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PHOTOS
LESTER LEDESMA
Jakarta’s
OldQuarter
Back in the age of empires they were
gateways to the Orient. Manila was the
center of Spanish-controlled
Las Islas
Filipinas
,
while Jakarta — then known
as Batavia — was the Dutch East Indies’
busiest port. This colonial legacy lives
on to this day. Like Manila’s Intramuros,
Jakarta’s Kota Tua retains the flavor
of a bygone age. Here, aging Dutch
buildings still stand amidst zipping
Bajai scooters. Many of the original
government structures have since been
converted into museums. And true to
its European form, they’re all clustered
around the main plaza. Check out
Fatahillah Square and its surrounding
landmarks; the Jakarta History Museum
(
the former City Hall of Batavia), and the
nearby museum of
wayang
,
traditional
Javanese puppetry. Afterwards, stop
by for a nostalgia-laced cuppa at the
elegantly-furnished Cafe Batavia.
J A K A R T A = M A N I L A
(
Inset) Cafe
Batavia’s old-school
interior evokes
Jakarta’s colonial
past; (clockwise
from top): Kota
Tua is one of the
city’s major tourist
attractions; Bajai
scooters criss-cross
these storied streets;
restored Dutch
houses still stand
near Fatahillah
Square; Young
Jakartans hang out
in front of an aging
facade
