Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, is a vibrant patchwork of old and new. Formerly known as Batavia, the foremost spice enter port in Southeast Asia. The Old Dutch quarter of Kota is steeped in the city’s illustrious past and, at the old harbour of Sunda Kelapa, vintage clippers and schooners which one plied the valuable spice trade routes can still be seen.

As if to testify to the Historical significance of the city, Jakarta has 13 museums, some of which are devoted entirely to painting, pottery, puppets, textiles, and stamps. The National Museum is well known for its archeological collection while the historical development of Jakarta can be traced in the Jakarta historical Museum (Puppet Museum) stages regular performances of the traditional wayang golek (three dimensional) and wayang kulit (shadow) puppet show art forms.