Muffler stove...

SELAMAT MERAYAKAN HARI RAYA IDUL ADHA BAGI YANG MERAYAKANNYA

Muffler Stove? When my friend asked me to write about this I kinda stunned…. Well, I have not been long in dealing with buses… And just get a bit bitchy by noticing almost about everything after dozen of years.

It turn out, it was sort of something my friend and her friends talk about related to bus with destination Jakarta – Merak that producing heavy black smoke from the muffler. The black heavy smoke sort of like old time stove and that’s why they used to say that bus is like a walking stove. Perhaps they should say a walking fire… Kidding

Well, from years we have been wondering why on earth those buses that produce heavy smoke were allowed to keep on operating. My friend even said that she could not breath properly when she was using motorcycle and were EXACTLY behind the bus along with the heavy smoke. Not only that she could not breath properly, the heavy smoke made her looks as if she just come out from the fireplace. No wonder my cousin saw no interest to stay permanently in Jakarta. He said he could die of trouble breathing if he has to keep on using motorcycle in Jakarta. Even though he has all the gears like jacket, helmet and do not know what else. Once we are having bad luck and be in the middle of cloud of smoke …oh dear. It was better if we standing on the street we could still close our mouth and perhaps nose (though is useless anyway as we have inhaled too much already). But if we are riding motorcycle then how in the heck we close our mouth? The only thing we could do is to let that smoke find its way through our helmet. Yuck…

 

This picture was taken from an article about EARTH DAY on a website and we could see what happen to the Jakartan during that day. Heavy pollution from that vehicle really show how bad it is already.

I experienced that too when I was standing on the street waiting for the bus to come. The bus that I have been waiting was not to be seen but other public transportation were passing us by along with the heavy smoke. I am still lucky I was not addictive to the heavy smoke… LOL… Usually the older the bus or other public transportation then they would surely produce more heavy smoke from the muffler. And it is not a surprise that we all became alert whenever we saw the rotten bus approaching from a far. We could say that we the passengers waiting for the bus on the street like a bunch of mosquitos and the buses are bug terminator (sorry I can’t just say any brand as they are not the sponsor of this blog… hehehehe)… As soon as they are approaching we all going to disperse.

But Jakartan are strong people, probably… There are many street vendors selling food on the sidewalk. Which means their location is near the street where those public transportation viciously producing the poisoning heavy smoke to the food and to the visitors. Nobody seems to be bothered though. They keep on enjoying the meal… Probably it taste better with mixing of heavy smoke from muffler stove…. LOL

Thanks to Mira Aqila for the idea J

I just hate motorcycles

Today I am not going to talk about public transportation but want to share something from the bottom of my heart... LOL! It is just a beginning of the week but already I want to share something from my heart...

The thing that I am afraid the most, upsetting the most and hate the most currently are rogue motorcycle drivers.



Oh dear... They are truly the KING OF THE ROAD at this moment and their behavior really inviting... Inviting anger and swearing... Naturally, not all motorcycle drivers are rascals on the street. But they are the reason that made me NOT want to learn how to drive. I would rather chasing the bus. Or if have spare money I take the taxi... The one with cheaper fare, of course.

Anyway, back to the motor cycle riders... I have complete stories of our anger towards them. From my own experiences up to stories from friends and family.

Years ago, when my Dad still able to drive by himself we were having problem with the motorcycle driver who came up from nowhere and I was suspicious that he deliberately thrown himself in front of our car. It was red light at that time and when my dad just about to start the car suddenly this motorcycle came up out of nowhere and just fallen. As we expected, the driver then screaming asked my dad to get off from the car. There was a party nearby and the security guard sort of became mediator between us. When the driver still yelling and screaming, the security guard snapped at him and ask him to get to the point. How much did he want? We gave him 50,000 Rupiahs as per his request to settle the matter as quick as possible.

My friend has another story. She has giving sign that she was about to go left then this motorcycle driver come trying to move pass her car. And his motorcycle hit her car so eventually he was falling down. My friend read the situation quickly. If she just stay there she would have to face dozens of angry motorcycle drivers try to defending their comrade. So, she opened her car's window and told the guy to follow her to the other side of the road. The road was the opposite ways from other dozens of motorcycle drivers so she only has to deal with the driver alone. Without anyone to hassle her, she managed to squeeze the motorcycle driver by pint pointed his mistakes. First, she has giving sign but he obviously pretend not to see it. Second, he just keep on moving forward and finally hit her car's door. And in the end, without has to spend even a dime, she left that unlucky motorcycle driver alone. Dealing with his broken motorcycle. While my friend has to spend money to fix her door but that was better rather than giving money to the driver.

By taking the bus does not mean we have no problem with motorcycle drivers. They have known that big bus always speeding. And yet they still have the audacity to try move pass the bus. Once I saw one of them suddenly make a left turn while this motorcycle was originally on the right side of the bus. The crazy thing was the motorcycle driver and his buddy laughing out loud because they have successfully outrun the bus. While the bus driver, his assistant and all the passengers swearing that hopefully that driver will get his lesson someday... Just as long as not with them but with someone else!

