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| Selamat Datang Monument, Central Jakarta |
We arrived in Jakarta after a 9-hour-long flight from New Delhi over the
weekend. After getting our visas on arrival, we walked over to the immigration
counter. Upon enquiring about the purpose and duration of our trip, the
immigration officer informed us that we did not require a visa for up to 30
days. Unfortunately, we could not get a refund on the $35 visa fee per person
that had already been paid. With a reluctant smile, we bid him goodbye. I felt
stupid for not having conducted enough research on the visas. Note to self for the
next time!
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| Inside the museum |
The unexpected free entry at the National Museum that we visited later that afternoon offered some form of respite. The new Museum building is a synthesis of colonial style coupled with modern architectural design offering an extensive collection of relics from the past; giving visitors an insight into the country’s history, people, and their lives. There was another exhibition about human evolution which was interesting. On our way out, I posed with an abstract piece of art outside the building. The National Memorial stood tall from across the road, inside a massive park. I took some pictures from outside as we were too tired to walk all the way inside. In fact, we were lucky to catch a glimpse of this lovely monument draped in the national flag colours, while on our way to the railway station early next morning.
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| National Memorial Monument |
This
was all the sightseeing that we had the energy for, on day one. As I like to
visit rooftop restaurants for a fantastic city view in large cities, we decided
to visit one of them. While Skye lounge located on the 56th floor of
BCA Tower seemed to be the most recommended one on travel websites, we opted
for another popular rooftop garden bar - Lucy in the Sky instead. It was a
great choice without the panoramic skyline views that I had been hoping for, as
it was located on the second floor of the Fairgrounds complex in South Jakarta.
We sat there for hours gazing at the gigantic skyscrapers around us, through
the glass ceiling. At night, they fairy lights lit up the ceiling. The candles
on tables added a magical feel. Their Loosey Goosey burger was by far the best
burger I had in Indonesia. The California Motherfucker cocktail as part of
their Hippie Sundown menu is amazing.
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| Loosey Goosey burger with curly fries |
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| Lucy in the Sky at night |
On
our way back to the hotel, I took a few pictures of the multi coloured high
rise buildings around. Each building was lit up in a different hue, giving them
their own unique personality.
We
went to sleep fairly early as we had a 5 am train the next morning
.
