Jakarta: 30 million cities

The sprawling and chaotic capital of Indonesia is a remarkable trial of urban planning. Congested to the point of disarray, Jakarta continues to grow,  managing to find room for another million residents each year. At over 33 million people this is the largest metropolis in the southern hemisphere. 

Each neighbourhood feels like a small city within itself. One moment, you could amongst the corrugated roofs, wild chickens and crowded food stalls in West Jakarta. Later, you might find yourself at upscale shopping malls staring up at skyscrapers in the central business district. It’s hard to describe how crazy it all feels, though this perhaps isn’t unique to Jakarta, and I’ve only seen a fragment of the city, it was a redeeming feature in a metropolis often characterised for its congestion more than anything else. 

One of the knocks on Jakarta, especially as a destination,  is the lack of those big ticket attractions that the other big cities of Southeast Asia have: think of all the palaces and temples in Bangkok, or the marina in Singapore. This is quite a fair criticism: there isn’t much in the way of must see, or even an established tourist trail. Jakarta is more of a sum of its experiences.  There is plenty of luxury, history, street food, coffee houses, shopping, and perhaps best of all helpful and curious locals making Jakarta quite a worthwhile visit when in Indonesia.

Click here for my full Jakarta gallery.