Homebound trip uncomfortable but worth it<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Blitar<\/p>\n
Carrying a travel bags, two shoulder bags and a cardboard box,
\nSunartin, 47, got out of the worn-out cab. With unsteady steps
\nshe approached Pulo Gadung bus station in East Jakarta to join
\nthe sea of homebound travelers.<\/p>\n
It had been two years since she last visited her hometown in
\nEast Java, and now, two days prior to Idul Fitri, it was time to
\ngo home, redeeming her longing for her family by celebrating the
\nholiday together.<\/p>\n
Embarking on her journey with her neice, Sunartin confidently
\nentered the bus station that is notorious for passenger extortion
\nand other criminal acts.<\/p>\n
Just a few steps and the two were surrounded by dozens of
\nticket brokers.<\/p>\n
One broker rudely asked the destination of Sunartin and after
\nher reply, he grabbed her arm and dragged her hurriedly toward a
\nticket box.<\/p>\n
Sunartin, who has been working for seven years in Jakarta as a
\nhousemaid for a Chinese-Indonesian family earning a monthly
\nsalary of Rp 200,000, was told to pay Rp 100,000 for an economy
\nclass bus ticket for Blitar.<\/p>\n
The price was 150 percent higher than the legal price imposed
\nby the government, which is Rp 44,000, including the official 12
\npercent price increase.<\/p>\n
Although she and her niece had tickets, they were forced to
\nstruggle and jostle with hundreds of other passengers to board
\nthe Dahlia Indah bus, which had a maximum capacity of 54 seats.<\/p>\n
They managed to get on the bus at last - that was after they
\nwere nearly dragged by the bus, which had already impatiently
\nstarted to move.<\/p>\n
There was no seat left for Sunartin, so she sat on the bus
\naisle as it was impossible for her to stand all the way on the
\n950-kilometer-long journey. There were several other passengers
\nwho also sat on the aisle or stood by the door.<\/p>\n
Some of the seats were taken by passengers who had no ticket,
\nbut had paid the driver aboard.<\/p>\n
The bus departed from the station at 12:15 p.m., the driver
\nturned on the tape player with campursari Javanese music.<\/p>\n
After two kilometers, the bus pulled over to pick up another
\nseven illegal passengers.<\/p>\n
The already stifled and steamy overloaded bus now carried 70
\npeople, including four bus crew: a driver, a reserved driver, a
\nconductor and a driver's assistant.<\/p>\n
As the bus was about to depart, three singing beggars boarded
\nand rudely demanded money from the passengers. Sunartin had to
\ngive away Rp 1,000.<\/p>\n
During the journey, which was 21 hours of reckless bus
\ndriving, Sunartin sat cross-legged on the aisle. At times her
\nbody jerked from side to side as the bus stopped suddenly or
\nspeeded up.<\/p>\n
After three hours, the bus was held up in a two-hour traffic
\njam in Indramayu regency, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Distressed, the passengers, most of whom were factory workers,
\nhousemaids and construction workers, had to suffer the extreme
\nheat as there were no air conditioners or fans.<\/p>\n
To overcome their stress, some passengers chatted. Once in a
\nwhile, they laughed.<\/p>\n
In the midst of her laughter, Sunartin told The Jakarta Post
\nshe had anticipated the stressful trip.<\/p>\n
\"I am used to this situation. Going home by train or bus is
\nalways the same, you will always find it uncomfortable. Anyway,
\nwhat can I expect? I don't have any choice, I can't afford to
\nride in comfort, it's too expensive for me,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Sunartin, a divorcee, wanted to meet her sisters and brother,
\nand grandmother in the village. Married twice, she remains
\nchildless and without parents, as her mother and father died four
\nyears ago.<\/p>\n
\"I feel terribly sad if I don't go home. Last year I cried
\nbecause I was not able to return home. That was the first time I
\nhadn't managed to return home for Idul Fitri\", she said. Last
\nyear, she could not get a ticket.<\/p>\n
At 7:30 p.m. the bus stopped at a restaurant in Cirebon, West
