Another Picture Talking

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

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.

Pay the fare, please

Usually, I wrote about my daily rants about myself while taking public transportation. Well, this time is the other way around though I might have written about this previously. Now, I am going to write the story that I heard from mikrolet's driver


Mikrolet is not the same with bus related to the fare. For buses, the fare is the same for short and long destination. Some people doesn't like to pay full when they feel they only have been in the bus for short time. Or we can say that they actually can walk to their destination but perhaps too lazy. Mikrolet has different fares, depends on how long the passengers destination. The shorter your destination then the cheaper is the fare. And even so, passenger still trying not to pay in full for the fare. And guess what... Yes, female passengers are the most naughty passenger who always try to avoid paying in full. Can't really blame them as they are the financial adviser at home. Things that need to be cut, they will do so without hesitation.

But one day, I saw a male passenger with two kids paid the fare for himself only. That made other passenger asked the driver why on earth that guy only paid for one person while he also taking 2 kids? The driver, calmly said that the guy wasn't the only one. There were others just like him, but he was not really keen to pressure them in order to paid full.

Wow, this kind of driver is very rare. When the driver pissed off over one lousy passenger, he can be moody all day long. Several of them probably ranting about that passenger, saying nasty things. The driver probably think that his income will be lesser than usual. He was angry to that passenger and know nothing else to lash out his anger but to speed up his car. So, the passenger who paid less fare have nothing to fear about his or her life. They have moved on thinking ah, I am able to cut my expenses. But his or her action leaves other passengers scare to death. Why? Because the driver speeding up his car and God knows what will happen next. The driver probably just told all other passengers to get out and move to another public transportation. Or he could grumbling all day long and being nasty to other passengers.


Come to think of if, when the driver is nice then there is always at least one lousy passenger who probably paid less or doing something to annoy others.

So, do we really need to meet bad drivers to make up our mind and paid the fare as it should be?

Cool Mikrolet's Drivers

Remember this cool look from a public transportation (mikrolet) above?


I found that several other mikrolet's drivers also stunned me with their gadgets :)

This one use a flash disc to listen to the music... Cool man!

This one used a very sophisticated (though out of date) handphone... *sweating*

But a very different condition with this one ... *sighing*

Everybody needs an entertainment

A few days ago, I was a bit worried when using this public transportation. It is like a minivan like most public transportation serving residence areas. That minivan has the fullest criteria for female passengers to avoid.

First, the driver and passenger sat beside him looks so young and knew each other

Danger in Mikrolet

Within two months we read terrible news about rape and murder on mikrolet.

That is one of the sad things of using public transportation here in Jakarta. We need to protect our self and can't count on other people for their help. For you who has no idea about mikrolet here are the pictures

Being fat, another seats episode

I created this post not because I dislike or hate size plus people. I am myself is a size plus. And there was a time I reached a size which could make others shaking their head feeling sad for me

Story from Mikrolet

Do you remember that once I told you about how I hate people bringing too many baggages to the public transportation? Because those baggages will take a lot of spaces from another passengers...

If I was using mikrolet, I really find it annoying to see a tire also "sitting" inside the mikrolet.

If the mikrolet is empty then I can choose any seats far away from that tire. But if I am out of luck then I will have to seat near it as that would be the only empty seat left.

Just look at that man in the picture and that uncomfortable position he has to endure while sitting near the tire.

I would prefer to get on an empty mikrolet like this. But then now I should be worried with robbers inside...
Hahahaha... what a life

Annoying drivers

A friend of mine told me about her ridiculous encounter with taxi driver. So, the taxi that she took stop at the very near railway. If a train with full speed passing that railway the taxi will surely get drag successfully. Seeing that the train is not able to be seen yet though the siren has been wailing she then told the driver to step on it. It is a lot better than just be a sitting duck waiting for the train. And to that, the driver simply gave response,”Oh, so we should just step on it? Well, I do not want to put my passenger in any danger…”
Dear driver, it is a good thing that you do not wish to endangered your passenger. However if you decided to stop your vehicle in a dangerous position then that will be the same you invite that danger to you and your passenger as well.

