Jakarta: 25 Excursions in and around the Indonesian Capital

Book excerpt: The only Indonesia travel guide you'll need for getting around Jakarta! Everything you need is in this one convenient package—including a large pull-out map! Linking over 500 activities and attractions into 25 half-day and full-day excursions, this is the first in-depth travel book on Jakarta that tells you exactly where to go, what to do and how to get there in order to maximize your enjoyment of the city. Illustrated with over 40 maps and 200 color photographs of the city, the 25 tours take you by the hand from the maritime and historical attractions of north Jakarta, down the culturally rich back streets of central Jakarta, to the peaceful parks and family attractions of the south; and on five additional tours outside the city, exploring mountains, lakes and beaches within easy reach of the capital. Each tour starts with a description of the neighborhood's key attractions; cultural and historical background and advice on how to get to the starting point, followed by a step-by-step guide through the walk itself. Tours include high adventure—scuba diving, paragliding, rock climbing, microlighting, horse riding and wet and dry market exploration—as well as more traditional visits to art galleries, museums, parks and temples. Special interest tours include history walks, urban art walks and market walks. Each chapter gives you the walk length, degree of difficulty and age suitability, so you know exactly what you are getting into before you start. This indispensable Jakarta travel guide is jam-packed with practical tips on what to wear, what to bring, expect and say to the local people you encounter as you explore areas of Jakarta off the beaten path, and re-explore favorite neighborhoods with new insight. Written by resident expert Andrew Whitmarsh, this book makes exploring Jakarta on foot fun, safe and easy.