Airport taxi

I arrived last Friday evening at 9:15 p.m. to find that there were no taxis at the taxi stand but that they were all parked upstream from the official stand and that all the drivers were gathered in a group. I approached and advised that I wished to go to Kreo, Tangerang, whereupon a discussion took place and I was advised that nobody wished to take me.

I returned to the official location and attempted to flag down a passing taxi but was continually hampered by the airport security staff (in collusion with taxi drivers).

I finally managed to stop a Blue Bird look-alike whose driver upon clearing the lighted area turned around and said "No meter -- Rp 200,000". I asked if he liked sex and travel and left. After finding a Blue Bird the trip by meter cost Rp 55,000.

There used to be a taxi controller and dispatcher on the apron by the taxi queue who issued a card with the name and number of the allocated taxi. Now it is just a memory.

With the problems of the returning Indonesian workers gate plus all of the touts around the international arrivals area this airport is due for a change and they could start with the airport management.

PETER WARD

Tangerang, Banten