Great Asian Railway Journeys: Jakarta to Borobudur (BBC Two Saturday 18 November 2023)

Great Asian Railway Journeys: Jakarta to Borobudur airs Saturday 18 November 2023 on BBC Two.

What is this episode about

Indonesia marks the southernmost point of Michael Portillo’s 2,560 mile railway tour of Southeast Asia. The fourth most populous nation in the world is an archipelago nation, and Michael’s journey starts on the island of Java in the middle of it.

Michael explores the bustling capital of Jakarta, Indonesia, and learns about the country’s colonial past as a Dutch colony and its illustrious history as a spice trade port. He rides the recently opened MRT metro, eats street food like a local, and makes it through Jakarta’s notoriously bad traffic.

While out of town, Michael learns about the history of Bogor’s Botanical Gardens and how they came to be established by the Englishman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who had previously served as governor of Java. Michael leaves the capital and travels for seven hours by train through paddy fields and rainforests to reach the volcanic province in the centre of Java.

After learning that more than 300 people perished in the 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi, the island’s most dangerous volcano, he goes there. Michael decides to give traditional noodle making a go in the nearby village of Bendo.

This section of his journey comes to a close at the Borobudur Temple, the most visited monument in Indonesia and the country’s greatest ancient wonder. Michael finds it incredible that the biggest Buddhist temple in the world was buried for so long in volcanic ash.

Series 1

When can we see the episode

Great Asian Railway Journeys: Jakarta to Borobudur airs Saturday 18 November 2023 at 7:00pm on BBC Two

Featured Image Credit: BBC Two