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J A K A R T A = M A N I L A
The cradle of city
True to its origins as a crossroads for
regional trade, Jakarta has retained the
original port that made it the jewel of
the Dutch crown. Amazingly enough,
it looks almost unchanged after five
centuries. Located at the mouth of
the Ciliwung River, the Sunda Kelapa
port is one of the city’s most unique
sights. Unlike Manila’s Port Area, this
1,300-
year-old harbor remains the
exclusive vicinity of sailboats. For most
of the week, traditional
pinisi
schooners
land on these docks, unloading tons of
cargo from the rest of the archipelago.
Saunter down this kilometer-long strip
for a glimpse of the old Batavia; here,
stevedores labor over piles of rice,
lumber, copra and cement. Although
it is no longer the city’s main port —
Tanjung Priok is where big ships go now
—
Sunda Kelapa retains its significance
as the birthplace of Jakarta.
Cebu Pacific flies to Jakarta from Manila.
This is the
birthplace
of Jakarta
Clockwise from
top: A laborer takes
a breather along
the ancient port
of Sunda Kelapa;
docked pinisi
schooners evoke
Jakarta’s heyday
as the Dutch East
Indies’ busiest port;
hired hands transfer
cargo from all over
Indonesia
