Fred went a wandering.

Helmets aren't always popular here ad the cops have a less than quality reputation for enforcing the law.
It looks like there's a move to change the situation as I saw yesterday when I came across a bunch of cops, traffic wardens and military police engaging in a safety operation.
They even gave out free helmets.

Now that's a good initiative and incentive to help protect riders 

Hello guys.. don't know if you're still remember me lol
I moved back to Indo after living 13 yrs in the US and wow...big reversed cultural shock for me. Fast forward...I spent a year in Jakarta, another year in Manado. I've been to a few cities so far. And I'm flying to Lombok on the 9th. Wish me luck peeps!

Sorry to jump in your forum like this Fred. TIA

Hello guys.. don't know if you're still remember me lol
I moved back to Indo after living 13 yrs in the US and wow...big reversed cultural shock for me. Fast forward...I spent a year in Jakarta, another year in Manado. I've been to a few cities so far. And I'm flying to Lombok on the 9th. Wish me luck peeps!

Sorry to jump in your forum like this Fred. TIA

Cant say i recall you    just    abit but welcome back 

Im sure Fred's picture story book will give you a quick catch up on all what you missed past few years 

Good luck 

Indonesia's roads aren't known for safety or common sense.
This is a prime example of the crazy things you'll see here.

This is quite an unusual post as it has politics, war, sensitive subjects and possibilities for a partial solution.

Whatever your opinions on the subject, Indonesia doesn't make life easy for asylum seekers so this is a very bad place to choose or get stuck in on your way to Australia.
Most of the people I met claimed to be from Afghanistan, all with stories of escaping the war and massive terrorist activity.
They have no shelter, no health care, not allowed to work and the kids can't attend school so their life is pretty crap. They have to rely on help from whoever for food and whatever else they need. While I was there I saw a delivery of a bag of unleavened bread (Pitta or naan style) and a shock.
I'm a very well fed white dude (fat) but they still shared their bread with me.
It seems a good heart will always shine, even when there's a storm all around.







What they own, that's the lot for about 30 people.







Not much is happening for them but there is some help available from the UN.
One possible win win for some could be sending them off to visit places where extremist is rife - perhaps telling their stories of death, destruction and misery at the hands of terrorists could set the more of the more violent people on a better path.

Local microbus drivers aren't known for their road discipline, or even being sane.
Someone once told me only God and the driver knew what the twits were going to do next but I'm unsure either of them know.
I watched all three of these go past a line of traffic at a red light, and all jump the light only to park three abreast blocking the whole road, two staying there when the lights went to green.
People who drive in this country should take special care because these angkots do whatever they want whenever they want to do it but the cops rarely bother with them.

People walk around the street selling anything and everything, this guy making and selling chairs.

I haven't been out much of late because I've been crazy busy but I managed a short walk today when I went to buy a small amplifier for work.
Jakarta's roads are amazing places and extremely dangerous to cross so there are lots of footbridges. People mean business, so little businesses open on on them. You also get beggars.

I enjoy trying the odd and unusual so I wanted to try this ferry since I first saw it.

I got my chance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83VL3FL … e=youtu.be

How much is a one way ride Fred?

Ubudian wrote:

How much is a one way ride Fred?

Should be 2,000 but I gave him 5.

Never walk down a main road when there's a side road or an alley to explore.
This hidden gem is just outside Kota Tua, right at the top of Glodok.

The end of the passage .. maybe



or maybe not - Sign says, "I enter here to learn", as I did.



School one side, houses the other



from above



and a temple

A while ago I wandered down some back streets in Jakarta, the sort of place I would expect London looked a little like before the great fire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC5TCPf … e=youtu.be

What most people see


What I see

Mirror, mirror, on the bike
who's the fairest of them all?

Doesn't rhyme.....

Four or more on a bike is hardly much to look at once you've been in Indonesia for a while, but this family business made me look twice.

Tyre shops are big business - sometimes.
This guy's micro business is signposted with a couple of tyres on sticks and advertised by people knowing where he is.

Batik is a style of material used for shirts, dress, and so on.
There are two basic types, mass produced printed batik that comes in pretty cheap, or hand painted batik that isn't at all cheap.

Many towns have areas almost 100 percent dedicated to batik shops, Cirebon (Pro - Chiribon) is one of these.





I called in this shop





The Javanese language has three levels, the basic one friends use, a posh on you might use with your boss, and a htperposh version when you want to be extremely polite.
The staff used the hyperposh version, giving a little bow and saying, "Thank you" in the top Javanese language.



I was very impressed with the place.

I dropped in to Cirebon's train station, and old building but very nicely kept.
I like the old loco they use as a gatekeeper.





The guys in orange are porters

A dude has to earn a buck, even when it's raining

Social care tends to be a family thing in Indonesia, but some fall through the cracks.
This was taken outside a mini market at about 3 in the morning.

Javanese is the first language for a lot of Indonesians but there are issues as the official language, Indonesian, finds its way more and more into daily use.
As part of the effort to keeping it alive and well used, the written form is used on signs in many cities.

The poor are to be found in every village, town, and city, but you have to look as they're hidden away.
Rivers and rail tracks are always good places as nobody else is interested in living there.

People playing near traffic lights in the hope of earning money are common.
People pushing the boat out to be different are rarer.

These guys were using a mix of stuff including traditional instruments .. and they seem to collect a fair bit of cash.





IMG_4226 by Indofred, on Flickr

If you earn pretty much nothing, you earn it whenever you can and in whatever way you can, that including delivering ice at crazy times at night.
Next time you take a bacak ride, think about how little these people earn before you argue about the price.

A lady collecting plastic bottles very late at night



Another, this time in the East Java sunshine



She sells her hard gained plastic bottles here for Rp2,000/kg

20180705_081928 by Indofred, on Flickr

People with mental health issues and nobody to look after them have big problems here. This old lady walks around totally naked all the time, holding a bag of I have no idea what,

Fishing in Cirebon harbour





IMG_4187 by Indofred, on Flickr

Bacaks are used for anything that makes money

[



IMG_4185 by Indofred, on Flickr

Micro petrol stations used to use litre sprite bottles, but things have moved on. This place near Surabaya is typical of the new type.

A small port not far from Surabya, East Java

The boats



The toilets with a hyperadvanced, twenty first century sewage system



Making bait

A micro sewing business in the middle of the street. These are quite common all over Java



IMG_4253 by Indofred, on Flickr

This old guy sits around all day trying to sell his cigarettes and so on outside his house. As he lives down a tiny back street that few people walk down, I don't think he makes a lot of money.



This is the first time I've seen this guy. He, like all others with mental issues, are known as orang gila (Crazy people).
This dude is hunting for food in the bins.

Would you use a motorbike to transport a door - or two doors?
Here - pretty average



IMG_4240 by Indofred, on Flickr

The sign lays out the rules, including the bit about not trowing rubbish outside the containers.



As you can see, the rules are strictly enforced

IMG_4243 by Indofred, on Flickr

Rubbish collectors are amongst the poorest working people in Indonesia, most having no hope of any real retirement, if they manage to get old enough. They have to hope their kids look after them in their old age.
This guy is 63 years old, but will carry on working until he can't physically do it anymore - then ????????





IMG_4250 by Indofred, on Flickr

Back to East Java - Wooden fishing boats need a lot of maintenance, and that's all done by hand.
They were highly amused and a little happy a foreign guy was taking such an interest in them and their work.
I get that a lot.











20180705_083747 by Indofred, on Flickr

Nets also suffer from wear and tear.
These guys were equally amused by the white guy taking photos of their work.





20180705_084909 by Indofred, on Flickr