Part I: Historical, Recreational and Pilgrimage Trip to Jakarta and Bogor

Selamat Datang Monument at Central Jakarta (own documentation, April 2018).

Prior this trip, I went to the airport that very pitch black morning before sunrise. It was 4 AM. I met my friend who graduated from Japanese Literature, worked at Batik Air (and I said "have a nice work and goodbye!"). My flight was a Citilink Airbus A320 equiped with "sharklets" from Bali (DPS) to the airport which was something new for us, yeah... Halim Perdanakusuma Airport (HLP) that located inside the City of Jakarta. The time had moved 1 hour backward.
Jakarta is a capital of the Republic of Indonesia. It consisted 5 administrative cities and 1 administrative regency. Surrounded by Depok (West Java), South Tangerang (Banten), Tangerang (Banten), Bekasi (West Java), Bogor and its regency (West Java), Jakarta is a largest metropolitan around Indonesia, also the one of largest in the world. It called "Jabodetabek".

Airbus A320 "Sharklet" at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali (own documentation, April 2018)

The flight lasted approximately one and half hour (1h30min). For me, this was a first time I went to Halim. I usually landed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for many times (early 2000s, 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2012). But Halim is something new to me. From the information that I read, Halim opened for passenger flights recently to ease congestion at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

Me at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta SCR (own documentation, April 2018)

I'd arrived at Halim, then I took a tourist bus for TMII (Taman Mini Indonesia Indah). The tour guide explained that the Halim Perdanakusama Airport is an airport with much history, dated from early 1900s as an airstrip, as well as much military operations during New Order Era. During that trip, I was shocked by the development of Jakarta, such as transportation and infrastructure development. I saw very tall under-constructed LRT lines and also double-decker buses. The developments still underway to ease congestion at the city, also to change their habits for commuting.
When I arrived TMII, I took a cable car round trip, to see a mini-Indonesia from above. "Hey! There's a Bali island! Beautiful isn't it?!". 7 years ago, I took the aeromovel at that same location to go around TMII. TMII Consisted 33 provincial pavillions (excluding the North Kalimantan soon to be opened), 14 museums, Technological Centre, 10 parks, and several religious buildings of 6 recognised religions.

The cable car system at TMII (own documentation, April 2018)

After that, I had a breakfast there because it's too early to take lunch. Well, it's a very long day to live there. To tackle this, I walked around TMII area and I met numbers of street cats. Cats in TMII was very friendly than street cats in Bali, they just escape when I encountered them. But in Jakarta, they didn't escape at all, they want to be petted.
After that, it's a lunch time. I went back to the bus and went to somewhere. I've lunch in a building with Betawi Architecture. After I have lunch, I went to the castle, theres much art-related relics especially wayangs and gamelans. 

The castle at TMII (own documentation, April 2018)

I left TMII for city tour at Central Jakarta, especially Selamat Datang monument in a so called "Bundaran HI" (pictured far above), because it is adjacent to the Hotel Indonesia (now Kempinski and Grand Indonesia). I took a lot of pictures, especially high rise buildings, roads, as well as types of transportation such as Transjakarta buses, three-wheeled Bajaj, low buses, double-decker buses, mikrolets, and etc. I saw Monas from distance, flowing thru streets of Central Jakarta, until stopped at ITC Mangga Dua for shopping (but not that much). It reminds me at many large markets around Bali, maybe in the middle between market and shopping mall.

Double decker bus at Central Jakarta (own documentation, April 2018)

Then, I checked in at one of accomodation at Mangga Dua Square to take a rest until dinner.
So, I wrapped up this trip. I will explain about the next day recreational and pilgrimage trip in another episode.
See you next episode...