\nJava. The passengers hurriedly left the bus, heading toward the
\ntoilet.<\/p>\n
No toilet was available on the bus. Passengers had to hold the
\ncall of nature as the bus only stopped twice along the route.<\/p>\n
After an hour-long break, the bus was on its way again. The
\nnext stop was at about midnight in Kendal, Central Java. However,
\nSunartin and many passengers stayed aboard the bus, sleeping.<\/p>\n
Heavy rain poured on the bus as it entered Semarang, the
\ncapital of Central Java. The passengers were further
\ninconvenienced when they got wet because the roof leaked.<\/p>\n
At least 16 passengers, including Sunartin, had to stand for
\nthree hours as the aisle where they sat was wet.<\/p>\n
In the morning, the passengers were busy with expectation as
\nthey neared their destination. They exchanged addresses with each
\nother and promised to get in touch soon upon their arrival in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
At 8 a.m., the bus arrived in Tulung Agung, East Java. There
\nwere 37 passengers left who were bound for Blitar as the rest had
\ngot off on the way. Unfortunately, the passengers had to change
\nthe bus.<\/p>\n
At last, after another uncomfortable trip, they arrived at
\nPatria bus station in Blitar at 8:30 a.m.<\/p>\n
But for Sunartin and her niece, this was not the end of the
\njourney. They had to take a public van that would take them to
\ntheir home in the hamlet of Kali Kuning in Wonotirto subdistrict,
\n40 kilometers south of Blitar. Luckily they arrived before 11
\na.m. and were able to catch a minivan. Otherwise, they would have
\nto take an ojek (motorcycle taxi) costing Rp 25,000.<\/p>\n
After waiting for five minutes, the van, a 1988 Mitsubishi
\nColt arrived. Fifteen minutes later, when the seats were all
\noccupied, it left. Along the way, passengers got on and off.
\nOccasionally, it took about five minutes for passengers with a
\nlot of stuff, such as sacks or bamboo storage baskets tied to the
\nvan's roof, to get off.<\/p>\n
After two hours of a steady upward ride along a steep and
\nsharply curved road, the two arrived at their village.<\/p>\n
Sunartin's house is located on high land, 250 meters away from
\nthe main road. From her village one can clearly see both the
\nBlitar and Tulung Agung regency, and the South Sea (Indian
\nOcean).<\/p>\n
The road that leads to her house is made from rocky limestone
\nand those who are not accustomed to the road should be careful,
\notherwise they might get hurt.<\/p>\n
A mixture of joy and commotion shrouded Sunartin's feelings as
\nher neighbors came one by one to greet her.<\/p>\n
Tears of joy dripped down Sunartin's cheek as she entered her
\nmodest house, where she was welcomed by her older sister, who had
\nremained all her lifetime at the village, and her younger brother
\nand sister who had just arrived from Surabaya a day before.<\/p>\n
They hugged each other with excitement, and the house was soon
\nfull with Sunartin's childhood friends, who came immediately to
\nsee her.<\/p>\n
And she cheerfully handed over presents for family members,
\nincluding her nieces and nephews, mostly new clothes.
\nInterestingly, she had also brought home a pair of door handles -
\nthey were given away by her employer, who sells household
\nequipment. Sunartin spent about Rp 1.3 million for her travel and
\nall the gifts.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people like Sunartin bring great excitement and
\njoy to their home village during the yearly Idul Fitri holidays.
\nAs for the migrants, the hardness of their journey is quickly
\nredeemed by their beloved relatives and friends at home.<\/p>\n
\"I admit, that in my employer's house, things are very easy
\nand comfortable for me compared to my own house. Here there's no
\ntoilet, I have to relieve myself in the plantation. However, I
\ncome home to meet the rest of my family. They are the people I
\nmost love\", she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/homebound-trip-uncomfortable-but-worth-it-1447893297",
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