Life on the rails

A stone's throw from the "city within a city" that is the thriving, ever expanding retail complex of Mangga Dua, North Jakarta, lies another, not so pretty face of the the capital. To image-conscious city administrators, the slum of Kampung Bandan, North Jakarta, is no doubt a blemish on the tidy facade that they choose to present to the world.

But the boys of the area are using a little ingenuity to make ends meet. Dropouts all, they have built wooden trolley boxes with wheels made from old axles to carry passengers along the disused railway tracks running through the area.

In the morning, they transport housewives to the traditional market in Ancol, and in the early evening they wait to take workers back home, for a cost of Rp 1,000 each ride.

At the end of the day, when all their takings have been divvied up between them, they get enough to support their families and treat themselves to a little something. Their example of resourcefulness and determination is one that many of their more fortunate fellow citizens would do well to follow as the city celebrates its 476th founding anniversary on Sunday.