I learned about the Dutch East Indies in school, but mostly in relation to Columbus and his “discovery” of America. It’s another thing entirely to actually visit them and learn about the history of these islands. I took the opportunity on my last morning here to see Jakarta on a private tour. My guide Nanda showed me Merdeka Square with the Indonesia National Monument (including the 50+ dioramas showing ID history), Jakarta Cathedral, Istiqlal Mosque (so gorgeous I’ll do a whole separate post for it), the Old Town (including the Town Hall of Batavia), a puppet studio (with traditional wayang puppets), and Sunda Kelapa Harbour. It was all fascinating, and I’m so glad I went! 🇮🇩

The Istiqlal Mosque is the largest mosque in SE Asia. It’s very modern, featuring only two materials – local marble and stainless steel. I *loved * it. I don’t normally get this artsy with my photos, but every angle in this space was breathtaking. 🕌