Are you waiting for passengers or meditating?

Waiting for passenger is something that I truly deeply madly hate whenever I was in the rush...

Yup, most drivers of public transportation here will just park their vehicle in random bus stop and wait for their passengers to fulfill the quota (hahaha...) of those empty seats. If there are only few passengers on board then these drivers will prefer to just wait for more before continue the journey.

If we were on the bus terminal then yeah I could understand. Bus terminal is the center place to almost all kind public transportation here in Jakarta... That's the risk if you choose to get on the bus straight from the terminal. The good thing is most buses on the terminal usually still have empty seats and they never park too long for more passengers. But then again, from all kind public transportation that I know there is nothing more annoying then times taken by Mikrolet to wait for the passengers. I have no idea whether they decide to wait because they need the money or just plainly their hobby... Like waiting for the egg to come out...

Once I was in this Mikrolet at night. There were only four passengers including me who sat beside the driver. He drove very sloooowly... I tried to be understanding because he must be trying hard to find more passengers. And just lucky me, the other three passengers get off from mikrolet at the next bus stop. So it was just me alone with the driver. And I was agitated because surely he is going to park there waiting for another passengers. And I was right. There we were... Together... In the dark...

I sat there in silence... Sighed... I want to play around with my cellphone but I feel unsure about it. I glanced at my watch and notice that it has been five minutes we just stuck here. THen suddenly two passengers were on board... Thanks God... it means now the driver has three passengers... I was being thankful however the driver was not. I was thinking now the driver could move on since there were three passengers but nope... He still continue this endless searching for more passengers by not moving on... Another five minutes (meaning for me it has been 10 minutes) those two new passengers probably think they had enough and get off from the bus... Oh nooo... I tried to be patients... But once I saw my watch and in total I have been waiting for freaking 15 minutes that was when I decide to get off the mikrolet. I threw my money to pay the fare since I have been there start from the previous bus stop. Stupid me! If I know he is going to wait there forever I might just get off earlier and take another mikrolet!!

Another annoying thing from mikrolet while they are waiting for passengers are for their limited seats. So most driver would not move on before those seats are full with passengers. Yeah, with that formation four passengers on this side and another six on that side and if they have little bench they could force two passengers sitting there. Once the seats are full then they are willing to start the journey.

 

Sometimes to attract passengers to get on to their vehicle, they pretend to start their engine and so we are going to think...oh no we are going to be left behind... Then we ran to chase the mikrolet only to find that they are turn off the engine and just stay still waiting for more passengers! And if we decided to leave that mikrolet since we are in a hurry the driver will yell at us,"IF YOU ARE REALLY IN SUCH A RUSH THEN GET A TAXI!"

Harsh....

Nightmare

Rain + vehicles + Jakarta = NIGHTMARE

Oh no, I am not going to discuss about heavy rain that hit Jakarta for 3 hours nonstop on 25 October 2010... What's to talk about since I was not on the road at that time...

 But I do still remember when the first time I experienced that nightmare in the beginning of 2010. I forget the exact time but it was probably around January. The situation was more or less the same... Nonstop heavy rain for hours. I knew it already that there would be heavy traffic jam and rather I just pondering and wondering on the road waiting for bus more than 1 hour...better just go to the mall. It was Friday and so I contacted my friend to meet me at Grand Indonesia near Hotel Indonesia. We talked for hours and decided to end it at 10.00 PM. And I thought, the traffic jam surely over by now based on years of my experience.

And once I got out of the mall with my friend we were stunned... Why on earth this queuing for taxi still like this with so many people? We then go further near Hotel Nikko Jakarta and wait for taxi. Not bad for a night walk along with the workers from the mall (mall close around 10 PM)

We wait and wait for taxi... My friend who rented and stayed around Setia Budi (still near) loyally wait with me to get a cab. We waited for about half an hour and almost tempted to walk to Sarinah to intercept taxi there. It was almost 11 PM before finally I found one cab so I say farewell to my friend. I figure I could arrive at home within approximately 20 minutes... It was soo late already...

WRONG...

STILL TRAFFIC JAM at Imam Bonjol street along to Diponegoro... The driver then take initiative to find another road avoiding traffic jam. We circle around here and there and end up at the street near Tugu Proklamasi... And just stay there. STUCK. The driver sighing and me was beyond sighing. I was almost screaming when I looked at the fare meter... SHould I just walk? Seriously? Then finally we were able to move and the driver decided to take the road to Bukit Duri to escape from another traffic jam at Matraman Raya. That was the moment I saw that BUSWAY was still around with lots of passengers inside. All look tired and upset. That day was on Friday while heavy rain yesterday was on Monday 25 October 2010. I could imagine how pissed everybody were who arrive late at night at their home, sleep for few hours and already have to get up early in the morning. Then go to work with fear they have to deal with another nightmare.

