Indonesian Public transport

If you are on holiday in Indonesia, don’t wanna spend to much for transport and if you are communicative, then you must try the public transport or the local transport. They are funny, sometimes they offer wild driving, they can be hot and noisy but still... certainly you come on the spot where you want to. And local people are far from boring. Try it!...

Airplane.
Air transport is the easiest and most comfortable means of travel in Indonesia. Air services are available to all provincial and district capitals and other remote areas operated by Garuda Indonesia, Merpati Nusantara, Sempati Air, Bouraq, Mandala Airline and some Low Cost Carriers as Pelita Air, Citilink and Lion Airlines. Garuda Indonesia, the national flag carrier, operates on both international and domestic routes. Domestically it serves more then 30 cities including all the provincial capitals.

Boat.
Not luxurious but comfortable, the ships offer an alternative to flying and is a more leisurely form of travel. If travelling to large islands like Bali, a number of large ferry services operate to other islands in the vicinity.

Train.
Train service is only available through out Java and parts of Sumatra. Several trains run between Jakarta and Surabaya. The most comfortable are the air-conditioned "KA Bima" sleeper train and the "KA Kertajaya" which both travel at night. The "KA Bima" passes through Yogyakarta and Solo, while the "KA Kertajaya" takes the northern route through Semarang. The "KA Fajar/Senja Utama" is an express service to Yogyakarta and Solo. The "KA Parahyangan" offers four services a day between Jakarta and Bandung.

Bus.
The cheapest option but be aware of pickpockets!
Bus services are available and traveling night and day. Many are air-conditioned and have reclining seats as well as TV with video programs. There are numerous bus services between major cities in Java and also limousines which provide door-to-door service.

Taxi.
Taxis can be found in taxi queues (pangkalan) at malls and hotels, or flagged down off the street with a wave of your hand. You can phone the taxi company and they will send a taxi to your home. Metred and unmetred. Many drivers refuse to use (argo)meter. Sometimes meter has been tampered with. If unmetred negotiate before hand.

Mikrolet.
Sometimes called oplet. They are usually employed on tours between city and suburbs and can seat up to 10 passengers per vehicle, sometimes even more than its capacity. Fares are not uniform, as here it does depend on distance covered by the passenger. One advantage over the bus routes is that by using these smaller vehicles you may be let off anywhere you want to, making it a slower vehicle because of its frequent stops.

Angkot.
Minibus Public Transportation or called "Angkot" (ANGkutan KOTa) is a familiar modern transportation in Indonesia. They serve certain routes indicated by the combination of their numbers and their colours, which come in green and blue. These angkots are run by private owners and the prices are fixed.

Bajaj.
Another mode of transport is the Bajaj, orange colored, 3-wheeled scooters, cheaper than taxis. If you take a ride with a bajaj, you must stand with a lot of noise. Bajajs are better for short hops around town, than long distances. Must bargain before getting in.

Bemo.
Blue and brown converted pick-up trucks 10-12 passengers, operate as buses. They have regular routes, but these aren't really written down. Just ask someone where the regular pickup is, and which bemo to take to get you where you want to go. Bemos are better for short hops around town, for example, than long distances. Must bargain before getting in.

Ojek motor.
An Ojek is a motorbike hired with its rider. You may pay him for one single trip or you may hire him for the day, or by the hour. Be sure to bargain beforehand. Ojeks can be found in cities and their suburbs, at intersections or at the mouths of certain side roads.

Ojek sepeda.
Curiously, bicycles at small villages are also used as "Ojek sepeda". For a small fee, the rider is the one who pedals the bike, whereas the passenger hops on the back of it.

Becak.
It is a tricycle pedaled by a man who sits normally behind the passenger. It could seat two persons, however, rather tightly. Becaks are mostly found in cities and towns on Java and have been here for over four decades. Becak can also be used to deliver heavy loads such as fruits and vegetables around pasar (traditional market). Before stepping into a becak, make sure you have bargained before with the becak driver for the agreed upon fare.

Delman.
For leisure means, the traditional horse carriages are available. These are called delman. Not anymore available in Jakarta, but they are still popular in Bogor, Yogyakarta, Solo and Surabaya. They differ in size and shape from place to place as these carts can be two-wheeled or four-wheeled as from the province of Yogyakarta. Here too, bargaining is necessary.