West meets East, Part II

Transport in Bali

You need a transport from A to B and back in Bali.

How traveling by public transport in Bali works?

a)      you find the bus stop 

b)      you drag your luggage towards a bus stop

c)      you consult the schedule posted on the bus stop

d)     you buy your ticket online

All correct!

However, not in Bali…

Bus stop in Bali is any place where people decide to get on or off the bus.

For exact timing of arrival and departure you need a very accurate watch.

Exactly when the bus appears at your selected waiting point (bus stop) is the time of arrival. Exactly when the driver decides to pull off is the time of departure.

All the timings and movements of the bus are interconnected with the number of passengers, presence of a tourist passenger, moon phase and color of driver’s underwear.

I tried to explain the advantages of Western system to a local bus driver.

“You see, every morning bus will start from bus stop A at 07.00 and at 07.14 bus will stop at my bus stop B and arrive to my destination bus stop C at 07.28. As it will not stop in between for whatever reason I can rely on this schedule and use it to commute to my working place.”

I was impressed with my own brilliant explanation of these advantages, however, guy obviously allowed some skepticism to trickle into his questions and conclusion…

Do they do this for money?

Yes, of course.

So, they get money from passengers, same as we do here?

Of course.

What about if it is still empty at 07.00?

It must start, this is the point of a schedule.

And if your bus stop B is empty, will it wait for passengers?

No, must move on, schedule is schedule.

OK, and if you are a little late, still walking to your bus stop B at 07.14 will it stop and pick you up?

Well, no, bus can stop only at bus stops. Additional stops can ruin the schedule.

Hmm..., I see, so, if at 07.00 there are no passengers bus will start anyway, if bus stop B is empty he will stop and continue, if a passenger willing to pay is waving him down outside the bus stop, it will not pick him – so, you sometimes work your ass off for nothing, all for the sake of the schedule… This Schedule must be one of your most powerful Gods…