Question: What is one thing Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Jakarta have in common?
Answer: They are all big, noisy, smoky and the traffic is a real bitch.
However, I did notice one thing special about Jakarta that other places don’t. It is perhaps the only place I know of in this part of the world, where people take advantage of the ridiculous traffic jams on the road, and turn it into a profit-making opportunity.
Everyone’s heard of in-flight shopping.
In Jakarta, you can do in-car shopping.
Traffic in the Indonesian capital is so bad that during peak hours, it could take up to 30 minutes just to travel a short 2km journey. And the Jakarta people are wise enough to take advantage of that. Often times, there will be throngs of people standing by the roadside and as soon as the vehicles to stop, these people pounce on them selling all sorts of mumbo jumbo that they’re carrying.
Travelling from North to South Jakarta, I was approached by so many of these roadside peddlers that if I were to buy just ONE item from each of them, I could open up a 7-Eleven store by the time I get off my cab.
Seriously, these people sell all sorts of things.
From books…
To tiny Indonesian flags…
To toy helicopters…
To peanuts…
To porno…
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wow
Innovation at its best
hahaha. true.
As someone who’ve lived in Jakarta for more than 15 years, i admit tht the traffic can be really sucks.
There was once i stuck for 2++ amid jam when i was supposed to arrive in jst 45 MINS!
nevertheless, i still love J*town! 🙂
Lol. Porn magazine are available in Indonesia? I thought they very strict in handling the porn issues since it is an islamic country .
ahaha did u buy!
Ong Tee Keat please do something about our country’s traffic. It is ironic that a country as small as Singapore has better traffic conditions than us.
Hmm… soon it’s gonna expand.
HAHAHAHA.. the porn apek is very stupid la.. how u manage to take his pic? u ask him froze there to let u take picture one ar?
So i guess you bought the last 1?
So did you buy any of them?
It’s true, we Indonesians are experts at finding new ways to make money, although its usually not much money.
Other ways to make money from Jakarta’s traffic congestion:
* Walk into an intersection during the jam and start directing traffic for tips – there are heaps of people who do this, my cousin did it for 30 mins and got about Rp40,000.
* Hire yourself out as a passenger, so lone drivers can use the roads designated for 2 or more car occupants only. All the streetkids do this.
Btw, the picture of the porn salesman is classic. He looks exactly like a porn-dealer should.
What the heck ima book the first flight to there now
good guess…
It’s just sad to see how desperate Indonesians are looking for money. I hope the country’s condition will improve in the near future.
you really took the photo of the man when he was trying to sell you porn? haha.. thats classic! =D
maybe he thought you’re snapping the magazine.. lol..
kenwooi.com
Wow, this is something new.
Even the centre of the sex hub in Japan doesn’t have this kind of thing.
So Kenny, did you get some Indon porn back to Kch?
haha the last picture is damn shock man.he looks desperate selling it.bet u didnt buy.right?haha
btw ive link ya if u dun mind! 😉
cool..a great way to make money
Malaysian doing that too.. sell 4D results.. haha.
WTF the last picture is just effing freakyyy. Can’t imagine my mum’s reaction.
good work.
=)
LOL! Never tought they would have sell porn mags freely in Indonesia.
The idea of in-car selling is very interesting. I think we used to have window-wiper around in Kuching.
Telanjang!! HAHAHAHA!
U have internet -.0 for that.
and i tot Indonesia was a boring country
kenny, heard u r coming melbourne at this coming merdeka day, might be able to see u.
Never know they can sell porno at street, i always thought they r a strict islamic country. And never know that indonesia got porn industry.
wah – the last picture is ‘ishiok’ wor –
really so open one ar? that is so bad …
excuse me Kenny but these are not only available in Jakarta but in most cities there like MEDAN & BANDUNG!! just for info k and the range is like those available in Jakarta….
I passed this intersection frequently never saw this ah pek leh, what time you passed ah ?
the prono seller really have to check out all the passangers and drivers before proceeding in selling to make sure that the buyers are males, don’t they…
i think its quite a dangerous job, making bee-line between traffic jams and trying focus on earning money as well as the road condition could really be tiring..
Sometime i just wondered how safe is the In-car shopping… When i was in Uganda Africa, I never bother to wide down the car windows coz i was shocked by a small child when he placed his hand into the car and in front of me asking for money… It’s was a very scary moment… 🙁
The same thing happen in Bali also. All sorts of things they sold. They sell newspapers….outdated chinese newspapers from previous 1-2 years…and one my tour group auntie went “Cilaka!” after the traffic light went green, js in time for the peddler to walk away.
Do u buy one, Kenny?
It happens in Phillipines too. But not porno.
