‘Many people say they are uncomfortable with the bargaining they need to do to hire a traditional ojek driver.’ http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/06/11/go-jek-drivers-fearing-violent-resistance-traditional-ojek.html
Even by the mealy-mouthed standards common in local media, that’s remarkable. But before we continue, for the benefit of overseas readers, ojeks are motor-cycle taxis. They hang about on corners or outside malls, stations, etc.
The most obnoxious I’ve ever encountered, when I had the misfortune to live in Bekasi a dozen years ago, were those at the entrance to Kemang Pratama Complex, mouthy gits, arrogating the right to pass comment on anyone who passed them by.
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I have met civil ojeks, but darn few.
And it’s not unfair to say that many of them are rapaciously dishonest.
I may have mentioned before my own experience when, in a hurry to get from Blok M to Kemang one evening, I approached one of them on Jalan Melawai.
‘How much to Kemang?’
‘FIFTY THOUSAND.’
I just laughed as scornfully as possible and walked off.
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kopaja
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Normally, I’d jump on a 605A kopaja, which goes right through Kemang from Blok M, total fare to anywhere RP.4000. But they obligingly stop wherever, anytime, so speed is not part of their ethos, and I was thirsty!
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So I hailed a passing Bluebird taxi and he took me to exactly where I wanted to go (a place not far from Eastern Promise, FYI) and his meter read Rp.10,000. I was more than delighted to tip him.
I’m sure everyone in Jakarta can tell a similar true story. Ojeks are best avoided, ESPECIALLY if you are a foreigner.
Indonesians do indeed have to bargain, but will eventually, probably, get a fairish price – us aliens are up against an engrained racist extortion mentality.
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Hence today, reading the Jakarta Post, nothing amazed me about the fact that one of the relatively new GoJek drivers ran into trouble simply for doing his job.
He had to ring his waiting customer and apologise for not turning up, after a gang of louts had menaced him – they would not hesitate to beat him up if he insisted on picking up a passenger in their area.
A brave bunch – they always lurk in packs. On their own, they wouldn’t likely say boo to a goose, but mob-handed, invariably courageous against a solitary victim.
And it gets worse, for the disappointed customer tried again, whereupon some uppity upstart told him in anger that he should hire a local ojek driver…
Nothing a kalashnikov couldn’t cure!
You can read the whole story here, but while there’s not a lot an individual can do in the face of such vile bullying, I can at least offer you the GoJek link –
– order from people who ask a fair price, and stick to it!
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Keith Milner, 
Parez, and 
Philippe L are discussing. 
rossrightangle 
Philippe L 00:55 on August 25, 2019 Permalink |
That is a real shame, not that we expect any France24 employee to confront a representative of the Islamist dictators.
What is so bad is how she would misrepresent the present regime as in any way ‘reformed.’
End sharia to give women equal rights and then Mlle. Mariam may talk about a ‘modern new model.’
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Parez 01:03 on August 25, 2019 Permalink |
As you say, how dare she!
Iran under the ayatollah theocracy is a blot on the world landscape.
Not once has the regime risked a genuine free election, or even a referendum on the form of government.
She never thought to ask her guest about where he got his authority to speak for the people of Iran.
He has none, only a license from the unelected rulers.
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Keith Milner 08:08 on August 25, 2019 Permalink |
We were embarassed by Australia’s Julie Bishop when she covered her head out of ‘respect’ for sharia intolerance.
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