Page 24 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

Java Overview

How to Get There
AIRPORT
ava has been central in Indonesia’s history
from the beginning of the Colonial Dutch-
JEast Indies era to Indonesia’s struggle for
independence in the 1930’s and 1940’s, despite Jakarta’s Main Airport, Soekarno-Hatta International (CGK), receives
this history of political turmoil the people of daily flights from around the world. Ongoing domestic flights from
Java are warm hearted, smiling, welcoming and Jakarta to other locations in Indonesia are abundant, through a range
curious about foreign travelers. of Indonesian domestic carriers. If travelling from the International
Terminal to the Domestic terminal a shuttle bus service operates. If
Food is important to the Javanese and communal meals are travelling to the Jakarta City Center from the airport, allow around
a part of both family and social life. Traditional Javanese one hour by taxi, but travel times vary according to traffic.
cuisine is relatively simple, rice based and surprisingly mild
and sweet compared to foods from other parts of Indonesia.
Egg, young jackfruit and chicken are widely used sources of
protein and fish in coastal areas.

Jakarta: Indonesia’s Capital City

Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, is overcrowded, humid, chaotic and at times
situated on the north west coast of Java. nothing short of bewildering. Despite
The international airport, Soekarno-Hatta, this it is a major up and coming city
is the largest in Indonesia and many and if you have enough time to explore Pulau Seribu
travelers find themselves transiting here and ample patience there are luxurious
on their way to other parts of Indonesia. shopping malls, five star hotels, vibrant (the Thousand Islands)
For those who are new to Asia the culture night life, a rich mix of cultures and a hip
shock can be startling. Jakarta is a city and cosmopolitan outlook. Jakarta is a Krakatoa
of humongous proportions with an city of contrasts where gleaming modern
estimated population of over 10million skyscrapers tower over shanty slums and
in 2016, it is the most populous city in where street food stalls trade for less than
South East Asia and when including a dollar a dish outside of the city’s most
the surrounding regions the population decadent restaurants. Depending on how
count estimates soar to 30million. It has long you are here for (and how brave you
immediately apparent drawbacks; it is are) you can choose to avoid the city or
polluted, disorganized, subject to flooding, embrace the chaos, dive in and explore
this wonderfully colorful capital!

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