Happy New Year 2014

Dear readers,
Thanks for keep coming here to read my blog. I'm sorry for not updating this blog regularly. Hope I will be able to write more next year. My sincere apology if my writing offends any of you.
Have a wonderful new year ahead ;)

Entry For 11.12.13

This is not a finished post

Busway, many people may curse, angry, condemn, grumbling, in the end (having not so many choices) people use busway for their transportation. I mean, why not? It's considered as the cheapest nowadays. You only need to pay Rp. 2.000,- in the morning until 7 AM. And the rest of the day you will only need to pay Rp. 3.500,-.

But for your information, busways nowaday in Jakarta is rare. Many of them are broken and there is a big chance they will just stop in the middle of the busway lane. And it will force you to wait to be transferred to another busway. And it will take times.

Anyway, here is a bit tips to use busway

1. Busway map
You should have it if you are going to use busway frequently. Often you can get the map for free at busway stations.

It is important to know which route you are going to take for your destination. Remember about the saying that there are many roads to Rome. Indeed. There are routes that shorter and can save a lot of times. But there are routes that can make your life shorter as it takes forever. So, learn it carefully before taking one.

And this post will be continued tomorrow

The Never Coming Busway

If you are already inside the busway station and see this long line like this, maybe it will be best if you just get out, forget about the fare that you have paid and just find another public transportation. Busfare is not refundable so think carefully before you make up your mind.

Fine For Intruder Busway Lane

As per 1 November, Jakarta Pilicw impose fine for driving in busway lanes.

The fine is Rp. 500.000,- for motorcycle riders and Rp. 1.000.000,- for car drivers.

If you wish to read more about the news, you may check this link.

So, please be aware when you are late and want to go through the quickest way by entering busway lane.

You may check the news from this links.

Bajaj is three wheels vehicle. so wondering if the fine also to be imposed on the drivers as well.

Try not to do this ever again in the future 

With the new regulation, will angry tresspassers still try to shot these people who only doing their job?

Busway Regulation

A few days ago, I just spotted this arrangement for busway passengers.

1. The ticket price is 2,000 Rupiah before 7 Am. And after that you will be charged 3,500 Rupiah.

2. Children with height over 100 cm will be charged the same price as adult

3. Passengers are not allowed to bring weapon (so please leave your knife, sword and samurai at home), food with smell that will bother other passengers and especially don’t even think to bring your pet

4. Passengers are not allowed to bring big item on board. The allowed size is not more than 50 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm

5. Smoking are not allowed on the bus stop for busway and especially and most definitely not allowed while on the busway.

6. Passengers are not allowed to eat and drink on busway. If you are really that hungry, do that before you are on board.

7. Passengers are not allowed to harass other passenger sexually.

8. Let older people, pregnant women and disable people to queuing first

9. Passengers must also keep the busway clean and not allowed to throw garbage.

10. Follow these rules and arrangement from officials in charge.

Danger On The Public Transportation

Living in Jakarta lately is really, really tricky. You completely have to rely on yourself as you can face danger anytime anywhere while using public transportation. And the danger keep on escalating day after day... I doubt people will voluntarily leave their own car and use public transportation. Especially when danger always lurking when we use public transportation. I'm not saying that you will be able to avoid danger when you are driving your own car. Mostly act of crime happened on public transportation.

Another Picture Talking

As usual, I loves taking pictures on the bus or other public transportation whenever I can. So, here they are...

Watching People

I loves watching people when I was on public transportation. Simply because I have nothing better to do. Hmmm, perhaps I could try reading? But it's hard to open a book and read while standing with dozen of people on the bus. Sometimes I almost fall because other people push me accidentally. But, watching people is fun. And here are the think that I started to notice;

Please Give Me Your Seat. Or Not.

Chair. Seat. Bench. Whatever. It's the thing that allows us to sit. I will never ever get tired to talk about it. Seats on public transportation always successfully give me inspiration to write. Plus it gives me a chance to see how cruel or good people can be as fellow passenger.