Wondering why this thing keeps on happening? Things like this are going to make people passed away sooner due to stress and upset. They are tired from work and to go home they have to fight their way through rain, flood, traffic jam and worst...no transportation at all...

Maybe we should move to another town? Or change nationality?

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...

Now push back!

How to get back to people who push you around on the bus…

Hahahahah…. No, no, no… It is not my intention to teach you how to get enemy on the bus or hurt someone else that makes them end up in a hospital…

But you know what… Some people really need to be hit in the head … SOMETIMES…

One thing that you have to realize and know: this is a public place and not some private place belonging to you.
You will meet people who do not hesitate to push people around so she or he could make ways to get into the first line. If you try to be angry with this people, trust me… YOU WILL ONLY DEGRADE yourself. People would not mind to push, step on other people but get furious when other people did the same thing to them.

Once a girl pushed me from behind because she probably thought she was the only one who wants to get on the bus. So, I waited my chance and I pushed her back but keep my face straight. As if I did not realize what I has done to her. You know what, she got angry and told her mates that she was being pushed by me. She keep pointing, whispering and even try to glare just to catch my attention. I suppose she was so ready to drop everything with her and said,”BRING IT ON!” But I keep a straight face and pretending I did not listen. And after a while her trash mouth probably tired and she just stop. Do not mess up with a 37 year old tired lady…

There was a time I was not in the mood and when I did not want to move myself to the back of the bus (why should I? I was about to get off within minutes) there was a girl got angry and said something unpleasant. When I retorted back she fired back… I back off because to be honest…I was embarrassed. I should be able to control my emotion. Am I afraid to get into cat fight on the bus? Hell, yeah! What if everyone on the bus took out their cellphone and started to record everything then upload it to internet? It would be a humiliation. So, I just stay quiet and when I was about to get off I throw her a dirty look.

When people refused to slightly move over from where they are standing then it means they are about to get off at the nearest bus stop or simply not want to. Relax… Don’t get angry. Just remember when you are late entering classes or courses. The best seat already taken. In this case the best place to sit (usually near the door so it would be easier to get off the bus) already being occupied by someone else earlier than you. Suck it up. If not, then go ahead try to push that person as he or she will not just give in.

If someone step on you well try to think positive as she or he might not doing that on purpose. They just stumble upon something and you get to be stepped over. But if they push you then I can assure you they do it INTENTIONLY. They wants you to just move aside and give them the way. ARE THEY NUTS? Nope. It is just what happens daily on the bus. People loose their common sense.
Sometimes, they push other people due for being pushed by people standing behind them. A woman once scolded me because I sort of push her aside. I ignored her because if she did not move and I have to stand behind her obediently then someone will take my place and make ways to the bus… Sighed.

Anyway, just remember… If other passenger pushes you, don’t get mad. Just get it over with. Let it go if you want to practice healthy living. But if not, then go ahead… Do the same thing. But make sure you did not glare to that person and make a face saying,”HAH! You push me then I push you too!”… Just keep a straight face and look ahead. And please, please…do not push them to the ground… You will feel sorry afterwards!

Oh and by the way, just think this…if other people push you…then perhaps they just return the favor… (LOL)

20102010

I heard from the news that today 20102010 there would be massive demonstration... Demonstration means heavy traffic jam and probably motorcycle taxi will have so many passengers by the end of the day...


Speaking about it, One of the visitors here kind enough to remind me to not forget wear helmet everytime I use Ojek / motorcycle taxi ...

Now that's another tricky part...

Well, as we all know...ojek is public transportation here... When I said public, meaning that there are many people use their services. And it is also meaning that the HELMET provided by the ojek's driver has been used by so many people.

I am not a fashionista or have this good thick glowing hair... As a matter of fact I am facing the danger of being bald as my hair keeps falling down my head... So, if I have to put that helmet after being used by so many people who probably has dandruff on their head or have another hair problems...yikes... It is kinda yucky, right?

So, what I suppose to do when the ojek that I ride passing an area where there are so many policemen standing by? There is no way I am going to buy and bring my own helmet... It is so annoyingly heavy. Beside, if the destination is not too far and still around the area of my home then I could choose not to wear helmet. But if it was on the highway then I am not that daredevil. Additionally, the ojek's driver will not taking any chances and usually ask their passengers to wear helmet. The first time I was forced to wear helmet as the driver sort of beg me to.
"Miss, please wear the helmet... If you do not wear it I could get a fine by the police because it is breaking the law..."

Though not really want to, nevertheless I have to force myself to wear the helmet and the result? I felt the itchy feeling in my head... Okay, once is enough. I started to think how to protect my head without having risk to get germs from other passenger's head.

Come to think of it... Oh, dear.. Silly me... I used to wear jumper and there is the hood to cover my head... So, I can safely use the hot so hygienis helmet to protect my head. I also prepare scarf daily so I can wear it before the helmet just in case I do not wear my jumper that day.

If I really want to be safe, then there will be a way ^_____^

I am safe and the ojek's driver is happy...