Jatipadang - Sunter

Route on April 12nd, 2009 : Jatipadang - Sunter - Kemanggisan - Palmerah - Slipi - Warung Buncit - Pejaten - Damar Sari - Karang Pola - Jatipadang

Jatipadang - Sunter (Versi Indonesia)
Go to the place of my best friend, Lukas, to help him moving his household from Sunter area in North Jakarta to Kemanggisan area in West Jakarta. A day before I feel Vespa was in good performance and then the trip passed fast.

Because I can’t memorize the exact location of his rent-house I lost my way. I feel not far losing my way but not that I worried. I feel the hot air out from the right side Vespa, an engine placed. I try to calm down by predict if that was because of I forgot to add more oil mixture for the long trip.

However, when I will passed the traffic bump in the around of my friend’s residence complex, I can’t remember which traffic bump passed, Vespa suddenly died. I calm down because it perhaps of clutch skids. Then I step aside and try to restarting Vespa. Once, twice, several times trying but Vespa won’t live. I start worried but still try to calm down by calling Lukas to pick me up because I can’t found the exact direction to his rent-house, after I beat around finding the location that exact with my memorize a year ago when I help him moving from Slipi area to Sunter area.

After calling, I try turning on Vespa again. Huh…still won’t live. Not long afterward Lukas’ young brother picks up me. I try again by run with pushing Vespa with released clutch slowly at gear 2. And it works…!!

While move following his young brother I try to hold Vespa still on. But after at least 300 meters move, Vespa died again. At this time I think Vespa engine overheat after I can’t restart it again. And all along the road left to Lukas’ rent-house, I walk beside Vespa …… hehehe.

Departures at his rent-house, my other friends are also helping. And also the household are being moved majoring already lift up to the truck. Hehe.. Sorry my friends, I am late.

Not wasting time, I immediately helping my friends lift up the household left. Then we prepare to go to Lukas’ new rent-house at Kemanggisan West Jakarta area.

To be continue...

Crossing Sunda Strait

(Versi Indonesia)

Continuation from previous posting...

Then about 8 PM, we starting the journey back to Jakarta. Side effects of introduction with clutch of Vespa yesterday are still disturbing. Eventually the Vespa are ridden by my friend until the Bakauheni port.

Because the motorcycle was already old, we moving slowly. Several times, our track lines are cut by bus or big trucks from the opposite direction so we had pulled to road shoulder. It's so very resent, and parenthesize I pick up some stone from the street to throwing termagant's vehicle windshield who later try to take our track line. Yeah, fortunately until we arrive to harbor no more termagant's bus or big truck.

Along the way, we search the empty truck that want to carrying Vespa to Jakarta. And until arrive at the harbor, no ones truck can we ask to carrying Vespa to Jakarta. We search at the port 1, also have no results. Someone suggests us to search the trailer trucks are usually carrying built-up motorcycle to dealers at the port 3. That’s sensible suggestion. At the port 3, much trailer trucks are usually carrying built-up motorcycle queue to cross to Java Island. My friend, once again, helping to searching and also negotiate the price. In fact, majority of them having a tight schedule and nobody want take the risk and also the end of them route different with us that want to the South Jakarta area. Some of them have paid too high (according to our course).

But it turns out to have the plan of God for us. Among the many trucks in the port have 1 truck driver that does not price too high, but its position in the queue to 5. We finally agreed to take the bid that he gave. We gave him Rp.100.000 for down payment. Coincidence, the truck driver was alone, so (our estimate), we can become his friend journey to his final destination in the Ciledug region. After we agreed on the price, we lift the Vespa to the truck. When the times at 22.30.

While waiting to turn incoming ships queue I observed the surroundings, as usual I do in the new area. I had time to count the number of large vehicles (buses and trucks) are loaded to the ship, to read the patterns, so I can estimate the travel time that are still to be traveled. In fact the pattern is not very regularly, I become confused.

I heard from a chat between the truck driver appeared to be able to more quickly into the boat needs have a little "tips" so that the queue can be faster. The drivers at least must pay Rp. 50,000 if they want to be prioritized by port officers to enter to the ship. I can’t imagine how much money that the port officers accepted in a day.

Towards 03.00 AM, we already at the first queue and accidentally a ship have just relied on the port. My friend who had sleeping awakened because of noisy truck's horn who trying to attract the port officers to be able to immediately go to the ship. Seen the symptom of that my friend beetle met the officers that manage the vehicle will be raised to the ship. I don't know what he said to the officers but after that we ordered to move forward.

Trip cross to Sunda Strait are about 2 hours. Towards 06.00 AM, our trucks already leaving Merak harbor directly to Jakarta. Like as usually, traffic-jam on the Monday has begun come near entry to Jakarta. After passing through Jakarta Merak Highway and Jakarta Outer Ring Road, we go out in the area of Puri Indah. Not too far from the toll gate, the truck step aside. In fact, only until there the trucks can deliver us. We let off the Vespa and try to turn it on. After the Vespa can be turned on and stable then I give the rest of the payment that we have promised. We continue our journey to the office in Cipete in the area of South Jakarta.

