Life is a challenge, meet it!

Before the monetary crisis, I usually drove my own (old) car to the office. I rarely used public transportation back then, but now I have to take a bus. Why?

First, it costs less -- Rp 5,600 per day, to and from the office. While using a car would cost me much more than that. Moreover, my car often stalls when trapped in traffic jams, and it costs me a fortune to get it towed.

Second, driving a car is increasingly dangerous nowadays. Criminals lurk around and when you stop for a red light they come out of the blue and vandalize your car. Nobody cares to help for fear of becoming another victim. And to my surprise, the police are usually nowhere to be seen.

However, traveling by bus is not at all convenient. Even air- conditioned buses (i.e. buses that are not supposed to accept standing passengers) continue pick up commuters who are only too pleased to stand through their journey. The condition is made worse by the presence of people who sing and ask for money from passengers.

If you happen to take a cheaper priced minibus, be sure you are able to get on and off while the bus is still moving. The driver won't stop because he has always to be in a hurry to get ahead of rival buses so that he can pick up more passengers. As a consequence, passengers often find themselves packed in like sardines. Under such circumstances you may become the prey of pickpockets very easily.

What a miserable fashion of life!

ROBBIA PANCARASA

Jakarta