Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Types of Angkot Drivers

Now that I have gained quite a bit of experience with indonesia's own public transit system(angkutan kota), I have noticed some peculiar things about the people who drive them.

1. The Musicians: These are angkot drivers who honk every few seconds. i'm not sure if they are impatient, want to attract riders, or just like to toot their own horn (pardon the pun)
2. The Mafia Escapees: These drivers drive as if they were given cement shoes, but some how managed to go on with life. Every time they stop or start you feel as if you are going to fall on to the person next to you.
3. The Racers: These drivers are in such a hurry to get to the end of the route, that you sometimes miss your stop. If not, when you say "kiri" to stop them they overshoot your stop buy a lot
4. The Chimneys: As you sit next to these drivers you find chain smoking is their on-the-road hobby, not necessarily bad drivers, but I try to avoid sitting next to them.
5. The mothers: These are my favorite. These guys look out for the little white girl traveling alone in Indonesia at night. Usually, they are kind of chatty, which helps me practice my bahasa.
6. The Deaf Ones: These are the ones that don't stop unless you scream "kiri" multiple times. Very frustrating.

Indonesians: if you have anything more to add go ahead :)

6 comments:

  1. The horn issue is different in the U.S.

    In the U.S. honking a horn means "FUCK YOU GET OUT OF THE WAY".

    Most other countries it just means "i'm coming up behind you, watch out", it's almost common courtesy.

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  2. Andrew, I've noticed that. People will usually give a little half honk when passing a motorcycle or a pedestrian, but these angkot drivers are the kind that repeatedly honk during traffic jams when it does no one good haha

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  3. angkot drivers usually honk a lot to attract passengers, the honk could also means "are you coming?"... or... "do you need the ride?"

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  4. lidya, I've noticed that too haha

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  5. hahaha so funny el ! let's have angkot trip !!! It will be very nice since long time I didn't go with angkot !!
    *agung

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