Indonesia
Jakarta
Jakarta, Indonesia’s massive capital, sits on the northwest coast of the island of Java. A historic mix of cultures – Javanese, Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian and European – has influenced its architecture, language and cuisine. The old town, Kota Tua, is home to Dutch colonial buildings, Glodok (Jakarta’s Chinatown) and the old port of Sunda Kelapa, where traditional wooden schooners dock.
Surakarta
Surakarta (also known as Solo) is a city and historic royal capital on the Indonesian island of Java. The 18th-century Keraton Kasunanan was the royal family’s residence and today is a museum of heirlooms, while Mangkunegaran palace has an elaborately painted pavilion. Surakarta is also a major center for dyed batik fabric, which is displayed at the Danar Hadi museum.
Bukittinggi
Bukittinggi is a city on the west side of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, near the Mount Merapi and Mount Singgalang volcanoes. The central 1920s Jam Gadang clock tower has a traditional, pointed Minangkabau roof.
Nearby are relics of Fort de Kock, a 19th-century Dutch hilltop outpost. Panorama Park overlooks Sianok Canyon, site of Japanese WWII tunnels. West, Lake Maninjau is a caldera surrounded by forests.
Malang
Malang is a city in East Java, Indonesia. Prized by the Dutch for its mild highland climate, the city retains much of its colonial architecture. The Balai Kota building blends Indonesian and Dutch styles, and grand mansions line the main boulevard, Jalan Besar Ijen. North of the city, the Buddhist-Hindu Singosari Temple ruins are a remnant of a medieval kingdom. To the east is Mt. Bromo, a volcano with hiking trails.
Tangerang
Tangerang is an industrial and manufacturing hub on Java and is home to over 1,000 factories. Many international corporations have plants in the city. Tangerang tends to be hot and humid, with little in the way of trees or geographical features. Certain areas consist of swamps, including the areas near the Soekarno–Hatta International Airport. It’s also home to Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD City, Indonesia’s largest convention and exhibition center.
Kendari
In 1831, a Dutch cartographer named Vosmaer was tasked with mapping the area of Kendari. While performing this task, he is said to have met with the indigenous tribe, the Tolakis, and to have built their king a palace in the harbor of Kendari. The palace was completed on 9 May 1832, and now 9 May is celebrated as the date of Kendari’s founding. Over time, the city became an important center of Sulawesi in the Dutch East Indies, first becoming the capital of the Kewedanan District and later the Laiwoi Onder Afdeling District.