Get on the Bus
My Pembantu, Mami, who has worked for me for eight years mentioned after my asking how her weekend was that will she had taken the bus through Sanur to Kuta to go shopping at Discovery Mall as well as revealed the item was cool inside as well as for at that will point, free. at that will point… as you all know, a Brit like myself can never turn down a bargain, furthermore a Scot; not taking advantage of anything “free” will be frowned upon let-alone sacrilege. However, being the sceptic that will I am as well as especially having lived in Jakarta for 10 years as well as Bali For just two, hearing the word “FREE” in Indonesia didn’t sit well, the sceptic as well as dour Scotsman arrived on the scene.
Anyways, leaving my sour heritage as well as genealogical cynicism aside, I decided to take the free bus for a late morning coffee at Mall Galleria starting through my domicile Jl Danau Poso, Sanur. I arrived at the bus stop as well as as luck might possess the item a fellow bus traveller was sat listening to his iPod waiting for the bus, Isa Wahyudi of Jawa Tengah, at that will point residing in Sidakarya. Through numerous “Apa?”, as well as, “I no speak English”, we surprisingly managed to make conversation.
Isa told me that will sometimes you may wait up to an hour or two for a bus, as you can imagine – that will was not the greatest start to my journey. Isa explained that will that will was the third time that will he has taken the bus as well as that will he enjoys the item as well as that will he was at that will point on his way to Nusa Dua to meet a client – Isa will be a travelling salesperson, his product, china massage oil. When asked on his views of the recent transport system he exclaimed, “the item’s free as well as AC!”
After an enjoyable 10 minutes of meeting a completely new friend, the bus arrived, the driver in full dress uniform, tie, hat as well as sunglasses; immaculate, think Navy Officer – I was in safe hands.
I asked indirectly to the back of the bus (where the majority of passengers were) in my broken Bahasa what they liked about the bus. Roars of “DINGIN!!”, through children as well as teenagers erupted as well as after speaking to Ulan as well as her daughter, also Ulan, 11 years, I’d found that will they were all one party, mothers as well as children through Batubulan heading to Nusa Dua Beach for the day while the children were on school holidays.
My return journey commenced off a lot quieter to begin with. I spoke with Putu the bus conductor (that will was her first week) as well as she told me that will the majority of passengers were locals, however she had seen some “Bules” on board. Komang, marketing for an adventure tour company, was on his way to the office in Denpasar through a meeting in Kuta as well as regularly journeys on the bus. Mid-journey we stopped at Lotte Mart, a group of well-to-do locals climbed on board as well as spoke very coherent English. Reni, a Housewife through Denpasar said that will the party had taken the journey for the bus journey alone, the children had never been on a bus before as well as in true family-trip spirit they had brought snacks as well as carbonated drinks for the children gazing out the windows whilst they gossiped as well as took photos.
Aside through the crossing of the roundabout to get to Discovery Mall, which honed in on my “Neo through The Matrix manoeuvring skills”, the item was a great way to spend the morning. If you fancy a day trip out or a change of scenery I might definitely recommend what could be Indonesia’s first International Standard Public Transport System. Bus journeys are entirely free for locals, tourists as well as expats alike until August 31st, 2012.
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Get on the Bus
Get on the Bus