For the sake of getting a seat, we can be selfish, uncaring, vicious all at once. Yeah. I admit. Been there. Done that. I have been in the lowest level already.

Anyway, a few days ago I was lucky to enter a totally empty busway. Just me and another lady inside it. And of course with one official in charge and the driver, mind you. We both felt so relieved that during rush hour there were still empty seats.

Photos Around The Bus

Again, I think picture can do more talking than I am so here goes

Aging Problem

As usual, Monday from the second week after Idul Fitri...all I can see the road full of cars and people. Everything back to normal again. Being early or the other way arounf for about 5-10 minutes really does matter when we have to take public transportation.

Anyway, there I was minding my own business, still a bit sleepy but the bus already close to my destination. So, I straight up a bit and try to open my eyes widely. Then I heard the official of TransJakarta talking with the driver. At first, I didn't really pay any attention to their conversation. They were talking about air conditioner.

Tips During Homecoming For Idul Fitri

Though I have posted this topic over and over again, I think there is nothing wrong to post it again as a reminder to all of us.

Why?

I will never ever going to take a bus,” said one of my acquaintances for about twenty years ago. “My God! So crowded with people.

Talking Photos

It has been a while since I posted photos so now here goes. I took them during my (totally) spare time on the bus. The first photo was taken early in the morning. I was hoping to catch Super Moon. But, this is the result.

Empty Seat

When you see an empty seat public transportation what is the first thing on your mind?

Oh, this empty seat is for people to sit there including me. Or, this empty seat is for me and all my baggages?

E-Ticket TransJakarta

Since April 21, 2013 e-ticket has been officially used in several bus stop for busways. Not all ready to for the use of e-ticketing. So, we still need to prepare small changes to buy regular ticket. It is still two thousand Rupiahs started around 5 AM untlil 7 AM. After that we have to pay three thousand and five hundred Rupiah.

Broke Down Busway

Nothing really special on Tuesday June 11, 2013.  Like any other day, I was fighting my way in so I can get a nice seat inside busway. Naturally, I thought good. I just sat there nicely and I would be at home within 45 minutes with traffic and so on. Right?

Rest Room at Bus Stop For Busway

Do you know what I hate the most when taking public transportation? Nature Calls,

Why do I hate it? Because for the next agonizing minutes (which seems only last few seconds when I was trying to sleep) I have to stand with pain plastered all over my face. Praying that I have a seat so it can ease the pain. Praying I could just sit on the floor to reduce the pain. Praying that the public transportation will not meet any troubles like engine problem. And so on. You are torn between just want to jump from the bus and release the pain. But with consequences like late to go to the office, schools, appointment, etc. And if you are taking busway, you can't just jump out from the bus. You have to stop at the located bus stop. Okay, not recommended to jump from the bus. Mostly we were pushed out from the bus by driver's assistant.

Bangkok Airport Rail Link

In the year 2011 my friends and I went to Bangkok. When we arrived Lemon Seed Inn was the place we stay for the night. SOrt of like Bed and Breakfast kind of inn. So, it's not fancy nor bad for Lemon Seed.

Seat Separation (Again)

Recently I often read about male passengers complaining about seat separation on busway via online media. They were upset about female passengers who ignore about seat separation and keep on finding empty seat in male's area. For all of you who have no idea about busway and everything that's going on inside, let me give you a bit of explanation.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DAY

Well, well, well... It turn out today is Public Transportation Day. I totally unaware and forget about it. Which is sort of embarassing for me as I am a regular user of public transportation. Not because I enjoy using them but simply because I have no choice.

Let the Pictures Do The Talking

Right now I just want to post several photos that I have taken when I was walking on the street or sitting inside public transportation.

Here are those photos:

Handphone forbidden? Think Again!

Okay, I know I have spent so many times grumbling about how handphone should be forbidden on public transportation. It turn out I was totally wrong, dear readers.

