those who do linger can discover a few intriguing monuments, cultural attractions, and shopping districts. Let’s take a look…
National Monument
The National Monument is Indo’s answer to Washington’s National Mall. Soaring to a whopping 132 meters above the cityscape, it takes the shape of a needle-like obelisk that’s topped with a carved flame. That dominates the heart of one of the most important plazas in the whole capital, Merdeka Square, where you also find the parliament buildings and a number of old colonial palaces. This isn’t just one of the most striking attractions to see for those who teach English in Jakarta, it’s also a fantastic place to learn about local history and the birth of the nation, thanks to an enthralling adjoining museum and other cultural heritage statues in and around the vicinity.
Ancol Dunia Fantasi
Ancol Dunia Fantasi, also known as the Ancol Dreamland, is a sprawling mass of family entertainments and fun-filled attractions that spreads across the shoreline of north Jakarta. The main draws are the heart-thumping roller coasters and the fairground rides, which range from the gravity-defying Tornado spinner to the high-octane Kicir-Kicir. But that’s not it, there are also several themed areas that’ll have you feeling like you’ve been transported back to the age of ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, along with stacks of hotels and eateries on the side of the Java Sea.
Museum Nasional
The Museum Nasional is the national museum of Indonesia. Locals often call it the Elephant Museum for the large effigy of one of the great Asian beasts that stands before the entrance. Inside, there’s an estimated 140,000 objects and relics. They combine to make it one of the richest collections in all of Southeast Asia, with particular emphasis on Hindu ceramics and artifacts from the ages of the ancient Balinese regencies (there’s a particularly stunning gold cup from that surf-washed island). The museum is too big to do in a single day, but it’s also the perfect getaway when the rains start a-falling (as they often do during monsoon!).
Istiqlal Mosque
Don’t miss a glimpse of the colossal Istiqlal Mosque. It’s the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and among the top ten largest mosques in the world. It looms above the landscape right by Merdeka Square (where you also find the independence Monument), dominating the skyline with its 45-meter dome and elegantly fluted minarets. International visitors are welcome to the site. Simply head to the guest entrance and ask to join one of the English-speaking guided tours.
Menteng Flea Market
Jakarta hides many a bustling retail district in its mass of multiple cities and urban areas. Arguably the best of them is Menteng, where a regular flea market offers a full-on Southeast Asian shopping experience. You’ll have to go searching for the bazaar in the narrow alleys and small canal ways west of the Cikini stop. When you find it, prepare for endless stalls and ramshackle hawker shops selling everything from strange religious masks to ritualistic dresses to handmade batik fabrics and Indonesian coffee beans. Be sure to brush up on your haggling skills before dropping by.
If you’re ready to teach English in Indonesia, be sure to check out our courses page, where you can sign-up for a 120-hour TEFL and get applying in this amazing country. Or, if you’ve got anything else to add to this list, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below…