I told I had it worst. My worst experience was when I have to keep on polite conversation to a very harassing mikrolet’s driver. I was sitting near him and at first the driver just start with a simple conversation probably just to pass the time. But soon enough, his manner changed and he became rude and it really drove me crazy. But, since I was being super stingy instead getting off from the mikrolet I decided to keep on stay there. Then we have to pass this railway and he keep on with his engine even if the siren has been wailing to alert all of us. I asked him to just wait until the train passed us by. You know what he said to me?
“Why? Afraid of dying are you? You are a sinner? Well, I am not… That’s why I am not afraid of dying…”

Please… If you are so into dying on the spot, then you go right ahead and don’t take us with you… What an annoying driver!

Rain oh rain

 What is the connection between rain and public vehicle? Obviously there are a few…

Though I am so happy if rains pouring down the earth as it were supposed to help creating cooler atmosphere but when I was still on the street or inside the bus…then the cool atmosphere is a no-no. Neither inside the regular bus, Air Conditioned bus up to bajaj and mikrolet… There is only a thin line of differences.

The obvious facts are the humid air, sultry condition and the decreasing stock of air. That situation would be worst if heavy rain pouring down on earth. Even when there is no rain, the sitting passengers would not want to open the window let alone if there is heavy rain outside. The closed window does not guarantee that the rain will not seeping through it. So, those who already sat has to let their clothes slowly but sure getting wet by the seeping rain.

Same thing happened when using Bajaj. Eventhough the driver already closed the window, but since it was not permanently built then once there is a windy rain, the water splashing inside the bajaj and let the passenger get wet. And when you using mikrolet and sitting by the door, well get ready to get sick as the back door will not be closed even though rain pouring hard on earth.

During the heavy rain, I would not want to use ojek. But, if I was already using it then what can I say? Once I was using ojek to go somewhere. In the middle of the journey suddenly from not so heavy rain then escalated to heavy rain. There was no question that I was totally wet. The ojek driver also worried that his motorcycle could broke down as flood starting to fill the street. Luckily I finally arrived at my destination…though with soaking wet.


Then what happened with passengers standing on the bus? Most of them just get on the bus and already soaking wet. Either their body or their umbrellas or their belongings are all wet. Those who bring umbrella just keep holding the umbrella and the dripping water falls on to clothes of other passengers. The wet clothes were not going to be dried. However, it would be getting even more wet by sweat due to the hot weather inside. The supply of CO2 are bigger than 02…


What about using Air Conditioned bus? Sure, they might be air conditioned bus but these buses mostly are 10 years old. Not so sure whether they replaced the AC. For certain, ACs in so many buses are mostly damaged. The craziest thing I have ever been was getting on the bus with only a bit wet from the rain and getting off 70% soaking wet. When I was about to sit inside the air conditioned bus I was fully aware that there was dripping water from above probably from the damaged air conditioner. So, I just sat there and fallen asleep immediately. (I love to sleep, what can I say?). When I finally woke up I suddenly realized my jumper feel heavier and I feel cold on the neck. So, when I was to get off I stare at my seat… OH DEAR…, already there was a towel on the back of the seat to contain the dripping water. And my jumper also became the container of the dripping water. I have to take a medicine once I arrived at home to prevent me from getting sick.

Getting on the busway you could feel the cold air since it is air conditioned. But after soaking wet from the rain do you honestly still want to feel the cold inside the bus? Not to mention other people will push you around here and there. Additionally, due to the heavy rain the bus stop for busway becoming slippery. And if you are just in luck queuing for busway after office hour during the heavy rain…then get yourself ready for the splashing windy rain on your face. Sure, there is a rooftop above the bus stop but along the way there is nothing that separate you from the nature.


After all of that I still try to think positive. As even though I was soaking wet both before and after using the bus at least that all these times I have never experienced bus stop due to something wrong with its engine during the heavy rain. I could already imagine how I am going to cry in blood if I have to get off the bus because of that. And while waiting for another bus, I have to stand all the way under the heavy rain. Not to mention that while we are waiting for the bus in the middle of the heavy rain, there was a bit flood near us. Get ready to get wet as the passing cars and bus will not going to hesitate to pass that flood and the splashing water from it will hit us straight away.

