Hell on wheels? The bright side to Jakarta's buses

M. Grazella, Contributor, Jakarta

If I had to make a promotional poster for buses in Jakarta, it would sound like this:

"Ladies and gentlemen, climb aboard bus No.45, destination Blok M and experience the unique services we have in store for all our cherished clients. First, we provide music entertainment that no car can rival. Unlike other cars that can only spin the CD of your favorite musician, we provide you live music entertainment!

"That's because we have especially invited local musical talents -- the street musicians -- to entertain your ears with the acoustic version of the latest dangdut, pop and rock hits for only Rp 500!

"That's not all folks! We also offer one-stop shopping services for our busy clients. Along the way, salesmen and women selling various items will board our bus to offer you an assortment of useful products, from bottled water to cool your throat to school atlas to increase your child's knowledge, all sold at affordable prices between Rp 1,000 and Rp 10,000.

"Finally, as part of our complementary service, our bus driver will drop you exactly at your desired location, no matter if it's by the road or at the bus stop. Just yell the word "Stop!". So don't hesitate and jump on our moving bus before we zoom away. This is one ride you won't forget!

"P.S. Check your seat before you leave and take care not to leave any of your belongings. We won't take any responsibility for stolen, lost or destroyed belongings. Thank you."

These are regular scenes in Jakarta's buses that carry commuters to and fro in the winding city. Street musicians singing at the top of their lungs accompanied by their guitars, salespeople trying to persuade passengers to buy their goods and reckless bus drivers weaving their way through the packed streets color the everyday ride. Not forgetting the many types of passengers that pack the bus like sardines, from insensitive men who continue smoking in the sweltering heat to well-dressed office workers with their briefcases stacked on their knees.

While many newcomers to Jakarta's buses may well consider them rides from hell, if they are willing to view it from a different perspective, a sweaty ride can become a unique experience.

Instead of viewing street musicians as penny-pinching menaces, it pays to treat them more as budget live entertainment -- most of them have genuinely beautiful voices, either due to natural talent, much practice or both. Besides that, the lyrics of their songs often contain satire, and they often use humor to sing about social injustice.

At times too, peddlers really do sell useful objects such as safety pins and packed tissue paper that can come in handy.

Although stopping at any point in the road is against regulations and annoys other road users, passengers find this common practice advantageous because they can be dropped at their exact destination, even if there is no bus stop. Finally, where else can you ride a bus by hanging on the ledge of the door as the bus zooms away, leaving the wind beating in your hair and your heart wildly pumping?

When it comes down to it, it all depends on your point of view. It doesn't only affect how your feelings and attitude towards something, but also the way you live. That's why it's advisable to keep an open heart and a cool head when dealing with daily transport challenges.

A bus ride can be a grueling situation, but it can also provide the perfect opportunity to observe and learn more about the social conditions of Jakarta.

If you let every traffic jams annoy you, you will go through every day fuming and tense. Yet, if you teach yourself to see those situations in a more light-hearted, humorous or creative light, you will find them bearable, and might even see and learn something beneficial.

Moreover, you will save yourself from a likely cardiac arrest and from going absolutely crazy in the future by not always being stressed. Fuming commuters full of road rage would well start this year by resolving to see the brighter side of things. Give it a try for a day or two and watch your transport worries drive away.

M. Grazella