Bogor and its surroundings

Bogor, the rainy city or Kota Hujan as the locals say, is also a city that has held a World Record for the greatest number of thunderstorms in a year. True to its nickname, on average, Bogor receives 4000 mm of rain a year with over 200 mm falling in any one month, including May to August, although these months are usually the driest. Hence the first law of Bogor: always keep an umbrella handy wherever you go - rain may come at any time in the afternoon or evening during the dry season and all day long during the wet season. Fortunately, the mornings are usually clear blue and bright, as are most dry season evenings, enabling you to see colorful sunsets and fruit-bats flying away from Kebun Raya / Botanic Garden to start their nocturnal journey.

Bogor is located 60 km to the south of Jakarta (45 minutes on the Jagorawi toll road) and at 270 metres above sea level. Many people live in Bogor and commute to Jakarta every day by car, bus or the electric train service. It is cheap to get to the main markets, shopping centers and the central city area from almost anywhere in Bogor by public transportation. There are no timetables or regular stopping places except the main terminals. Just stand on the side of the road and ask the driver, when he stops, if he is going near your destination. Once you get to know the places you want to go, the system works well, but may be quite daunting for the newcomer. Public vehicles, except taxis, becaks (tricycle pedicaps) and delmans (horse-drawn buggies) are supposed to keep to certain routes. Payment is made to the driver or his attendant while in the vehicle or as you get out. Taxis (Bluebird group) are generally available in Bogor.

Bogor is a university town. Students from all over Indonesia attend IPB (Bogor Agricultural University) to study Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Forestry and Engineering, or attend other universities, i.e. Pakuan University, Nusa Bangsa University, Ibnu Khaldun University. Bogor is also an important scientific research center with numerous institutes conducting studies in the fields of soils, crops, forestry, fisheries, animal science, agricultural economics, biology and others. These institutes have also attracted foreign aid projects, often in the form of technical experts working within the various institutes of the universities. There has been an international school in Bogor since 1974, for children from Pre-school to Grade 6.

Source: "A Handbook for Newcomers to Bogor - The blue book". Editor Jose Levelink, 5th edition, 1995, 179 pages

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia. Home to over 12 million people, Jakarta is always bustling, from the sound of the wheel of government turning to the sight of the economy churning. Skyscrapers, single story residential houses, modern apartment complexes, survivalists shanties - all coexist in this city. So, why should you visit Jakarta? Well, for the same reasons you would visit New York, or London, or Paris, or Singapore, or any other big city. Because you can find everything here.

Jakarta is a special territory enjoying the status of a province, consisting of Greater Jakarta, covering an area of 637.44 square km. Located on the northern coast of West Java; it is the center of government, commerce and industry and as such has an extensive communications network with the rest of the country and the outside world. As Indonesia's main gateway, the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport serves a growing number of international airlines and domestic flights. Jakarta is a city of contrasts; the traditional and the modern, the rich and the poor, the sacred and the worldly, often stand side by side in this bustling metropolis. Even its population, gathered from all those diverse ethnic and cultural groups which compose Indonesia, are constantly juxtaposed as an ever- present reminder of the national motto; Unity in Diversity.

Finding its origin in the small early 16th century harbor town of Sunda Kelapa, Jakarta's founding is thought to have taken place on June 22, 1527, when it was re-named Jayakarta, meaning Glorious Victory by the conquering Prince Fatahillah from neighboring Cirebon. The Dutch East Indies Company which captured the town and destroyed it in 1619, changed its name into Batavia and made it the center for the expansion of their power in the East Indies. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Batavia fell into the hands of the invading Japanese forces who changed the name of the city into Jakarta as a gesture aimed at winning the sympathy of the Indonesians. The name was retained after Indonesia achieved national independence after the war's end.

The ethnic Jakartans called "Orang Betawi" speaks Betawi Malay, spoken as well in the surrounding towns such as Bekasi and Tangerang. This language has two variations: the conventional Betawi Malay and the modern Jakarta Malay. While the first is spoken by the elder people, born and bred in Jakarta, the second is spoken by the younger generation and migrants.

Jakarta's architecture reflects to a large extent the influx of outside influences which came and has remained in this vital seaport city. The Taman Fatahillah Restoration Project, begun in the early 1970s has restored one of the oldest sections of Jakarta also known as Old Batavia to approximately its original state. The old Portuguese Church and warehouse have been rehabilitated into living museums. The old Supreme Court building is now a museum of fine arts which also houses part of the excellent Chinese porcelain collection of former Vice President Adam Malik. The old Town Hall has become the Jakarta Museum, displaying such rare items as Indonesia's old historical documents and Dutch period furniture.

One of the most interesting tourist attractions is the "Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park" popularly called "Taman Mini". Built to portray the variety of cultures found within the many islands contained in the Republic of Indonesia, this open-air museum comprises the many architectural forms of arts and traditions of all 32 provinces. It is proof of the country's motto of Unity in Diversity as well as Freedom of Religion depicted in the houses of worship built on the grounds.

Jakarta has preserved its past and is developing for the future. Skyscrapers in the center of the city are part of a new look.

Modern luxury hotels today cater to the discriminating visitors. Transport within the city is plentiful. It should be noted that museums are open daily from 8.00 a.m. (except Mondays) till 2.00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. On Fridays closing hour is 11.00 a.m. and on Saturdays at 1.00 p.m