The closing story from my cousin who almost have a heart attack on the spot thank you to the motorcycle driver. As usual, there was a motorcycle driver who want to try out run their car. It seems the driver was unable to control the balance of his motorcycle he suddenly fall along with his buddy. The motorcycle went under the car while her husband still trying to hit the brake. They both suddenly fall silent scare to imagine what has been happening. Then suddenly the driver staggering try to stand up along with his buddy. While people helping the driver, they scolded the driver for not being able to control the vehicle. Luckily for all of them, the car still able to stop right on time. All the people witnessing that the driver fell due to his own mistake and not because being hit by the car. Then my cousin and her hubby just move along continue their journey leaving the bruises driver and his buddy.

So, to all of you motorcycle drivers...if you are still unable or not capable to handle your motorcycle then perhaps you should just walk or ride another vehicle. Don't give other people trouble by falling in front of the running car... Or acting as if you are a brilliant racer by speeding and try to out run other vehicles.

I am beginning to think...how many motorcycles being sold to the people within days? Why there are so many of them and really such a nuisance! Come to think of it, to use ojek with reckless driver are also frightening prospect :(

Ask for help

My mom said if we deal with a stingy person then we need to ask before that person finally give in (though not with sincere feeling). We have to at least said something since we are the one who need it. Don't hold back.

We need to do that when we use public transportation. We could not expect other people will understand though some cases does. Then again, this is a public place where we meet all kind of personalities.

So...

1. Pregnancy
Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know that women with this condition should not ask for help from other passengers. Other passengers should have compassion towards them. But it could be the passengers also feel tired or just don't want to know.
So for me...do not hesitate to ask for a favor from somebody's else. We should consider ourselves along with the child inside. What if the driver hit the brake suddenly and then you fall? Who are you going to blame? The driver? The passenger who sat nicely near the spot where you have to stand?

2. Sick
Pfff, once I honestly begged a guy who sat near the area where I have to standing all the way through the pms tortures. Thank you GOd he was willing to stand up and give me his seat.

3. Heated
I never understand why Indonesian people manage to breath inside a space with no air circulation. I noticed that rarely people asked from the sitting passengers to open the windows next to their seat. While the air inside the bus is intolerable due to the heat
Once, I asked a girl who sat near the window to open it now. While pouting she opened the window. Giving only few opened space. SUddenly a guy standing beside me took initiatives to open the window wider. It turn out he was also could not stand it anymore. Then again, he need someone else to pop the question first.

4. Sick part 2
If we are in good condition that getting touched by the wind is something that we do not mind. But when we are not feeling very well...that would be the last thing we need. Obviously we want to close the window tight. Sometimes I do wonder probably those people close the window because they are avoiding cold air from outside and care nothing about other people?
When we are the one who is sick then we have no choice but to ask for the window to be closed or at least not being opened too wide.


Help request that would probably be rejected totally point blank:

Request to ask for a seat to put their baggages.
If that was me, I would totally reject the request as are you crazy? If you bring too many baggages then it would be your problem don't give that to anybody else.

Soo, if you need then do not hesitate to ask for help except the last above request. Jakartan probably looks cruel but that because they are tired already. Most of them would not have the heart to refuse help request from other people... But we always knows when someone try to take advantage from our kindness. As soon as those pretenders ask for seat they suddenly become so healthy after faking to be ill...

Just have faith.

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.

Omprengan

I have no idea whether this kind of transportation is exist or otherwise outside Jakarta - Bekasi

Omprengan is illegal public transportation originally from private cars being multi functioned by the owner to bring other people who has the same destination.

So, if the owner domiciled in Bekasi but has to work in Jakarta. Rather than he deal with gasoline and highway fare alone, it would be better if he share with other people who are about to go to the same destination. Passengers prefer omprengan because even though is more expensive but at least they could avoid the tiredness for standing along the way inside the bus. Or the fare could be cheaper if the passengers need to take public transportations more than one before reaching the destination. This is only in smaller scale where the owner operated his vehicle to shares fare and in limited capacity also still prefer the comfortableness.

There are other omprengan operated almost like public transportation. They have their own base camp and not going to move before they have full passengers inside the car. Comfortableness be gone... But still people prefer to use omprengan as public transportation has becoming more disaster.

Although I worked inside the city, once for a few years I enjoyed using omprengan. Well, it was not really that comfort as the vehicle was an old minibus. But it has huge space so within force there could be 15 people inside.

The happy side? Obviously because the fare is cheaper compare to the bus. And I could sit and sleep all the way. My goodness, I really don't want to miss a chance to fall asleep...

The not so happy side because the driver always waiting for his loyal customers for a long time. Most of his customers start working at 08.30 AM so they were not in a hurry.

The funny or tragic story was the moment that I saw how people who were having too much comfort could ask for more. At that time, the gasoline price was increasing. So, the driver ask for our understanding that he would increase the fare as well. A lady asked me in vain,"Oh why he has to increase the fare?" So, she really not willing to pay more. I looked at her while thinking if she use the bus then she has to pay more than she paid right now. And there would be no chance to have a bit of comfort.

The danger of using unknown omprengan is the owner could be a robber along with the fake passengers. Which is why don't take chances when we are about to use omprengan for the first time. It would be best if we have someone who familiar with it.

Sure we need cheap fare but we always need to be alert.