Yesterday as usual, me and dozen other passenger trying to get into busway. But then, I have this feeling that there would be another empty busway behind. So, why I should even try to go inside this over load crowded busway? So, I started to be nicer, let other people rushing in to the already crowded busway. Then, a young mother and her son try to get pass me to go inside busway. I was a bit annoyed and tell her to watch out for her son and their steps. The officer in charge; seeing the busway already full decided to close the door. The young mom told the officer that her relative was already inside the busway. The officer didn't care and simply tell her to meet her relative at their destination.

ANd within minutes, the next empty busway approached and we all rushing inside try to get a nice seat. Then all passengers started their own things, like sleeping, daydreaming, eating whatever hidden in her bag and one agitated. Yeap, the young mom unable to sit still all the way. At the first bus stop, she stand up, her eyes darting from left to right, as if she wish to find someone inside. Then she back to her seat until reaching another bus stop, she did it again. Finally her acitivity attract the driver and other passengers.

And here are the conversations:

Queue Second part

Every day whenever I have to wait for busway to reach my destination, I always get agitated. Why? Most of the time, there are too many passengers inside the busway so I was unable to enter inside.

From far away, I could see that there are a bit of empty space near the driver. 1 -2 passengers should be able to stand there near the driver. So, the middle area would be emptier and other passengers will be able to enter. However, most passengers inside the busway prefer to stand in the middle area and therefore other people will not be able to enter.

While I was cramped inside the bus I thought why in the heck these passengers don’t want to enter to the other part of busway which actually a bit emptier.  And since I have all the time in the world I finally try to analyze the situation.

Women on the Bus

Women, God’s creation that need to be protected as they are not strong enough to face the world..

SAID WHO?

In reality, women are fearless and tougher than men, especially on rare occasion.

Don’t believe me?

Anyway, I wrote this post with no intention of being disrespect towards women since I am one myself. Just want to share that women on the bus can be nasty towards other passengers both men and women.

So, one day like any other day when I got cramped inside heavily packed busway. And though the busway already full with so many people, there was this pregnant lady managed to get inside. The officer in charge saw her condition and here I quoted their conversation:

Photos Sharing

I haven't been blogging about buses for a while due to hectic situation. So, now I want to share candid photos that I have taken while I was on the bus.

1. Oh dear sweet lady, you sleep so peacefully. Hopefully your head not falling down to someone else sitting beside you. Or you sleep all the way far from your destination. 

Giveaway for Indonesian Reader Only

Dear Indonesian reader, please check my other BLOG to get a free copy of this book :)

Let's Go Jogging

It turn out there are many transit bus stop for busways in Jakarta that will make you sweat. They have long corridors and give us two possibilities. First, we can get healthy because we have to jog all the way through the long corridor. Or we are going to get tired and cramp for the long walk. Here are pictures taken from bus stop at Pramuka :)

Panjang yaaaah.... Lumayan kalau lagi kebelet atau lagi hujan atau malah lagi puanaasss buanget....

Anyway, I also want to send wishes and greeting to those who celebrate The Lunar Year :) May you have great celebration and the new year will bring us prosperity.

E-ticket

Taken from this site

Right now, if you take trip using busway on their first corridor (BLOK M to KOTA) , e-ticket already available for you.

A pity I only have a brochure in Indonesian as follow. Perhaps you can read the detail here and hopefully help to give you uselful information.

Flooding Jakarta 2013

On 17th January, under the heavy rain I went to the office. My neighbor help driving the car so I didn't have to use public transportation. That morning, busways still operating with load of passengers as usual. On the way to the office, I started to feel wary. The rain seems doesn't have any intention to stop at all. And the rain still pouring down hard when I arrived in the office. Naturally, me and the others started to find it hard to concentrate on whatever we are doing. We keep on listening to the dropping rain all the time. The sky looking gloomy as if have something in mind, no more bright hot day under the sun. And the worst part, water start to flood in front of the office. Not big flood yet, but enough to destroy shoes and making pants wet.