South East Asian Trips

Jaya Ancol Dreamland (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol)

Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, an amusement park in north Jakarta, Indonesia, is one of the most attractive places serving the densely populated city of Jakarta. It has all the adventures people crave for; Sea World, Fantasy World, Atlantis Water Adventure and Marina Beach. This is Jakarta's largest and most popular recreation park. It is built on reclaimed beach land at the Bay of Jakarta, having, sea and freshwater aquariums, swimming pools, an artificial lagoon for fishing, boating, bowling, an assortment of nightclubs, restaurants, a steam-bath and massage parlors. The Ancol complex includes a Marina, Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy Land), a golf course, hotels and a drive-in theater. The "Pasar Seni" or art market has a varied collection of Indonesian handicraft, paintings and souvenirs on sale. At a nearby open-air theater art performances are held using the local dialect.

Inside the Ancol Dreamland, there is Ancol Art Market, it is outdoor art market likely recreational place where we will be most tempted to purchase something. Items include antiques, handicrafts, painting, potters, and knickknacks. With many of the artisans working on site, it is a paradise for souvenir hunters and art lovers. This colorful open-air market located in the Ancol Amusement Park provides the unique experience of not only buying quality Indonesian arts and craft, but also a chance to see and meet the artisans at work. We can watch puppet makers, wood-carvers, painters, and many other craft makers from throughout the archipelago cheerfully working on their creations. At this art and handicraft market, visitors get to watch Indonesian artists creating their masterpieces. Hundreds of artists from all over the country congregate here to exhibit their work, making the spot a fascinating place for tourists and art connoisseurs. We can even get a portrait of our self-done. Both traditional and modern art and crafts are on display, including paintings, sculptures, traditional Indonesian wayang kulit (leather puppets), gemstone jewelry and many other artistic products. Art performances are frequently held at the Art Market (Pasar Seni) inside the Jaya Ancol Dreamland on Jakarta's beach. They normally range from wayang kulit shadow plays to folk dances and modern drama. This location is open Monday to Saturday, from 2:00 pm. to 9:00 pm.; Sunday, from 10:00 am. to 9 :00pm.

Sea World

Inside the Ancol Dreamland complex, Sea World is a high tech modern huge aquarium exhibiting the special and diverse tropical marine life found throughout the Indonesian waters. Stroll through Freshwater World and Micro world, see beautiful tropical fish and corral reefs, and get friendly with marine life at the Touch pool. A theater screens movies about the underwater world and a necessity is the Antasena Tunnel, a walk-through acrylic tube that gives first hand experience of life under the sea. This giant aquarium proudly introduces visitors to more than 4,000 fish and sharks from 300 species. Sea World has great many attractions to its credit; it has a Dolphin Show that is quite popular and a gallery, which showcases many of sea creatures from all over the world. Some times people find it better in comparison to Sentosa Island, one of the most popular destinations in Singapore.

Come and enjoy the deep-sea panorama while strolling through an 80-meter tunnel. The fascinating creatures live in some 500 million liters of seawater and are fed three times a day (some hand-fed). The attraction also features a theater, which plays three educational films in English and Bahasa Indonesia. Open Monday to Saturday, from 2:00 pm. to 9:00 pm.; Sunday, from 10:00 am. to 9:00 pm.

Fantasy Land

Dunia Fantasi or 'Fantasy World/Fantasy Land' is a fun and theme park designed to entertain the visitors into the fascinating worlds of modern science and technology. A recent addition to Jakarta's growing recreation facilities is the Fantasy Land, a 9.5 hectares (23.75 acres) entertainment park located inside the Ancol Dreamland. Planned to eventually become a part of a 200-hectares (500-acres) park designed to usher the visitors into the fascinating world of modern science and technology, the present facility takes them on an imaginative tour of Old Jakarta, Africa, America, Indonesia, Europe, Asia and the Palace of Dolls. Each of the areas is designed to give the visitor a feel of the region he is visiting through features and architecture of the area at a certain period of its history and by the use of animated puppets in the Palace of Dolls.

This colossal recreational resort faces the enchanting Jakarta Bay. Its prime attraction is Fantasyland, an amusement park that keeps children, especially, entertained the entire day. Fantasy world is the host of many of the amusement rides and the most popular of them is a roller coaster ride called Halilinter. The park has other themes also. Art buffs and tourists who search of souvenirs should visit Pasar Seni art and handicraft market. Others might like to check out Sea World (a giant aquarium) for an educational tour on marine life or Ancol Water Park for yet more fun. The Ancol Marina operates as the gateway to the neighboring Thousand Islands. The facilities take visitors on imagination tours of Africa, America and Indonesia through some breath taking games. The park also offers a number of restaurants and souvenir shops.