Becak - The Traditional Transportation in Indonesia

If you visited Indonesia, especially to city like Bandung, Surabaya, Solo, or Jogjakarta, you might find a unique transportation : a carriage with three wheels which been paddled by a men who sit on the back seat. It is called Becak / Beca, a very well-known traditional transportation in Indonesia.

Paddled Becak

Actually Becak is not a true and original transportation mode from Indonesia. Back in 1930, this transportation was used by the traders from China who brought this transportation from their country to Indonesia as the carriage of their stuff. The name of Becak was originated from Be Chia (Hokkian Dialect, which means "horse carriage") because back in China, this transportation was drag by horse. Since using horse is not popular in Indonesia that time, so the carriage been drove by the men. In the earlier, people called this transportation as "Roda Tiga" (The Three Wheels). But since 1940, it starting been called Beca (wrote as Betjak, Betja, or Beetja) and used as regular transportation for people.

In 1942,  when Indonesia was occupied by Japan, the uses of gasoline had been controlled by the Japanese Government and many Indonesia people were not allowed to own car. Because of that, the needs of  Becak - as public transportation - was increasing and there has a very huge expansion of becak's quantity that time, especially in most of Java's big city, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Jogjakarta, Solo, Semarang, and Surabaya.

Becak with Machine (Becak Motor)

In 1943, becak has been introduced to Makassar - one of the city in Sulawesi Island- and other city outside Java,such as Medan, Padang, Palembang,and Lampung.

Becak is ganing it high popularity in 1960s - 1980s, because it provides door-to-door service that easier passenger to go anywhere they want (especially if they bringing along a lot of their things).

In 1980's, becak becomes a very serious problem for Jakarta because of its extreme increasing. In 1950, becak only have 25,000 units that spreading in all over Indonesia. But in 1966, its quantity was blowing up hugely into 160,000 units in Jakarta only, and increase even much bigger - into more than 400,000 units in early 1980 - and become the main cause of the traffic jam. And this quantity was only noted in Jakarta only!!

In the same time, Indonesia government started to think that using of becak is considering as slavery and not fit with human rights. Due to this consideration, based on Regional Government Regulation (Peraturan Daerah) No. 11/ 1988, becak is restricted permanently as public transportation. Eventhough, the regulation is valid in Jakarta only. In other cities, becak still exist and treated as regular public transportation, until today.

THE TYPES OF BECAK
Each city has its own typical and types of becak. But generally, becak can be divided into two types :
a. Becak with back-controller (the driver is sitting at the back).  It can be found in Java area.
b. Becak with side-controller (the driver is sitting at the side). Mostly used in Sumatera area.

Bemo

Both types of becak can be divided into two sub-types :
1. Paddled becak.
2. Machine becak.

Paddled becak is using men power to paddle the becak. In most area in Java, all of the becak used paddle. Some people considered this kind of becak is similar as slavery act and critisized as a violation of human rights. Even that, this kind of becak still used in some Java city, like Bandung, Solo, Jogjakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, and also some city in Sumatera, such as Palembang.

Each city have its own trade mark of paddled becak. The seat of Java's becak usually a little bit higher to balancing the driver and the passenger's weight (especially for  "heavy weight" passenger). Meanwhile Sumatera and Bandung's becak usually have lower seat to ease the passenger entering the becak. 

Machine becak is becak that use machine to run. Usually the becak been attached to the motorcycle, either side-by-side or back-to-back.

Bentor

Besides regular becak, there are some types of becak that become the trade-mark of each city in Indonesia :

1. BECAK MOTOR : 

Literally it means "becak with motor". It is a becak that been attached with motor cycle side-by-side and its width is similar as regular car. It is a regular trasportation that been used in Medan and Pematang Siantar, North Sumatera.

2. BEMO : 

Actually Bemo is refering to "Becak motor". Differently with Becak Motor in Medan, Bemo is almost similar as car but use motor-cycle machine. Bemo is commonly found in Jakarta and become a trade-mark of Jakarta's traditional transportation. Bemo is created in 1962, and its purpose is to replacing Becak. Since it's abling to run faster and further comparing Becak, most people starting to like using Bemo.

3. HELICAK : 

Another type of becak is Helicak, the combination words of "helicopter" and "becak", because its shape that similar with those transportation. Launched in March 24, 1971, helicak became one of the most famous transportation in Jakarta. Same as becak, the driver was sitting at the back, while the passenger at the front. The passenger cabin was made from steel and fiber glass. It made passenger safe from heat, rain, and dust. However, because of the inconsistency regulation from local government, soon helicak did not developed well and dissapear by the end of 1970's era.

4. BENTOR : 

Refer to "Becak Motor", it is a trade-mark transportation from Gorontalo, South Sulawesi. This is becak with motor-cycle back-to-back position and can run very fast. Althought Bentor is very popular, the existance of this transportation is not permitted.

5.  BECAK RENGAT : 

Becak Rengat (or simply called "Becak") is one of becak type that very popular in Rengat, Riau Island. It is paddle-becak in which the position of the driver is at the side of the becak, not in the back as other becak.

Becak Rengat

Mt. Merapi - The Legendary Volcano from Central Java

It's been three weeks already since its first eruption on October 25, 2010, but Mount Merapi is still active and endangered people around its location. The secure area has been expand by local government from 15 kilometers into 20 kilometers. There are more than 2,000 refugees from Mt. Merapi that still staying in refuge due to the condition of the volcano that still unstable. The alert for Mt. Merapi still at the highest level.

