Safety problem

Using public transportation in Jakarta is sort of a dilemma. If it was full, we feel very annoyed. Aside that we are suffering from the heat, we are stuck in the middle with dozen of people, totally exhausted as we do not get a seat and have to stand for quiet some times. And surely do not forget about pickpocket. Not to mention people with demented hobby by doing sexual harassment on the bus. With all of that, we then start to dream if only that public transportation is not so crowded. We would not feel like we were rush when we we are about to get on or get off. We do not have to get squeezed by other passengers or their belongings.

But, once we get on an empty bus or other public transportation...we would be lying if we did not feel worry. A few years ago there were cases of hold-up inside illegal public transportation. I said illegal because they are actual personal vehicle transformed without legal permit into public transportation. Perhaps sort of hitch hiking. But people who hitch hiking does not need to pay the fare. While this one, people will pay the fare to the driver. Most people prefer this kinda transportation. As, most of the passengers going to the same direction and soon become familiar to one another. But, few years ago...there were people pretend to be the driver and passengers in this illegal transportation. Then robbed the real passengers. So, the question when we get on the not so crowded public transportation...are these all real passengers or not?

Well, to be honest I can not give you tips other than to follow our own instinct. Usually our instinct hardly makes mistake though from other people's point of view we could be labeled to paranoid or fabricating a situation that not exist.

If we are already inside a public transportation and feel something not right, do not hesitate to get off even though our destination still far from being close. Don't worry about the fare as it would be nothing compare with other losses. Such as mentally; being shocked after the crime took place. Or naturally material looses that would take more rather than just the fare.

Once I decide to get off from a taxi as I felt that the driver kinda annoying. He kept on opposing all the direction that I have told him to take. Finally I decide to get off near my friend's home and just get another taxi. I did not mind loosing the fare rather than being agitated all the way home.

Often we heard recommendation from people about "bad" taxis and "Good" taxis. Though is good to have recommendation like this, but not always guarantee us safety and comfort.

Obviously when we go together with bunch of people, slim chance that we all going to be robbed by the driver and his accomplice. But when we are alone then we need to be extra careful. And trust our instinct. Plus, prays...a lot.

Lesson part 1

From a book about people's body language, I read that public area or public transportation are the right places to slowly but sure in learning about situation and body language of people around.

When we frequently using the bus daily (as we have to due to limited options), rather than just wondering around we start to notice every common things on the bus...

If we use the bus quite often, then we surely know that A SEAT is obviously becoming the most wanted items on the bus... So, if there is an empty seat inside a crowded bus unwanted by any passengers, then we will be able to start making a list of presumption of the obvious events :

1. The passenger sitting beside the empty seat turn out have a smelly stinking odor
Ah, I am not insulting or anything... IT'S A TRUTH! Once I just get on the bus that fairly crowded... I said fairly as I was still able to get on the bus, right? As usual, I swept the entire space inside the bus in vain hope that I would catch a passenger before me about leaving the bus... Then my eyes stumble on an empty seat and my heart were like leaping away... But wait... Why there was nobody seems interested to sit there? And not so many people want to stand near that empty seat though they have shoved over by the driver's assistant. So, surely but sure I was starting to move near the seat... YUCK... No wonder nobody want to sit there. Later on, a girl get on the bus and whoosh she straightly put herself on that HOT SEAT. It did not take long before she start shifting her sitting position. If previously she sat staring up front, now she move her entire body to the other direction... Back to back with the person sitting beside her. I notice this with concern (and smiling *vicious*). That's not all. Her hands starting to move pinching her nose (but she pretend as if she want to hold her face to start sleeping)
That's why you need to have a quick look first, Miss... Why people do not want to sit there!

2. If it is raining, those seats located at the back area of the AC bus will surely empty
Don't even try to sit there unless you already bring proper and complete tools. They are raincoat, plastic tablecloth or something like canvas.
As once the rain pouring hard outside the bus, then the AC bus will adjusted itself as per the weather out there by giving big flood to seats located in the back area.
If you happen to be on the bus BEFORE the rain, well just brace yourself...

3. There are left over of meals which have been processed inside the stomach
Obviously this one need no more further explanation right?

See, who said that people can't just study anywhere and any time? Hehehehe
See you on the next course ;)

Accesories

Yesterday I was in a totally empty regular bus. There couldn't be more than a dozen of passengers... (If this situation happening at night, I would definitely not ever going to get on the bus... Scary)

Usually when the bus is crowded, the bus driver would feel reluctant to let this street singers to get on the bus and start their action... Especially during the peak hours... Even there is only one street singer on the bus...he or she would have taken more spaces... Who want to stand around near them while they are singing? If their voice is good, then is no problem. But if the other way around or those who bring the whole entire gang (more than 3 persons) including the music instruments... Sighed... It is hard for me to enjoy the music... There is only this loud sound and sultry.

But yesterday, after a street singer come up on the bus I noticed that the driver and his "assistant" (the one who help to collect the bus fare) start calling more street signers to get on the bus... That's unusual, I thought. These street singers think the same thing so they asked the driver, "That's so unusual you calling us to get in here..." And the driver just simply answered, "Yeah, so all of you can have a reunion here...while the bus is still empty..."
Obviously those street singer were like ,"Damn you... " The driver's ASSISTANT who merely smile finally jump in to the conversation, "Just to give this bus a crowded look... So, it does not look too empty ... Or we are going to be a laughing stock by other drivers..."

Hahahahah, this is the first time I saw street singers were needed to be accessories to make the bus look crowded. You know, store owner sometimes use their own employee pretending to be customer to attract other customers entering their store. We usually feel reluctant to enter store with no other customer... Automatically we think, the sales girl is bitchy, unprofessional, the items that were sold not have good quality and so on...
I just feel how funny that the driver and his assistant have an idea to use these street singers to get more crowds

Hey driver, we feel the opposite with the store... We feel happy to get on a-not-so-crowded bus so we can sit and thankfully have a rest comfortably and safely... free of pickpockets:)

(yeah right, paying cheap fare but wishing a comfort and safety... No promise can do...)