Rain oh rain...

Don't mess with the driver

My friend said this after reading my posting about driver who waits for hours for passengers.
That's so true my friends. Never ever try to make a scene with the driver in the middle of his job to take passengers reaching their destination. otherwise then get ready for these :

1. Mikrolet's driver Waiting for passengers
Never ever tried to rush the driver to get it move on. If we hate waiting then it would be best for us to step out from the waiting vehicle and shut your ears if the driver screaming at you. He needs passengers but we need to beat the time. Although we still need the cheap fare as well.
If they are upset, some of them immediately barking at us. I prefer these kind of drivers as it would giving me a chance to walk out from his vehicle. If he did not retort back, then get ready to have a heart attack as the driver will speed his vehicle to the limit.


2. Bajaj's driver
The driver will be pissed if we bargain too cheap for the fare. It is a good thing if he just move away as a sign that he refused the offered fare. The disaster came when he angrily agree with the fare and once we get in he drove the vehicle like crazy
That's why I always wondering when hearing a friend bargain too cheap. Aren't they afraid that the driver will drive like crazy as he hates to accept the fare but need the money?

3. Paid below the fare
If we are on the bus, we would be dealing a lot with the driver's assistant when it comes to the fare.
But with mikrolet's driver, oh don't you even think to pay below the fare. They would not hesitate to stop, get out from their vehicle, chasing us then asked for the fare to be paid full.
How could I know? Well, I once experienced that being chased by the driver because my friend did not pay accordingly. It was a surprise to see him suddenly behind us asking for the money.
Lucky us he did not hit us on the spot.

4. Opposite tendencies
If we want the public transportation to move fast...then the driver make it very slowly as if to compete with a turtle. But when we want the public transportation to move slower ( I did not say slowly... I just want it to be a bit slower) then it was like a push for them to drive it as fast as they can be.


The point is, let them drive, let them do whatever they want as long as they bring us safe up to our destination.

Unwritten laws

Before I start storytelling I just want to let you know that all the pictures that I have taken and uploading here are not representing areas that I describe here in this posting :) Just so we clear ^__^

Remembering the street singer talked about manner between singing on the bus it remind me few unwritten laws between drivers of motorcycle taxi and mikrolet who both waiting for passengers...

Everybody well aware that Mikrolet's fare are a lot cheaper than motorcycle taxi. Since mikrolet's route as not as unhampered as motorcycle taxi that could go anywhere on demands... Naturally within fare agreed by both of the driver and passenger.

For short routes people prefer to use Mikrolet rather than motorcycle taxi...especially if there is a mikrolet devotedly standing by forever to find passengers. Therefore to avoid any nasty social jealousy between drivers of mikrolet and motorcycle taxi...seems they have agreed on this unwriten law (well...of course it was unwritten... Should it be a national law or something to be written?) This if from an observation that I notice from area near my home. Where usually drivers both of motorcycle taxis and mikrolets standing by at the exact same area. Sort of like their home base.

 Starting from 09.00 PM any mikrolet must be vanished from the face of the earth and do not even think to pick up a passenger even if the passenger have already histerically calling out for the mikrolet. Overkill... But that was happening whenever I arrived at that particular area past 9.00 PM and all those mikrolet's drivers seems have gone deaf and refuse us the passengers. I have no other choice but to use motorcycle taxi. One of the drivers told me about their unwritten law. That starting from 09.00 PM they will get their turn to look for passengers. I nodded start to understand. Then obviously starting from that time I tried so hard avoiding to be there around 09.00 PM. Which is kinda hard whenever I have to do over time in the office.

While in another area near my home, mikrolet's driver who look for passengers CAN NOT park their vehicle near the home base of motorcycle taxi drivers. In the beginning I was confuse to see that all mikrolet's driver seems pretending not to hear me calling them. What's wrong? Does they have different unwritten law here? But it is not 09.00 Pm yet! Then when I was in the middle of my walk, an empty mikrolet stop and offer me to get in. After I get in I started to asked the driver about why no mikrolet stop when I called them in that area? Then the driver explained to me that once all motorcycle taxi's driver almost gang up on a mikrolet's driver only because that driver took a passenger near their area (place where motorcycle taxi's driver all use as their home base while waiting for passengers). So on this one I am not so sure whether there has been an agreement or anything like that. Obviously that accident enough to make mikrolet's driver avoiding that area while picking up passengers. Unless they wish to be beaten by an overwhelming numbers of angry motorcycle taxi's drivers.

