The museum is housed in a former warehouse which is located in the Sunda kelapa harbour in Penjaringan sub district in Jakarta and can be reached easily by either private vehicle or public transport. It was officially opened to the public in 1995 and houses a large number of Indonesian crafts, canoes, boats and other sea transportation equipment for public viewing. The traditional sailing vessels are a curious collection, ranging from the Lankang which is a sailing boat used for pleasure purposes to the Gelati which is a fishing boat made out of a teak structure and shell. A fascinating display item is the model of the Island on trust which is a shipyard used for repair of ships in the olden days.
The museum holds not only vessels but also the equipment, tools and gadgets used to build these. Various navigational maps, including the locations of light houses and photographs of old sea journeys offer a vivid insight into the marine life and its complexities and adventures and even a hint of the risk involved in the sea journeys in those ancient times with less supportive technology for the guidance of voyagers. Not forgetting the fishing trade that is also a thriving industry, there is a ‘biological oceanography’ that provides information about the fish populations found in various parts of the sea as well as maritime flora and fauna for the nature enthusiast.
With all this the museum seem to have attained its purposes, that was to create a setting where the marine culture and fishery and its history as well as its present direction were open for the public’s appreciation for betterment of the industry.
Once your sightseeing for the day is over, there should always be a special residence to rest yourself and anyone who is weary of staying over at hotels can take the initiative to stay at one of the fabulous apartments in Jakarta. Surrounded by greenery and the well tended garden plots, Somerset Berlian Jakarta is more like a home away from home with the facilities of a hotel at your call. For families who are there for sightseeing or executives who are there for business, Jakarta accommodation cannot get any better than these apartments that provide total security, exceptional housekeeping and the tranquillity of a private retreat while also being close to the city’s superb entertainment centres if you need to go out and have a great time.
