Jakarta Hotels and Travel Guide

Jakarta is often referred to as 'The Big Durian' - the popular but rather pungent Asian fruit, banned from hotels and airplanes, but nonetheless unexpectedly tasty. The capital of and the largest city in Indonesia, Jakarta also holds claim to be the most heavily populated city in Southeast Asia, with a headcount roughly estimated at near nine million. This should give you some idea of the metropolis’s overriding atmosphere.

Jakarta is best described as a mixture of Bangkok and New Delhi. The city has a decidedly cosmopolitan air, woven together by a tapestry of cultures and the predominant religion is Islam. The city has a large expatriate community that contributes to the global feel of the place. For the most part, Jakarta is an overwhelming experience and it has something of a 'Marmite effect' on people - you either love it or hate it.