All refufees are suffering and need help. We are seeking for donators who are willing to help them. If you have intention to  help the refugees and people that suffer from Mt. Merapi, please send your help (dry food, blankets, clothes, masks, or money), you can send your help to :

Jl. Raya Banjaran Km. 20.5  No. 486

Kab. Bandung, West Java

Indonesia 40336

Phone : + 62 - 22 - 5949049 (Attn. Mrs. Lisda)

OR you can send your fund thru : 

Bank Central Asia (BCA), Cab. Bandung

Account No. 0080185740

a.n. Mulyady Chandra

But if you feel very difficult to transfer the fund of send the things to help to refugees (due to the location of youc country, which is not possible to do all those thing), you can help by clicking the advertising that you see in this blog, and buy them. For every purchase you made in this blog, US$ 0.02 of each one of the purchases will be used to help the refugees.

All donation will be respected and delivered to all of the refugees in Central Java.

About Mt. Merapi
Mt. Merapi have been known for centuries as one of the active stratovolcano - and part of the Pasific Ring of Fire - that located on the border between Central Java and Yogjakarta, Indonesia. Literally in Javanese, Merapi means "The Mountain of Fire". Its been recorded that Mt. Merapi have been erupted regularly since 1548. Meanwhile, stratigraphic analysis reveals that eruptions in Merapi has began about 400,000 years ago. In the beginning, the eruptions typically were effusive with basaltic lava. But then, it becomes more explosive with vicous andesitic lavas.

Mt. Merapi have been erupted regularly in every two or three years. The larger ones usually in every 10-15 years or so. The deadliest eruption have occured in 1930, when 13 villages were destroyed and 1,400 people killed by pyroclastic flows.

Another notable eruption of Mt. Merapi was in May 2006 when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck roughly 50 kilometers southwest of Merapi, killed more than 5,000 people, raising the volcanic eruptions. LAva and superheated clouds of gas pured repeatledly down its upper slopes towards to Kaliadem River, which is located southeast of Mt. Merapi. Two fatalities recorded as the result of the eruption.

And the latest eruption of Mt. Merapi is 25 October 2010, when  Merapi started to erupt three times, spewing lava down to southern and souteastern slopes. The eruption continues in 26 October. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation monitor shown that at least 12 eruptions, 232 seismic events, 269 avalanche seismic events, 4 lava flow, and 6 heat cloud happened that day. At least 194 death cassualites attibutable to the Merapi eruptions, 151 people were injury, and 198,488 refugess from several destroyed villages around Mt. Merapi.

The Culture of Mt. Merapi

The late Mbah Marijan

Mt. Merapi have been known as one of the official royal places that been used by Yogjakarta and Solo's King for annual offering celebration to keep the volcano quiet and peaceful, and also to appease the spirits of the mountain. The celebration is leading by Juru Kunci Merapi (The Key Holder of Merapi) who set up the celebration and praying. Juru Kunci has been appointed by The King of Yogjakarta. The last Juru Kunci - called Mbah Marijan - died in accident of the Merapi eruption on October 2010. Until today, no one has been appointed to replace him.

Mentawai Islands - The Heaven of Indonesia before Tsunami....

October 25, 2010, 7.2 SR of earthquake had shaked Mentawai Islands. And in the sudden a big wave of water swapped Mentawai Islands and destroy everything. Till today, more than 88 persons still missing and 449 persons have died during the tsunami disaster. All victims are being evacuated in GKPM Church, located in Sikakap, Mentawai District.

Mentawai's Tsunami Disaster have become one of Indonesia's national tragedy. Another one is happening in Central Java, in Madiun city, when Merapi Mountain - in the same day - exploded and 37 people died in the inident. President Soesilo BambangYudoyono had been Mentawai to visit the victims of the tsunami. People from all around Indonesia have gathering fund to help the people in Mentawai.

If you have interest to help people in Mentawai, you can send your fund to :

Bank Central Asia - Cab. Asia-Afrika (Indonesia)

Account No : 0080185740

Name : Mulyady Chandra

But if you feel very difficult to transfer the fund of send the things to help to victims of tsunami (due to the location of youc country, which is not possible to do all those thing), you can help by clicking the advertising that you see in this blog, and buy them. For every purchase you made in this blog, US$ 0.02 of each one of the purchases will be used to help the victims.
 
Any amount would be very helpful for the victims of Mentawai's tsunami.


ABOUT MENTAWAI ISLANDS

Before the tsunami incident happened, Mentawai Islands have been known as one of the most beautiful island after Bali Island. They are a chain of seventy islands and islets off the western coast of Sumatera Islands in Inonesia. There are some islands that offering nice and fresh scenaries. Some of the well known islands is Siberut, Sipura, North Pagai, and South Pagai.

Among the islands, Siberut is the largest one. Located at the nothernmost of The Mentawai Islands, it has 4,030 km2 width and well knwon for its range of primates, such as Kloss Gibbon (Hylobates klossii), Pig-Tailled Langur (Simias concolor), Mentawai Langur (Presbytis potenziani), and Mentawai Macaque (Macaca pagensis).It has protected rain forest ecoregion which called Siberut National Park. The park is isolated from mainland for over 500,000 years already.

The native people who live in the islands is called Mentawai, or also known as Mentawei and Mentawi. They live a semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle in the coastal and rainforest environments of the islands. Their language is Mentawai language, in which belong to Aunstronesian language family.

Mentawai has become a noted destination for surfing. Many surfers from all around the world gather regularly in Mentawai, especially Siberut. Besides surfing, Indonesia Ministry of Tourism is projecting Mentawai to explore Culture Tourim in there. Some villages such as Madobag, Tuapejat, and Bosua are having a lot of ancient cultures that still live till today and able to be promoted to people around the world. Will this project can be happened, due to the tsunami disaster? We are crossing our fingers....