Rebecca had some shopping to do today so we went downtown this morning to get it done. Like most husbands, I like shopping like a sharp stick in the eye, but I took my camera along and tried to capture the world going by as Rebecca shopped. It really worked out nice. I actually look forward to "shopping" with Rebecca again...as long as I can take my camera. Over the next few days I should be able to make a few posts about what some of life looks like in downtown Salatiga. Today's post is dedicated to the Becak.
You will see all sorts of things riding in a becak; mostly people, but many times if it fits the driver will haul it for you...rice, oil, toys, clothes, goats, chickens, etc.
One of the many places to find a becak for hire. These drivers are just waiting "in order" for customers to come along.
Many of the becaks are intricately decorated, and severely abused. I have yet to see any becak drivers that look like they weigh more than 120 pounds. No doubt they are often pedaling more weight than they themselves weigh.
As a becak driver there isn't much of a place for fuzzy dice or other decorative items, but there is always a place for the sacred shoe hanging under your trusty becak.
This poor guy was just merrily driving along and then BOOM! A total transmission failure right in the middle of the street. But, he had seen this problem before. After a quick fix, he got his transmission back on line and away he went!
I thought it was ironic to see human power, horse power, gasoline power, and diesel power all in the same picture. Sometimes it feels like we went back in time here...almost.
Despite the grueling hard work these becak drivers endure every day, they were ALL cordial and friendly towards me. I continue to be amazed by the genuine niceness of Indonesians. It's almost like it is a part of their DNA. Hopefully I can learn something from them.
2 comments:
Great pictures!
So... have you ridden a becak yet?!? I'll confess, I've only ridden one once, and I didn't exactly fit in it height-wise!
The becaks in your pictures are a LOT prettier than the ones here in Wamena... almost all of ours have rice sacks for their overhead coverings - not quite as pretty as the ones in Salatiga!
I hope the shopping was successful...I know that it sometimes doesn't take much shopping at all to totally zap my energy here in Indonesia!
No I have not ridden in a becak yet. I think I would have your same height problem as well as putting the poor little driver under duress due to my large size. We have ridden in a dokar and that was enough to realize we are just to big to willingly inflict that kind of abuse on a person or an animal.
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