Not easy to passing Jakarta's traffic-jam in Monday. Moreover, added our motorcycle condition that is old enough. At least need 1.5 hours to reach the region of Cipete. And finally we arrived at the office at 09.00 AM.

After bath and breakfast, I am go work immediately. Oh, feel like I can't holding my eyes to still opening until afternoon, so after office hour, I going to the rest room immediately to lay down my body for a while.

Remembering the street of Jakarta in the afternoon before night always crowded, I decided to go home rather night. Moreover also I never riding Vespa too far before. Little afraid if the Vespa strike on the street... hehehe.

Around 9 PM I move, because I estimate the traffic not jammed again at that hour. And then the incident that make me be afraid was happened. Not far away from the office, Vespa suddenly off without warnings. When close the house Vespa also suddenly died. I am expect that was happen because of I was not habitual uses clutch motorcycle. Especially motorcycle that clutch and gear has on single hand like Vespa.

Finally, around 10.30 PM Vespa came back to home after rove for the long time. I can't describe when my father saw motorcycle formerly he was use daily was come back after so long time.

That was my first impression with a unique vehicle from Italy named Vespa. Little indeed irritate, but I feel there is something satisfying when I use it.

First Impression

(Versi Indonesia)

Formerly, when the father are still active became teachers in the Strada Pejaten school, he has a Vespa P150S. I do not know how the beginning story until motorcycles mentioned can be go to everywhere. One time I heard my uncle had use it in Purwokerto, then I heard again it was moved to Salatiga. And last I heard my another's uncle use it in Lampung. When calculated, at least 22 years of that Vespa went from home, since the last time I saw in 1986.

Since I returned from Kalimantan, my mother said to me to take a little free time to going to Lampung for bring back the Vespa (more precisely redeem). With various reasons I refuse it. Because it is basically that time I have no desire to have Vespa. Still embedded in the mind, stereotype that it's not easy to caring Vespa, troublesome, spendthrift, and certainly impressive ancient.

Yeah, after several times refuse my mother's request, in the mid-2008 ago I can't refusing again. After my mother's completed her yearly project, stitches uniform Tarakanita Junior High School, my mother says, if uncle in Lampung currently need the money to entering his daughter to Senior High School and I immediately ordered to take the Vespa and bring it back to Jakarta.

Accidental, in the office, I have friend that almost every week going back to Lampung. Moreover, going to Lampung alone is so spooky, and also immemorial I have never again to Lampung.

Then, with all his tricky, my friend show to me how he can going back to Lampung every week. Nice... !! Overnight travel to Lampung is so exhausting me. Next morning, I came to my friend's place at Kalianda. Because tired, I fall asleep in the my friend's house... hehe. Then at the noon, we going to Tanjung Bintang, area of my uncle's residence.

Travel to Tanjung Bintang takes approximately 2 hours with motorcycle. I had confused to locate my uncle's house. I call him and then he pick us to his house. After make a little converse with my uncle, aunt, and cousin, we lunch together. As usual, like javanese idiom, "makan ga makan asal kumpul", but every met, sure invite to eat.... hehe.

Finished eating, we seen the vespa conditions while chatting in the back of the house. It is physically still look good. Then I try, I usual never ride motorcycle with clutch, happens many times to die..hehe. And, there was another bonus, cause I usual never ride motorcycle with gear in hand, my left wrist feel stiff, very painful. After that, I do security check equipment, flame cent ok, horn ok, brake and clutch are also ok, but the headlight, was off. Because the day is late afternoon, my uncle suggested me to stay overnight, and then tomorrow morning my uncle will bring the Vespa to a workshop.
Because my friend had a family in Kalianda and my uncle invite me to visit his brother (my another uncle) in Way Halim, I decided to stay and my friend turn back to Kalianda. "Accidental you are in Lampung, better if you also visit your uncle at Way Halim," my uncle's said.

Next morning, my uncle already brought the Vespa to the workshop before I wake up. Because I do not know the road map in Lampung, I was accompanied with my uncle to Kalianda. We departure rather noon. Apparently, introduction with Vespa yesterday still feel until these day, my left wrist is still stiff. Because of that, my uncle became ride the Vespa while I ride other motorcycles. We run together to Kalianda.

We arrive to Kalianda in 1,5 hour. My friends apparently are going. We chat accompanied by his father of law. Then to see the lobster's pond on the back of the house.
Because long lime waiting my friend, my uncle farewell to go home because there are other business. Before leaving, my uncle said to me if the headlight are still not working properly and the rear brake a bit less grip. After my friend came back, the Vespa entrance to workshop to checking the cable to the headlight and replacing brake canvas. Working done until towards the evening and I pay Rp.50.000,-.

The journey to cross the Sunda Strait until Jakarta will be write later, soon on the next posting... Be patient.. hehe...