Tsunami means a fortune for 'ojek' drivers in Banda Aceh
<p>Tsunami means a fortune for 'ojek' drivers in Banda Aceh</p><p>Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh</p><p>The earthquake and tidal waves that hit Aceh and North Sumatra
have not only brought relief workers, donors and the press from
all over the world to the northern tip of the island, but also an
opportunity for the Acehnese, who lost their homes and
belongings, in the devastating calamity to find new sources of
income.</p><p>"I lost my motorized becak (three-wheeled pedicab) ... I now
earn a living offering services as an ojek (motorcycle taxi)
driver to foreigners and reporters," said Helmi Yusuf, 24, as he
parked his motorcycle at the governor's residence in Banda Aceh
on Sunday.</p><p>The compound has been transformed into the integrated command
post for government institutions helping to evacuate tsunami
victims and distributing aid.</p><p>Unlike other big cities in the country, ojek is not a common
form of public transportation in the capital city of Banda Aceh,
where people normally traverse the city in labi-labi (public
minivan), becak, and buses. Since the town was paralyzed by the
disaster on Dec. 26, ojek has served as the most popular form of
transportation amid the potholes and rubble-strewn streets of
Banda Aceh.</p><p>Helmi said he was able to earn Rp 1.2 million (US$133) a day
during the first three days after the calamity.</p><p>"But currently I am only able to take home Rp 200,000 per day
at the most," added Helmi, a resident of Ujong Kala district.</p><p>Nazaruddin, 32, a carpenter, has also seen the chance to earn
fast cash as an ojek driver. Working from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.,
he sets a fare of Rp 50,000 for six hours taking his customers
all around town and up to Rp 150,000 for the whole day.</p><p>But Zulkifli, 35, formerly a labi-labi driver has a different
system.</p><p>"I let Indonesians bargain ... I set a higher price for
foreigners, about Rp 250,000 per day. If they haggle, I lower the
rate by Rp 50,000," he told The Jakarta Post.</p><p>Indeed, transportation in Banda Aceh can cost visitors a
fortune. Previously, the rate for a five-kilometer trip by
motorized becak only cost Rp 3,000. Now, it costs Rp 20,000.</p><p>"It's the cost we have to pay. I have no choice other than to
take the price they ask for ... We cannot do our job roaming
about the city on foot," said Hendra Makmur, a correspondent of
Jakarta-based daily Media Indonesia.</p><p>A reporter with Makassar, North Sulawesi-based daily Harian
Fajar, Nita Anggraeni, added that within two days of assignment
in Banda Aceh, she had paid Rp 100,000 for three-kilometer ojek
ride from the refugee camp in Zainal Abidin Hospital where she
stays to the crisis command post.</p><p>But the ojek drivers said the lucrative business will only be
temporary.</p><p>"If the situation gets better, we'll go back to our former
jobs," Zulkifli said.</p>
have not only brought relief workers, donors and the press from
all over the world to the northern tip of the island, but also an
opportunity for the Acehnese, who lost their homes and
belongings, in the devastating calamity to find new sources of
income.</p><p>"I lost my motorized becak (three-wheeled pedicab) ... I now
earn a living offering services as an ojek (motorcycle taxi)
driver to foreigners and reporters," said Helmi Yusuf, 24, as he
parked his motorcycle at the governor's residence in Banda Aceh
on Sunday.</p><p>The compound has been transformed into the integrated command
post for government institutions helping to evacuate tsunami
victims and distributing aid.</p><p>Unlike other big cities in the country, ojek is not a common
form of public transportation in the capital city of Banda Aceh,
where people normally traverse the city in labi-labi (public
minivan), becak, and buses. Since the town was paralyzed by the
disaster on Dec. 26, ojek has served as the most popular form of
transportation amid the potholes and rubble-strewn streets of
Banda Aceh.</p><p>Helmi said he was able to earn Rp 1.2 million (US$133) a day
during the first three days after the calamity.</p><p>"But currently I am only able to take home Rp 200,000 per day
at the most," added Helmi, a resident of Ujong Kala district.</p><p>Nazaruddin, 32, a carpenter, has also seen the chance to earn
fast cash as an ojek driver. Working from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.,
he sets a fare of Rp 50,000 for six hours taking his customers
all around town and up to Rp 150,000 for the whole day.</p><p>But Zulkifli, 35, formerly a labi-labi driver has a different
system.</p><p>"I let Indonesians bargain ... I set a higher price for
foreigners, about Rp 250,000 per day. If they haggle, I lower the
rate by Rp 50,000," he told The Jakarta Post.</p><p>Indeed, transportation in Banda Aceh can cost visitors a
fortune. Previously, the rate for a five-kilometer trip by
motorized becak only cost Rp 3,000. Now, it costs Rp 20,000.</p><p>"It's the cost we have to pay. I have no choice other than to
take the price they ask for ... We cannot do our job roaming
about the city on foot," said Hendra Makmur, a correspondent of
Jakarta-based daily Media Indonesia.</p><p>A reporter with Makassar, North Sulawesi-based daily Harian
Fajar, Nita Anggraeni, added that within two days of assignment
in Banda Aceh, she had paid Rp 100,000 for three-kilometer ojek
ride from the refugee camp in Zainal Abidin Hospital where she
stays to the crisis command post.</p><p>But the ojek drivers said the lucrative business will only be
temporary.</p><p>"If the situation gets better, we'll go back to our former
jobs," Zulkifli said.</p>