The 'jockey'.
One thing that makes us feel totally at home in Jakarta is the traffic. Snail paced – reaching your destination can take anything between half an hour to two hours. Various permutations and combinations of managing traffic flow have been tried out but this monster seems to be growing by gigantic proportions ready to swallow the very pace of life itself.
During peak hours, only vehicles with three or more passengers are permitted on the Jl Jenderal Sudirman Road, which is a major arterial road of Jakarta, Alternately a long circuitous route would have to be taken. “What a brilliant idea to reduce the number of vehicles on the road,” we thought, until one fine day, Pratap had to rush to a meeting in the same area…
“Mistah, need jockey,” the driver declared.
“Sorry??” said Pratap not quite following the request.
“Go fast – need jockey,” repeated the driver almost giving Pratap an ultimatum.
“Oh Okay,” said Pratap not quite knowing what to expect next.
The car came to a screeching halt and the driver threw open the door to let in a young lad not more than twelve years old. The boy, who was now in the front seat beside the driver had about him an air of effortless style – and looked totally at ease as he strapped himself in. At the end of the ride, 3000 rupiah (equivalent of Rs.15/-) was handed to the young ‘jockey’ for services rendered! The system had been beaten!
“Good lord!” I exclaimed when Pratap narrated the incident on his return. I always thought those little boys waving their index finger vigorously at you were either asking for a lift or being rather vulgar!. But they were ‘jockeys’! “Why ‘jockey’?” I wondered, as besides the small and frail appearance there seemed nothing else in common. Unless like the other jockey - he was taking us for a 'ride'! Till curiosity got the better of me and I fished out the dictionary. Jockey also means “to manipulate in a skilful manner.” Mmmmmmmmm! How befitting!
As for us… instead of having the rug pulled from under our feet, we’ve learnt to dance on a shifting carpet. We have our own resident jockey – our maid Tantrum!
During peak hours, only vehicles with three or more passengers are permitted on the Jl Jenderal Sudirman Road, which is a major arterial road of Jakarta, Alternately a long circuitous route would have to be taken. “What a brilliant idea to reduce the number of vehicles on the road,” we thought, until one fine day, Pratap had to rush to a meeting in the same area…
“Mistah, need jockey,” the driver declared.
“Sorry??” said Pratap not quite following the request.
“Go fast – need jockey,” repeated the driver almost giving Pratap an ultimatum.
“Oh Okay,” said Pratap not quite knowing what to expect next.
The car came to a screeching halt and the driver threw open the door to let in a young lad not more than twelve years old. The boy, who was now in the front seat beside the driver had about him an air of effortless style – and looked totally at ease as he strapped himself in. At the end of the ride, 3000 rupiah (equivalent of Rs.15/-) was handed to the young ‘jockey’ for services rendered! The system had been beaten!
“Good lord!” I exclaimed when Pratap narrated the incident on his return. I always thought those little boys waving their index finger vigorously at you were either asking for a lift or being rather vulgar!. But they were ‘jockeys’! “Why ‘jockey’?” I wondered, as besides the small and frail appearance there seemed nothing else in common. Unless like the other jockey - he was taking us for a 'ride'! Till curiosity got the better of me and I fished out the dictionary. Jockey also means “to manipulate in a skilful manner.” Mmmmmmmmm! How befitting!
As for us… instead of having the rug pulled from under our feet, we’ve learnt to dance on a shifting carpet. We have our own resident jockey – our maid Tantrum!
posted by Sangeeta Rana at 9:33 PM
10 Comments:
Every sunrise brings with it a new learning. and if you guys in India thought you were the only ones who had it all figured out and the system couldn't beat you , well you have competition! Now why is Indonesia beginning to feel like
home???hmmmmm, I wonder....
I wonder if the word 'jugad' came from 'jockey'... MJ
If you were a pillion rider in Thailand, you would be behind the jockey riding his motorbike taxi.
They really know how to beat any kind of traffic as I often use them to travel long distances between meetings in the city of Bangkok. All I do is tell them my destination and the appointed time. A fee is then negotiated and then I 'board' the vehicle. The rest of the trip is sometimes
on a road - but mostly on the pavement.
I quite know what you're facing there. Jakarta's infamous traffic is bad for health too in terms of the CO fumes. Good to hear from your end and keep up the spirit
Hmmmmmmmmmm......I see the distinct change in the you guys from "Omigod where are we???" to "Soooo... these things happen.........(shrug shrug)
Tells me you guys are now firmly entrenched in the new home? / habitat? and like all the good Lord's creatures...adapting wonderfully to a new life.
As always -loved reading the postcard....keep 'em coming......
Mr Rana, what a befitting note!! Your move into Indonesia seems to spring new learning time & again.
In India a similar scheme was introduced, I believe, a few years back which was pulled out. Well instead of taking-on Jockeys, the cab drivers decided to tint the windows of their cabs. And this was not the end of getting over jockeys', but the Indian cabbies had a blow-up jockey. So the moment they wanted to take on the arterial roads, the plastic blow-up jockey was inflated and placed on the seat next to the driver...
Can you beat that experience... 'Jockey needed- inflate the toy... deflate
when not needed' & its is economical too as you pay nothing extra i.e. Rs. 15/
That was a great note.. will need to get onto your blog and read some of the previous Postcards.
Hey Vineet! Incidentally, the Blog belongs to our resident editor -
Sangeeta Rana and don't even think of obliquely referring to it as Mr Rana's Blog! you're raking up a roaring fire mate!
Yr postings are fabulous reads.
Pratap, it is indeed a great pleasure reading the "Postcards from Jakarta". I am sure, while we are laughing reading your Tintinish happenings, you all are having a great time too.
hi there!! so what are you doing this vacation?
when i visit that country, i am going to read ur postcards very carefully again and make lots of notes :))
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