R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 26

Fun Photo Friday — Jakarta Favorites 2

Ran Across This Guy Who Claims to be an Author — He’s since lost some weight since “retiring”

Today is the second of three Fun Photo Fridays featuring Jakarta favorites:

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Indonesia — Jakarta, Walking Around Old Town and Hitting Café Batavia

Café Batavia

When touring Kota Tua (Old Town) Jakarta, one of the attractions is also a refreshing one — Café Batavia. Café Batavia (website link here) is a colonial landmark that was completed in 1837. It is the second oldest building on the historic Fatahillah Square (Taman Fatahillah). As you can see, this is a great place to take a break and get some lunch, imbibe in some refreshment, or just peruse the photos and art decorating the interior:

Now let’s take a gander at the charming...

Indonesia — Jakarta, Wayang Museum

Museum Wayang, Jakarta, Indonesia

The Wayang Museum is a museum far different than is familiar to most of us. The entire museum is dedicated to wayang, the Javanese art of puppet theater. The puppets on display here represent two forms of the art — wayang golek and wayang kulit. Most non-Indonesian visitors will be more familiar with the three-dimensional wooden puppets used in wayang golek, which is the puppetry of the Sundanese of West Java:

Wayang golek puppets

The other puppet theate...

Fun Photo Friday — Jakarta Favorites 1

Ursula at the Sunda Kelapa Shipyard

Today I present the first of three Fun Photo Fridays devoted to Jakarta favorites:

I Never “Tire” of Bicycles We Were Briefly Millionaires in Indonesia Istiqlal Mosque Gong Little Barry at Play A Charming Group Happy to Pose

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Indonesia — Jakarta, Istiqlal Mosque

Istiqlal Mosque (spires of Jakarta Cathedral in the background)

There are six religions recognized by Indonesia, but at 87% of the population Islam is by far the most predominate. Indeed this country’s 231 million Muslims make Indonesia the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. So with that in mind, today I’m presenting Jakarta’s Isitql Mosque.

Istiqlal Mosque (National Monument if the background)

Istiqlal Mosque is the largest in Southeast Asia, and with a capacity of 200,000 i...

Indonesia — Jakarta, State Elementary School Menteng 01 and a U.S. president

State Elementary School Menteng 01 — Besuki School

After several days in Singapore it was time for Ursula and I to move on. And move on we did. We boarded the Holland America ship MS Volendam for a 14-night cruise round-trip out of Singapore for the country of Indonesia. Here we would have many adventures among several of Indonesia’s beautiful islands. Our first stop in Indonesia was Jakarta. And here, as is often the case, Ursula had us scheduled for a tour. The first stop on this one was an...

Fun Photo Friday — Singapore in Pictures 10

Marina Bay Singapore

Today I finish my presentation of Singapore from our trip there in 2018. Starting next week I will show you our cruise trip from Singapore to Indonesia, beginning with Jakarta. Until then:

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Singapore in Pictures 19 — Finishing Up with Modern Singapore 2

Closeup of the Marina Bay Sands

The Marina Bay Sands is a very interesting structure, with its three hotel towers connected via a three-acre SkyPark, complete with jogging paths, gardens, and what I’m sure is a breathtaking infinity pool. Here you also find places to eat and drink the night away. At the base, the three towers are connected by one immense glass-enclosed lobby:

Marina Bay Sands lobby

Part of this resort complex includes the ArtScience Museum that I showed you on Monday:

...

Singapore in Pictures 19 — Finishing Up with Modern Singapore 1

The Modern Side of Singapore — Marina Bay Sands Resort in background

Most of the views I’ve shown you in this series have highlighted “old” Singapore. Since this week I’m finishing up this Singapore series, I thought I would end it with an emphasis on the more modern aspects of this vibrant and dynamic destination. Beginning next week we’ll move on as I present to you destinations we hit via this 2018 cruise ship trek. We’ll be moving on to Indonesia, including (in order) Jakarta, Surabaya, K...

Fun Photo Friday — Singapore in Pictures 9

Today is the third and final Fun Photo Friday featuring the Singapore Botanic Garden. Next week we finish up with Singapore.

A Bird in the Bush Orchid Red Against a Dark Background Birds of Paradise Traveling in a Flock Stalked

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