Started the day with a drive into the city, with Harsono, to the Monumen Nasional (Monas) – the National Monument. We walked all around the monument before we found the entrance. You pay money to get into the diorama history museum and then paid more to get the lift up to the top of the tower. The tower was built during Soekarno’s presidency and was opened in July, 1975. ...

Our first big day out in Jakarta saw us head into Kota, the old town of Batavia.  Three of us drove in with Harsono in airconditioned comfort, whilst my cousin James, his son Marshall and Harris took a taxi.  Every Sunday one part of the road is closed to cyclists so there were different bikes and people to watch along the way. We saw big flash hotels, dingy little side...