Unsafe Without Roof Truck Carrying Workers on the Road

The photo was taken on 10th of December 2022 on the Dramaga Road, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.

This picture shows and can be considered as the representative of the habit of many Indonesians that often ignore about road safety.

A truck, without roof, is never intended to carry passengers on the back. This kind of truck is usually used to carry building materials, like sand, gravel, cements, or others, but never designed for people, except in the front cabin.

However, in reality, it’s often the truck is utilized to bring people, usually road or building workers from one place to another. The developers neglected a simple fact that the truck is unsafe transportation for human. The need to have save cost usually results on the choice to use something available.

Workers don’t have too much choice. Rather than spending some of their wage for safer transportation, they prefer to take a risk to sit on the back of the truck without anything to cover.

Win-win solution? Not really sure, but what I know is that already many lives are lost because of the usage of unsafe truck to carry people like this. As often reported on media, accidents involving this kind of inappropriate use of trucks often happened and most of the case, people behind the truck usually are the victims.

Cleaning Service Officers on Duty : Indonesia Commuter Train

(The picture shows a cleaning service officer on duty inside Bogor-Jakarta commuter train taken on November 11th, 2022)

Many people may think that commuter trains are only cleaned once a day, in train depot when their schedule is finished. An assumption that is not correct.

Indonesia commuter train get cleaned many times a day. There will be a team of cleaning service officers ready on each train. Whenever a train arrives at a station before its final station and end the trip, the team starts to work.

A team usually consists of 3 persons. One will bring a broom to sweep anything from its floor. Another brings tube with cleaning fluid.

They will continue to work until all cars clean and ready for the next schedule of departure.

Each train trip will be accompanied by a cleaning service team that will make sure the cleanliness inside the train during the trip.

Jerry Canned Clean Water Retailer in Jakarta

Indonesia is not a dry or desert country. Water is abundance everywhere in the archpelagoes as rivers, lakes, and other water reservoirs are everywhere and can be found quite easily. Rains drop uncountably over a year and often creates another type of disaster, flood.

However, when you visit Jakarta, the Capital of Indonesia, then you may find a scene like the above picture. A man pushing a cart full of orange or blue jerry cans. Perhaps, you may have a question about what liquid he carries.

The answer is clean water. The man is clean water retailer or seller, a job that usually exists in a country where clean water supply is limited.

The existence of this profession doesn’t mean Jakarta has been lack of clean water supply. It is not. The city is fine as the clean water supply system is enough for all citizens (as long as they pay).

The man is supplying waroong and small food kiosks that don’t have plumbing network. Many of them are informal business and often without permission and can’t apply to get installation of water plumbing. Therefore, to fulfil their need of clean water, they will buy from the man.

The business can be also seen in the slums which usually are not eligible to apply for water supply network.

Wayang Landung : The Giant Puppet From Panjalu, Ciamis, West Java, Indonesia

The picture shown in this writing is a pair of Wayang Landungs. The name means “Landung Puppet” or can be interpreted as “big puppet” as “landung” means long from down to top (big).

The puppet is part of an art created by an artist, Pandu Radea from Panjalu, Ciamis, West Java Province, Indonesia. Its first introduction was in 2003 during The Pangandaran Kite Festival.

Wayang Landung will contain two parts. One is the puppet itself and the other one is the puppetmaster which control the movement of the puppet by using a stick. Considering the its size, which is around 2 meters and the weight that can be more than 30-40 kilograms, the puppet master is usually a man.

During the performance, wayang landung will have to dance, or at least make motions that comply with a traditional music.

The photo was captured in 2019 Bogor Annual Cap Go Meh Festival (or Bogor Lantern Festival) .

The Head of Green Dragon – Bogor Lantern Festival 2018

Dragon should be gallant, terrifying and scary. I think it’s what people think about dragon.

However, I can’t feel that way while taking a look at the head of green dragon in Bogor Lantern Festival, or Cap Go Meh in Indonesia’s Chinese Culture, 2018. The dragon looked so cute, funny, and cheerful.

I felt entertained than frightened.

(Bogor, Februay 2018, Suryakencana Street)