Yeah, life is a definately hard so there has to be some kind of allocation in earning money...

Give me money...

As usual I was using the bus, again... My relationship with buses is love and hate situation... I love using it because it has cheap fare but I hate whenever the bus is overly crowded... Both by passengers and street entertainer.

Anyway, I sat on that empty bus... Already a street singer...singing or whispering or sighing... I have no idea... I was sitting a bit far from the the street singer...

Here is the thing... I have no idea where they like to stand and start singing... Sometimes they stand near the door... Then the other time they standing in the middle of the bus... Making the passenger who stand or sit near the street singer will feel their ears are overflow with unwanted singing... And that day I was lucky enough not have to listen to him close enough.

 After watching the street singer my eyes glanced to a lady older than me but not by far. I offered her my seat... Well, the bus was a bit empty so I do not mind standing. But she gave me her biggest smile and said she was not a passenger. She is in fact another street singer! She was pointing to the singing person and told me that he did not follow the unwritten ethic. "Before performing (oh, dear... THis is a bus not broadway) we all sort of gathering around at the back area of the bus... Waiting for our turn... But this one just jumping in and singing... Really have no manner..." I smiled politely as what else I could say or do?

Then the lady took her position in the front area after the so-called-rude street singer finished his performance. And someone took over her place once she finished collecting money from us the passengers. Overall, things going on as usual.

But when I was on the bus in the evening, four men (probably just enter their man hood) get on the bus and start yelling like this, "Ladies and gentlemen... We need your attention, please..." And I was like... darn... Here we go again...

All of them starting to yell to us the passengers, "We just wants your help..." , "It would be better if we ask nicely like this rather than the other way around..." , "We ask you politely to spare us your money for about 1,000 Rupiah or 2,000 Rupiah..." , "It would be better we asked like this rather than robbing you blind", "Giving us that amount of money won't make you go poor..."

I sighed.

When the first time they use this Mode Operation I admit I was scared. Sure, I would give them 1,000 Rupiah just please get off the bus. But within times, I get irritated... No, no, no...I did not do crazy thing like approaching them and giving speech about hard work and blah, blah, blah... If they did not tend to stab people they sure will after listening me giving that kind of lecture. I really hate that they threaten us the passenger like that. So, after a while I refused to give them money...POLITELY of course... I may get annoyed but not crazy... But that evening...I just suddenly feel these young men would not take no for response so I decided to get off the bus. The total of passengers were not much so I just get this nasty feeling about it...

I just feel if the bus crowded with people, these sort of hoodlums would not dare to do more than empty threat. But if the passengers are not so many then I do not want to take a risk.


Sometimes they are not young men or teenagers but also kids... Not only on buses but they also insist us the passengers to give them money on mikrolet or any other public transportation. Once I refused to give the kid money because he kept on poking me... Insist I have to give money to him and the more he asked I get more annoyed. And when I firmly refused he started to yell and said nasty words. I could not care less...though I feel a bit sorry for the situation that force many children to earn money in such a way...

Jakarta is a big cruel jungle...

10.10.10

Everybody makes a fuss about 10.10.10

Many people held their wedding ceremony on this date… And those who are in the middle of their pregnancy probably going to give birth through operation in order to deliver the baby exactly on 10.10.10 and will even better to be born at 10 o'clock at 10th minutes at 10th second. How cool is that? So, if people ask you when was your child born? Ehm, you could answer : 10.10.10.10.10.10…. Yipeee

Actually if being asked why such an obsession with that particular kind of date…well it is obvious so we can remember things easily. Usually people remembering something because it was unique or give impression in the heart.

