Where is Jakarta? It is in Indonesia. Where is Indonesia? It is in Asia, South East Asia. Jakarta, officially known as the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Due to rapid progess and modernisation, Jakarta has long been surrounded by its growing-up neighboring suburbs. There are some satellite cities to support it from where commuters throng Jakarta each day. It's called Jabotabek or greater Jakarta. Jabotabek the combination of "Ja"karta + "Bo"gor + "Ta"ngerang + "Be"kasi cities (Kota) and Regencies (Kabupaten), this name was rendered obsolete when "De"pok was added. So it is also called Jabodetabek.
The unwritten rules says: You must speed up in Jakarta's street, otherwise, you'll get nervous or people will keep yelling at you. However, if you are driving a car and feel comfortable with it, you can deal with well, right. But if you have a motorcycle to ride, you must be a speed demond! You must overtake one another and you must be the fastest on the street. You are the king.
One exception, you cannot speed up riding this, because you are carrying the exclusive lovely neighbouring passengers: housevies and kids. This is called Odong-odong, some entertaining vehicle that you can find in Jakarta's kampoong. The traditionally modified vehicle can be a motorcyle or a bicyle. The transport for fun is for home family to kill their times while husbands making money out there.
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| No taxi? No recommendation for this. |
It's cheaper and not only availabe in Jakarta, but almost all over Indonesia. It was born due to the crises which have not been over up to now. Again, no speeding up, you' should not show off your guts to kids. but where's the driver? Don't say he hates slow!
This Jakarta street singer is one among hundreds of the like getting on one citybus to another. They can only enter the conventional bus called Kopaja, Metro Mini or Patas AC, but not the Trans Jakarta Bus Way or the Air-Conditioned Electrical Commuter Train (KRL) if they prefer to have potentisal market on the train. So far the economy train is dominated by them, no matter how packed the train is.
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| Sorry, wrong picture, he's selling books anyway. |
This teenager is the polite one and he doesn't bring a guitar to "entertain" passengers. It's a traditionally hand-made percussion and he sings relgiious songs. Passengers will give the money, in my observatioin, including me myself, depends on their mood. Some may think what should give money, they are so lazy, don't have any initiative to get a job. Some may say, it's okay, if we share a little happiness with the poor, we can have better luck in return. Nothing to lose with small money.
If you happen to be bored by taking taxi in Jakarta and would like to see what the street life like is, just get on the bus and see any street singers come and go over and over again and you may somewhat feel annoyed. Espeically, when one or two of them get upset because nobody gives money. They will grumble and curse you, and if there's an opportunity they might harm you.
Just enjoy the song and beware!
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| Life is too hard to live |
Lost in the city or life is too hard to lead in Jakarta? What is the man doing there, squatting for nothing? Is he thinking about better life? Does he get drunk? Is he broke? Depressed? What should he do next to survive? You'll see everyday in Jakarta , street men get on the city minibus called Metro Mini or Kopaja to beg money as street singers or usually the tattoed ones straightforwardly estort you in softer way.
It's not a picture of a lost man in the city. It's part of social life's concern. Indonesia hasn't gone out of crises. The late of 1990's marked the long lasting misery. Up to now, no significant reform can be felt by the whole people. Corruptions are rampant. Poverty is everywhere. Unemployment is worrying.
Through the thoroughfares of Jakarta, you'll see a sort of depictiion. Not only the impoverished people like street singers, peddlars who have to struggle to survice, trying to lead a life as properly as they can, but also criminals. Could he one of the pickpockets?
