If going on your own sounds like too much of a hassle, you may opt to join a program offered by Alila Jakarta in Central Jakarta as part of the upscale hotel’s 15th anniversary celebration. The program is available at a starting price of Rp 1,650,000++ (US$125.33) for two, and those who book this year are eligible for a complimentary one-night stay at the property.

Below are the three city experiences provided by the hotel:

Heritage trail in Kota Tua

The heritage trail involves exploring Kota Tua, the historic old town located in West Jakarta. After a walk through some gorgeous street art and enjoyable local dance performances, guests can visit the History Museum, which is home to more than 20,000 artifacts including historic maps, paintings, ceramics, archaeological relics and Betawi-style furniture. Afterward, they are given the opportunity to unravel the wonders of traditional Indonesian handicrafts and art by prominent Indonesian painters like Raden Saleh and Affandi at the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics. You can craft your own ceramics and even catch a wayang (puppet) show if you’re lucky. To wrap the day up, jump on the city’s famous colorful bikes and head to Café Batavia; a colonial-style bar and restaurant serving delicious Indonesian and international dishes.

(Read also: Borobudur to offer pilgrimage tour)

Folk music and historical excursion

This experience features keroncong folk music, introduced to Indonesia in the 16th century by Portuguese sailors and today part of the country’s cultural heritage. Audiophiles can go on a journey of sounds in North Jakarta, which is home to the Indonesian-Portuguese community and to one of the oldest keroncong orchestras in the city. Guido Quiko, the orchestra’s leader, will introduce visitors to the traditional musical instruments and teach them to play or sing folk songs. The exploration includes a stopover to the old Portuguese-style Tugu Church built in 1678 and the house of the legendary Si Pitung, a 19th century bandit known as the Robin Hood of Jakarta. A master of martial arts, Si Pitung would steal money from wealthy Dutch residents to give to the poor, or so the folk tale goes.

Visit to the botanical garden

As for those of you who are less into the hustle and bustle of Jakarta, a visit to the Bogor Botanical Garden would do you good. Under the leadership of renowned botanists including Johannes Elias Teijsmann, Rudolph Herman Christiaan Carel Scheffer and Melchior Treub, the gardens have blossomed beautifully. Eighty-seven hectares of tropical grounds are home to more than 14,000 trees, plants and flowers that visitors can marvel at. You may also catch a glimpse of some of the hundreds of deer around the area. In the center of the grounds is the Presidential Palace, where you can find an extensive collection of paintings, ceramics and sculptures, including a replica of the famous Little Mermaid of Copenhagen, given to Indonesia as a token of friendship. You might also want to snack on Bogor’s famous culinary delights, such as bean curd “Yun-Yi”, the mini breads with an assortment of fillings called “Roti Unyil”, and the fried spicy bean sprouts with soy bean sauce. (jam/kes)

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