Talking about something unique, it made remember funny words from motor taxi’s driver (but absolutely not the one below, I took this when he was not aware…) who offered his service to me…

Him : Miss, need motor taxi?
Me : No, I don’t… (and kept on walking without really paying attention to him)
Him : Why Miss? This heat frighten you? Well, don’t be… Mine is air conditioned

It stop me from walking further and take a look at the witty driver… If I did not remember that I was in a hurry to get a bus I would have answered, “ Are you saying air con from the nature? No need to say more…”
Come on… The only Air Con available on motorcycle is the wind slapping you on the face and it will get you cold for sure.

The other time, I was using another public transportation that sort of like Mikrolet and decided to sit beside the driver. You know about how I really dislike sitting near people who brought so many baggage. After I sat, it did not take long enough for the 20 something driver to start his act.

It was the time when we still see very few car using CD’s player. Not even on private car let alone public transportation vehicle. But the driver let out a compact disc and inserted it to the player…. Whoooosss…the blue light shone as a sign that the player is now ready. Spontaneously I glanced at the driver. I was thinking…, my, my…he’s got style. The sound of music start to fill the car and I was glad I did not sit at the back. I assume that is where the loud speaker located. And I did not want to hear loud music near my ears. After I reached my destination, I give him the fare and you know what…? He said thank you… Yeah, in ENGLISH! To which I replied ,”Your welcome…”

A driver speaking ENGLISH, maaan… (aside that’s probably the only word he knew…well, who cares?)
I can’t believe that so many people claim they went to get higher education but chicken out with English language…
I could not remember their faces exactly… However, I do remember things that they have said… Things they have done…

Perhaps I would be able to remember a lot more if it was happening at 10.10.10

Kicked out from the house, did you?

Today I am not going to share my experience on the bus... It is still about public transportation in Jakarta, they are Mikrolet and bemo (I have no idea whether the last one still exist or not). The topic actually could happen as well on the bus, that is when we encounter with another passenger who bring a lot of baggages.

I know that the fare for public transportation is cheap (otherwise, I would not never want to be in the middle of so many people for dozens of years using buses). BUT, I wish they would have enough sense when bringing all that baggages as if they just robbed a house or just kicked out from their home. Bringing so many baggages will take a lot of space and obviously drive other people irritated.

You do know that the door of Mikrolet is not big, right? Well, to all of you who have no idea what is mikrolet and bemo, well let me give me you a bit of explanation. Before that kindly refer to the first picture for MIKROLET and the rest of the other pictures are for Bemo. HOWEVER, those are not my own photos. I got them from browsing google.

Mikrolet usually using some kind of family mini van. In the front area, there should be two passengers sitting beside the driver. At the back, the passengers will seat facing each other. The formation well known : 6 - 4. Six passengers sit on the seated located behind the driver while the other near the door. That's why only four people can sit there. That condition applied if all passengers have ideal normal body weight. And there is this small bench to have additional two more passengers sitting near the door. While for Bemo, is a lot smaller than mikrolet. Amazingly, that tiny vehicle manage to contain and cramped six grudgingly passengers. Sitting facing to each other, unable to stretch their legs as there is space no more. Probably that's make the destination takes by Bemo never really too much far. Otherwise, once all the passengers get off from bemo they will all feel cramp on their ankle.

So, with such a small, tiny, little space we still have to tolerate other people who bring so many stuffs that probably should be kept inside their closet. What drove me mad if I was sitting inside Bemo and have to sit face to face with elderly ladies who just returned from market. They probably brought fishes, chicken, meat, whatever... I could smell them all already. What pissed me off they do not put all their smelly groceries on their lap but just put them down there. ABove their feet and obviously mine as well. PFFFF... That's why I used to avoid getting Bemo unless I can sit in the front area beside the driver. Or near the door so I do not have to be HUNCHBACK from NOTRE DAME as I have to bend myself 90 degree to be able to get off from Bemo.

The same thing with people who bring so many baggages inside mikrolet. So, we the other passengers have to understand and willingly let our feet get cramped with all their things.

Can't get angry. Those are public transportation. If the driver does not mind then get ready to get crazy all the way as our feet can't go anywhere or stretching to other direction thanks to all those baggages.

Sighed...