Pulau Seribu, Thousand Islands in the Sun

As we have a thousand islands for our salad dressing, Jakarta also has a thousand islands but the real ones. Pulau Seribu which is located at Jakarta Bay in the Java Sea literally means "Thousand Islands". However, in reality, it consists only of 128 small islands, but still a large number. Most of these are inhabited and can be reached within one or two hours from Marina Ancol by ferry or by chartered boats. The surrounding reefs are home to a wide variety of fishes, making Pulau Seribu an ideal location for diving, snorkeling, and fishing. The real islands in the sun.

Some of the islands in this group already developed for tourism are Pulau Bidadari, Pulau Ayer, Sepa, Coconut, Pelangi, Bira, Pantara, Kul-kul, and Pulau Putri. There are also cabins for us, from which we can view the golden beaches fringed with coconut palms.

The changes of season and some degree of pollutions are believed to have given a degree of effect to the declining coral reefs of Pulau Seribu, though the surrounding waters are still a paradise for those who are accustomed to diving and snorkeling. The sea water is filled with a myriad of tropical fishes, which live among the multicolored coral reefs. Pulau Putri, Melintang, Petondang, and Papa Theo are among the islands becoming holiday resorts with cottages, restaurants, diving and sailing facilities.

The islands are located at the northern part of Jakarta Bay around 40 to 100 kilometers off the bay. The whole land area of all islands is not more than 860 hectares. Pulau Sebira is the farthest distance from Jakarta Bay, up to 100 kilometers. However, all are easily reached by speed boats available at Marina Ancol.

As the islands are very near to Jakarta which economically powerful, businessmen from Jakarta have converted many of the islands into tourist spots, where marine activities such snorkeling and diving are supported by diving equipment and nice hotel and motel where we can stay.

Degrading Condition

Following its nearness to Jakarta, and highly exploitation of coral reefs and fish catching, the islands’ condition is degrading due to human and natural factors. These factors include the unsustainable technique of fish catching such as bombing, blast, cyanide use, coral mining, and dredging, degrading of water quality due to industrial pollution and solid waste thrown by locals into the sea. The pollution might also contribute to the establishment of various resorts on the islands which involve various activities from project to tourists.

Important Islands to Note
Onrust Island is one of them to mention. Among the cultural preservation, which has a historical value related to the period of Dutch colonial rule in the 17th century, the island was once important boat repairs. Here we can see the relics of the remaining buildings which have been built in a fortress around the 17th century.

We can visit Hope Island to stay overnight in a fine home-stay, which is relatively inexpensive. There are also other islands worthwhile to be visited, namely Angel and Cipir Kelor islands, which become the Heritage Park Archeology of Onrust but, unfortunately, their existence is less a tourist attraction for local residents and foreign tourists respectively.

Princess and Bidadari islands are famous for snorkeling and viewing the underwater aquarium. If you like to lay down in the sand beach, Sepa Island is particularly good for its white sand.

Edam Island, almost forgotten, looks different from the surrounding islands because of its old lighthouse which now is still active. The lighthouse was built at the initiative of the King Willem III in 1879. Five guards and their families occupy the old buildings. We can see the beautiful scenery around the island from the height of  52 meters sweeping the horizon as far as  be 20 miles distance from the island. The building has never been renovated and using exactly the same equipments as it did around 120 years ago.

Apart of this unique lighthouse we can also find the remaining of Dutch fort and a tomb complex apparently belong to the relatives of exiled Banten Sultanate. Sometimes, some visitors come to the island just like to take care for the graves.

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Jakarta, the Old and New

Jakarta at the intersection of past and present, a blending of a metropolitan and big village. It is not merely related to the old and new in terms of parts of the city regions but also in terms of trading and architectural constructions.

The city has a long history starting from its foundation in 1527. As early as the beginning of the 17th century, the city had a nice central business district (old CBD) around Jalan Kali Besar Barat stretching from Glodok to Sunda Kelapa port, in the western corner of the city, covering the distance of 2 kilometers long.

The Old Batavia Map

The spices were obviously the main commodities traded in this area during that period. Dutch galleons at Sunda Kelapa port brought these commodities to Europe and funds gained from the trading were used to establish a lot of companies in that area.

The harbor was located at Onrust, an island in Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand islands) around 15 km off the city port. The island has been named Onrust which means “unrest” because at that time the activities were done uninterruptible from dawn to dusk.

One of the important sites leading to the foundation of Jakarta is Sunda Kelapa, a nice 15 hectares trading harbors managed by the local ruler. Fatahillah, the Sultan of Demak, Central Java, who understood its strategic location, led an army of Demak attacked and occupied it in 1526. Its name was replaced with Jayakarta -city of victory on June 22, 1527, the date which finally was considered as the birthday of the city. After national independence, Batavia was changed to Jakarta, the shortening of Jayakarta.

The Dutch East India Company who kept eye on a strategic stepping stone into which they could enter into the island of Java attacked it in 1619, led by Jan Pieterzoon Coen. In the year 1620 above the ruins of Jayakarta, the Dutch built a new city under the name of Batavia.

Indigenous people dubbed as Betawi (derived from Batavianen) actually were descendants of mixed blood people of different tribes and nations. The city of Batavia in 1635 expanded to the west of the river above the former town of Jayakarta.

The city was complete with a system designed for defense in the form of walls and trenches around it. Due to urban planning, it was divided into blocks separated by canals. Batavia city development was completed in 1650. After the Japanese occupation in 1942, Batavia was renamed "Jakarta".

Today, areas considered as an old city are Sunda Kelapa, Fish Market, Luar Batang, Kali Besar, Fatahillah Park, and Glodok. The total width of the Old City was about 139 hectares. This area was the beginning of the future development of the city since the 14th century.

In the 18th century, this city was enlarged further to the south side of the area in the Fatahillah Park and Glodok now. As an old city, Jakarta has inherited its legacy of a past history of the old buildings with European and Chinese architecture from the 17th to early 20th century. This old town has been preserved as the area of restoration.

Jakarta governor has issued a decree that the total of more than 200 buildings, is under the care of Jakarta government. Any improvements in those buildings must get a special permit of the governor. Only after that, the improvement can be carried out but it must not change either the style or characteristics of those buildings. Today Jakarta has a new CBD located at Sudirman-Thamrin triangle, where various high rise buildings are located.