One of the benefits of having a roommate who is a fresh arrival to Indonesia is being able to see it through a new perspective.  I was reminded today of what an adventure it is to take various modes of public transportation.  I’m so often moaning and groaning about how I miss being able to hop in my own car and drive anywhere I have a mind to without obstacles like traffic, not being able to find a taxi, finding a taxi with a driver who doesn't know where to go, etc. 

Jasmin was eager to learn how to get around using some of the other methods available to us.  I remember wanting to learn that!  And I did branch out quite a bit from plain old boring taxis.  Hey, I remember when even taking a taxi was new and exciting and, yes, a little bit scary for me!  Can you tell I’m from Clinton?  At some point I tried the Transjakarta Busway (or just busway for short).  One day when I was still a brand new expat I felt spontaneous and tried a bajaj (but won’t do that again, GAG!)  After some time, Jessica introduced me to the Metromini bus.  Then there is the angkot or Mikrolet bus/minivan.  And just recently, my eyes were opened to the world of the ojek! 

Today started off with a trip to Blok M Square, a city block and shopping center area catering to multiple levels of social classes.  Jasmin was up for being introduced to a new area and learning the route via Metro Mini.  I spent $.20 for a 20 minute bus ride, then $2 for my lunch, then $4 on a small coffee at Starbucks. 

I had to leave Jasmin to fend for herself and headed off to meet one of my teens.  Rode the busway for 15 minutes, a $.35 trip, hopped off and walked to a place where I could grab an angkot (small minivan) = $.20 for 25 minutes.  Arrived at the mall right on time and spent another $4 for a fruity drink, praying and catching up with Gaby. 

Transjakarta buses use the center lane.  Pedestrians must use a bridge to get to the bus.

Busway

Angkot or Mikrolet.  Passengers ride on benches along the outside walls.

Next stop, core team meeting for TGP, our Saturday night fellowship.  Traffic was zipping right along and none of the angkots seemed to want to stop for me, so I enjoyed a nice 30 minute walk back to the busway where I joined the “line” of ladies waiting to get on the ladies only area of the bus.  There really is no such thing as a line in Asia, except maybe in Singapore.  I did stand behind the woman in front of me, rather close for Western standards, but was reminded I wasn't in the West when three ladies came after me and somehow elbowed their way between me and the lady I was already practically stepping on. 

Walking can be difficult.

This is where my thinking was flawed.  On this particular road, the busway has a lane that is designated for Transjakarta buses only – and it is actually enforced.  My thinking was that I could avoid the traffic jam (which was at a stand-still) by using busway, thereby saving much time and money.  After all, there is no jam in the busway lane, right?  I failed to consider what time it was (6pm), and also failed to remember all of the times I noticed (from my taxi) people practically falling out the doors waiting for the bus to come around this time of day, then trying to squeeeeeeze onto the already crammed bus.  Too late, I had already crossed the bridge and paid for my ticket.  I wasn't backing down now.  Plus, this was all part of the adventure!

I ended up waiting 30 minutes before I actually got on a bus.  I think either four or five buses came and went in that time.  And NO more ladies elbowed their way in front of me.  I only elbowed one lady out of my way.  I don’t think she even stood as high as my shoulder, so she wasn't very intimidating.  Another 30 minutes on the bus.  I didn't even have to hold on to anything because we were squished in so tight you couldn't have fit a paperclip anywhere in that bus!  I ended up getting a nice massage from someone’s elbow jabbing my shoulder.  Luckily, all of the ladies standing around me had bathed this morning.  I think the woman in front of me used plumeria scented shampoo, though it was hard to tell – I had to bend over a little to smell her hair. 

It wasn't quite this crowded as I shoved my way on, thank the Lord.

I had looked up ahead of time which stop I needed to take in order to make it to my meeting in a neighborhood I’d never been to.  What the map did not tell me was that the street where I intended to get a taxi is one-way.  The traffic was not headed in my direction, of course.  So I did what I normally do in that situation, started walking.  After about 15 minutes of walking, the street did divide into two lanes, but still no taxis or angkots or buses to be found.  I was beginning to wonder if my adventure would be a complete and utter failure when an ojek pulled up in front of me, saving the day!  The adventure was far from over!

Ojek = motorbike taxi

The driver did not know how to get to my destination.  We asked a few people, took a shortcut down some dirt roads, through a kampung (local village), and around a giant empty field (yes, smack in the middle of the 10^th largest city in the world) and finally, finally, arrived.  Dinner was at 6pm, meeting started at 7pm, and I arrived at 7:30pm.  FYI, two other members of the core team arrived after I did.  I was just so happy to get there that I paid the $2 my driver asked for. 

So, after aaaalllll that, the scariest and most expensive part of my day ended up being the taxi ride home after the meeting at 10:30pm.  The driver was in such a hurry that he was trying to squeeze past other cars at stoplights by folding in his side mirror and edging up onto the curb.  I guess he was spurred into action by all of the honking from the previous stoplight where he had fallen asleep.  Good grief!  I felt like God was assuring me that His protection matters more than how protected I believe I am just by the mode of transportation I choose to take.  At least 30 minutes in the taxi = $5.  I arrived home safe and sound, very dirty and probably a little stinky.

Total miles traveled: 20.82
Dollars spent on travel: $8.10
Number of times I had hiccups throughout the day: 4
Experience gained: priceless

The scariest part of the day!