Hustle 'n Bustle

Pretty pictures no more

I feel like I've been giving you a somewhat skewed picture of our surroundings, because it isn't just pretty scenery ( even though that's what I love to try and capture). Especially in a city the size of Jogja (population an estimated 3 million people), traffic is almost incomprehensible and a tangled mess of becaks [pron. betsjak], bicycles, bendis (coaches), motorbikes, cars, and all kind of other things and beings with wheels and legs.

Becaks

Taking the becak is for thrill-seekers 'pur sang', i.e. non-suspecting tourists. As this is pretty much a bicycle, and all of their drivers plunge themselves fearlessly in front of any traffic -- which is coming from any direction anyways -- you have to be pretty stoic to take this kind of transportation. Also, the becak was designed to carry the small and slender Indonesion people, so be forewarned. My Mom and I roared with laughter throughout our 10-minute ride to the hotel, because we didn't fit, and the craziness of it all was just too funny. All joking aside though, our driver explained that all road usage is based on mutual respect, so everyone is extremely cautious and careful not to hit one another. 

Noteworthy, too, is that  Jogja is one of the last big cities where becaks are still allowed, whereas they've been banned in Jakarta and Surabaya.

Bendi

Bendis are basically coaches, and still used a lot in rural areas of Indonesia. I've seen quite a few in the city, but this one I spotted just outside of Cebongan yesterday.

Street bustle

The noise, the fumes, and the sheer numbers are quite overwhelming.