For those whose geography is as sadly lacking as mine, Jakarta is on the coast of Java. As such, it has a harbour, and was at one time, an important trading port. Although the city has grown well beyond it, the harbour still exists and is home to the world's last wooden trading fleet. We took a visit there one Saturday morning.
Sunda Kelapa is hot, dusty and industrial. The road along the dock is narrow and potholed, lined with trucks loading and unloading all manner of cargo - cement, plastic water tanks, bales of cloth, all headed for other parts of the archipelago aboard these beautiful wooden vessels.
Access to each ship is via gangplank, a bendy narrow board with rather dubious looking attachment to the ship and pier. We were invited aboard a couple of vessels, but decided to leave that for when the kids are older and less likely to injure themselves!
An excellent and somewhat different type of tourist attraction for Jakarta, but one that is well worth a visit.
