Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, lies at the north-western tip of Java, spread out over a marshy alluvial plain, and ends facing the sea on a strange network of flooded canals dating back to colonial times. It is one of Asia’s most congested and polluted cities. Its exponential development has turned it into a dense, multicultural city, where kampungs (old working-class districts) and skyscrapers stand side by side. A city of contrasts, bustling by day and by night, that will appeal to those who love the hustle and bustle of life.
Yogyakarta (or Jogjakarta) on the other hand is a fascinating city surrounded by jungles, rice paddies and mountains, nestled in the heart of one of Indonesia’s most important ancient empires. The impressive Sultan’s Palace (the Kraton), under the watchful but friendly eye of hundreds of palace guards in their traditional uniforms, was built in 1755 by Hamengkubuwono I. The inhabitants have occupied the regions of Central Java and Yogyakarta since time immemorial, as the richness of this land, caused by frequent volcanic eruptions, has attracted them for centuries. As the former capital and center of several kingdoms in the past, Yogyakarta and its people have a rich cultural heritage.
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