For all of you who are not familiar with Jakarta public transport system, I tell you, it’s crap. Buses are old and pickpocket haven. Trains are ugly and kill people. Taxi is the brighter side but make sure you pick the one most reliable, the others are joining buses and trains in the crap side. There’s also this one called Bajaj, a three-wheeler originally from India, a small, bright orange, obnoxiously loud road madness.
It’s been a while since I use any of them. And I don’t miss them, honestly. But yesterday I get my chance to do some reminiscence with one of those darlings, the bajaj. See, I went to one of my account office in a messy part of Jakarta. I put my car in the nearest shopping mall with the nice parking lot, saving it from possible scratches from that chaotic traffic in the area. I took a taxi to get there, but then I couldn’t find any on my way back. There were bajajs, so I took one. Bajaj fare is determined by a bargain between you and the driver. I’ve lost all my ability to bargain, so I said yes to his price. Then what do you know, it turned out to be a fun ride. My bajaj maneuvered agilely in between cars and buses and motorbikes and everything in the traffic. Took me ten minutes to the usual twenty minutes ride since it went to small lanes only fixed for bajajs that bigger vehicle can’t get through. And my biggest delight of the day: it passed through this famous traditional fragrant rice eatery I’ve been longing to go but never sure where it was. Hooray for that small, bright orange, obnoxiously loud road madness! :)
