Students find ways to travel back home

Marilin, The Jakarta Post, Depok

The scarcity and high cost of bus and train tickets failed to deter university students in Depok from traveling to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri.

Ika, a student, said she did not care what a ticket to Pontianak in West Kalimantan cost, because it had already been three years since she had gone home.

"I have to go home this Idul Fitri .... I miss my parents and relatives and old friends as well. I have had so much to do here that I haven't had time to go home the last three years," she said.

Toto, 27, was not worried about getting a ticket to his hometown in Central Java. Every year, Toto and some friends from the same city hire a bus to take them all back home.

"Nothing is cheaper or more fun than riding home in a bus with people we know well. We can stop anywhere, anytime all along the way," he said.

Budi prefers a more adventurous journey. Along with fellow students, Budi transfers from economy-class bus to economy-class bus, all the way to Bali.

"It's a cool way to go home during the exodus. This way you can enjoy living on the road, especially if you are an adventurer," he said.

However, transferring from bus to bus means the trip is much longer than the usual 30 hours from Depok to Bali.

"It may take twice or even three times longer than usual," Budi said.

He said he and his friends sometimes spend the night in bus terminals, "but we prefer to camp on the side of the road".

Ina, another student, said she preferred finding relatives or friends who planned to travel by car back to Central Java.

"I will share the cost for the fuel .... So, why worry about not having a ticket home? There are lots of ways to get home," she said.