Entertainment

Jakarta is a fascinating city of wide contrasts, a melting pot of cultures from across the Indonesian archipelago and beyond. It therefore comes as no surprise that you can find a wide range of entertainment to suit most tastes, from cheap and cheerful bars in Jalan Jaksa to expensive nightclubs where Jakarta's flashy young and urbane hang out. Plush cinemas in modern, air-conditioned shopping malls screen the latest Hollywood blockbusters, as well as Indonesian films and the occasional Hong Kong kung fu movie. For more highbrow options, check out the regular traditional Indonesian performances such as wayang kulit (shadow puppet shows) and gamelan (traditional Javanese) music, in addition to Western art forms such as classical music and ballet.

Night Life

Very popular among expatriates, Tanamor prides itself as Jakarta's best-known discothèque. Although not for the claustrophobic, this unpretentious, down-to-earth and rather raucous disco makes the perfect place for letting your hair down, especially on Fridays and Saturdays when a full house ensures a great atmosphere. Only the most danceable techno music is played, so you could be on your feet all night. Other well-patronized discotheques include the stylish Jalan Jalan and Garasi, the favored haunt of financial executives and stockbrokers.

Glodok in the north of the city, hosts many nightclubs and karaoke bars —Sydney 2000 and Hailai Int ernational, to name but two. Also in this area across the square from the Museum Fatahillah, but quite a different sort of establishment, is Cafe Batavia. A great place to enjoy a drink or two amid an unequaled historic setting, the cafe takes you a step back into Jakarta's colonial past.

Of course, a myriad of hotel bars exists in Jakarta. Pitstop Club in the Sari Pan Pacific, Chequers in the Mandarin Oriental, B.A.T.S. in the Shangri-La and O'Reilly's in the Grand Hyatt all come to life in the evenings, providing live entertainment. Tiga Puluh Music Bar and Restaurant in Le Meridien claims to revive the 1930s' spirit of joie de vivre, with its nostalgic decor and jazzy tunes.

Being the capital of Indonesia, international franchise bars are well represented. The most notable include Planet Hollywood Cafe, Fashion Cafe and, of course, Hard Rock Cafe!

The expatriate enclave of Kemang, south of Jakarta, boasts great nightlife, including TC's, which plays jazzy and classical tunes.

Of course there are a few bars that appeal to homesick expatriates. The Irish pub in the Gran Melia Jakarta, Kelts, stands out as the best place in town for a pint of Guinness. Also check out Bugils Cafe, a Dutch-style bar located at Taman Ria amusement park, between the The Sultan Hotel and the Gedung MPR-DPR. Overlooking a lake, this must be the only bar in Jakarta where you can drink ice-cold beer while relaxing on a Dutch-style terrace.

Tucked away in the vicinity of the Blok M shopping district are a few small bars. Enjoy live broadcasts of sporting events at Sportsmans or pop in to Oscars, which claims, with probably not much truth, to be the only bar in Jakarta with a smile!

Recreational Parks

On the north coast lies Taman Impian Jaya Ancol (Ancol Dreamland), a huge marine recreational resort, which kids, especially, will love. A 40-lane bowling alley, an 18-hole golf course, a Fantasy World with fearsome rides like the Big Dipper, and the huge Gelanggang Renang (Ancol Water Park) all guarantee endless fun and excitement. If you go, stop in to look at some of the diversity of Indonesia's marine life at Sea World.

Taman Ria amusement park is centrally located and much quieter than Ancol. It offers a few rides like the Big Wheel, which affords spectacular views of Jakarta. On the weekends there is live outdoor music. Tuck into a meal at one of the many restaurants, such as TGI Friday's.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah should be on every tourist's agenda. Here, full-sized replicas of traditional houses from all of Indonesia's provinces portray the incredible diversity of this vast nation. Each acts as a mini-museum, displaying many fascinating artifacts. The park accommodates many other attractions, including the Keong Mas Imax Theater, which features films focusing on Indonesian culture and nature, a huge bird park, and the wildlife and natural history museums.

Festivals and the Arts

Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center, (TIM) is a complex of art galleries, cinemas and theaters. Get its programs from the box office, tourist office or at select travels agents and hotels. TIM also shares its premises with the recently refurbished Jakarta Planetarium.

Pasar Seni in Ancol showcases live gamelan music, dangdut (Indonesian pop music with a strong Indian influence) and occasional cultural performances. The annual arts festival at the Jakarta Arts Building presents one with a superb opportunity to see world-class dance, music and theater performed by local and foreign artists.

For the film buff, award-winning pictures from various countries are shown during the annual Jakarta Intern ational Film Festival (JiFFest), offering viewers a rare chance to enjoy quality films that would otherwise not make it to the big screen in Jakarta.