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strong>Park tours

There are 10 to 15 parks recommended to visit around Jakarta, which include Suropati, Menteng, Situ Lembang, National Monument (Monas) Park in Central Jakarta as well as Langsat and Ayodya Park in South Jakarta.
Visit greenmapjakarta.org for information about locations, how to get there and park attractions.

Bird watching

Despite heavy pollution and traffic problems, several areas in the city are in fact transit points for birds from all over the world. Muara Angke natural conservation area in North Jakarta is the best place for bird watching with 91 bird species to be found there. Contact Jakarta Green Monster, a group of volunteers that have been working on bird
conservation at info@jakartagreenmonster.com.

Kite making

Privately owned Museum Layang-layang (Kite Museum) houses dozens of kites from all over the archipelago. Visitors are invited to get to know the traditional kites and learn to make one as well. The museum address is Jl. H. Kamang No. 38, Pondok Labu, South Jakarta.

Stargazing

It may seem unlikely, but at the right time and in the right location, Jakartans can enjoy astronomical phenomenons occurring on the starry sky canvas. To find out where and when, the Jakarta Amateur Astronomers'€™ Association can help out. Contact them through their website penjelajahangkasa.blogspot.com and their Facebook account, Himpunan Astronomi Amatir Jakarta.

Running

The Jakarta labyrinths offer interesting running tracks for those who want to give them a try.  Well-known public tracks are the closed roads on Car Free Day and the Bung Karno Stadium. Some tracks that are also worth trying in the city are at Ragunan Zoo, the Epicentrum complex, city parks, graveyards, canal footpaths and back streets. Indo Runners, one of the largest running groups, can help with information about running in Jakarta through their website indorunners.org.

Snorkeling and beach trekking  

Home to fishing villages, the laid-back Thousand Islands regency with its pristine sand beaches are indeed another face of Jakarta. Thousand Islands are a group of islets comprising of 110 Islands, which are accessible by speed boat from the Ancol Marina in North Jakarta. It takes 10 minutes to reach the closest islands and two hours to reach the more remote.

Pottery-making

Remember when you had fun playing with mud? If so, you might want to take the soil bending activity to the next level: making ceramics out of clay with your family and friends. You can go to Rumah Tanah Liat (Clay House) Citra at Jl. Taman Makam Bahagia ABRI No.22 in Pondok Aren, Bintaro. Visit their website at rumahtanahliatcitra.com.

Gardening

A small living space is not an obstacle for urban gardening. Help the environment by adding green to your home and growing your own food. Visit Indonesia Berkebun, which promotes farming and gardening for middle-class Jakartans during weekends, through their website indonesiaberkebun.org to know how.

Street photography

With its bustling metropolitan culture, Jakarta is a perfect place for the genre of photography that features subjects in candid situations in public places. Recommended places are the historical Kota Tua, city downtown Jl. Jend. Sudirman '€” MH Thamrin'€™s car-free-day, weekend destination Ancol, cultural theme park Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Monas, Sunda Kelapa, Jakarta Cathedral and Istiqlal Grand Mosque.