They mostly sell foods and those kids even get straight up to you to ask for moneys and some even hop into the bus to preach the gospel then ask for donation.
lol, good to see they have the entrepreneur spirit. Maybe we can learn a think or two from them 🙂
Kenny, even your hometown will become as congested like that one day if the malaysian government does not improve its public transport system and control private vehicle usage.
did u get approached by a pimp?
hm….almost the same thing happened at manila
well, when i was in mexico, apart from in-car shopping, we have in-car entertainment as well.
we can see ppl clowing around, juggling things, fire eating, etc.
Impressive ones. LOL!
Wow, nice information.
i never noticed that , Bangkok , Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur has one in common. That is shopping in the car.
Kenny try to go Phils. not only you could open a 7 eleven but a supermarket. Street peddlers there sells orange, mango, apples, pillows,newspapers, bottled water,face towels, kids clothing,junk foods, kueh, etc!
Wah…’Dasyat’nya…
lol…so that is how innovative Jakarta is. Making a traffic jam into a market.
The funniest part is the porno one. Can’t believe they terang2 sell it out, hahaa…..
I’m interested in the vest the last street seller was wearing. I cant see the words sewn very clearly but if it says “Suara Pembangunan”, I have to take my hats of the city for their “development methods”. 😀
where was this in jakarta?
You can find the kind of roadside peddlers in India too.
Malaysia got porn magazine meh ? I don’t think so leh .. if @ thailand maybe la ..
Cool, porn sold at your door…er..car door… they should do it in Malaysia also. It’s also super jam here in Klang Valley
Hi Kenny
Seems you always miss out The Philippines. Manila have the same common things you Mention. Its Big, Noisy, Smoky And have Killer Traffic Also! XD
And they have In-Car shopping as well!
lol..
i live in jakarta, so things like that is normal for me
BUT that porno magazine is kinda shocking. I know lots of them selling magazine with boobies all over the cover, but i’ve never seen one like the one you saw there..very lucky one you lah, kenny..hahahaha
btw, that green building with UOB Bank signage is near to my place..teehee
When I was in Bali, I saw ppl at the roadsides selling newspaper wrapped with plastic bags during traffic jam.
The driver told us not to get con, there’s a lot which the seller put plain white paper in the middle.
No wonder they put newspaper into plastic bags!
kenny pasti enjoy majalah lucah tu! enak yah!…
wow…majalah lucah ….
How can they allow adult materials everywhere like that?
2km distance, travel for 30 minutes is just insane.
did u like buy the porn magz and in return ask the guy to let you take a photo of him? :p
hey guys, does anyone of you know who is the owner of the car with the number plate ‘MAQ 4910’.
I saw this person beating up a woman in his car while driving out of Sunway Pyramid’s carpark between 8.30p.m – 9p.m on 14th August.
I think he slapped, punched her and pushed her head towards the window more than 10 times during the time that he took to drive out of Pyramid’s carpark.
you can see this in india too.
I cant even imagine a dude wanking in his car in the midst of a traffic jam! lol!
just clarify that indonesia not islamic country 🙂
they had the most population islamic country but not Islamic country
wow… impressive. =)
This is very common over here in Sarawak where people selling “ban jee” result on the street at night.
Wahlau, so creative….i dont want to see that kind of selling strategy at KL…
i wonder how much u paid for the porno 😛
Haiyo, kennysia, you never experience this in Sarawak izit? Back in the old days when ferries are very much alive (Kuching-Lundu/Sematan, Sibu-Durin/Lanang) people were selling keropok, food, drinks and newspaper, even Red Crescent Donation! while waiting for the ferry to come. Now already replaced by bridges so no more in-car service…
http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/23997/84/
The untold MAS stories
Its not really proud that Jakarta is really worst in term of traffic compare to Malaysia / Singapore. But still Jakarta is the dream city for a lot of village peoples to try their luck to live. Those who doesn’t have their “luck” will end up like that.:(
Well, in KL they sell 4D results lol.
kenny, not only indonesia have this kind of traffic shopping but also Shanghai..
i purchased the newspaper, dinner set, fruits, drinks in the cab.
haha, you should one more into the list. Manila. They sell waters, junk food and newspapers on the road too 🙂
ask apek to sell insurance laa…lagi untung…
Aiya why the pron pic blur wan? 😛
it’s the same in manila. vendors sell a lot of different things to motorists stuck in traffic.
it is not only in jakarta, i guess it happens in the whole indonesia 😉
i thought porn is intolerable in jkt?>????!?!?!!! I just went to jakarta and it was quite interesting to watch the highway-stalls haha
Heh…Japanese Young Adult Video award winner eh? LOL!
It’s actually in the whole of Indonesia there is In-Car Shopping!! hehehe. If u take the public transport like bus or angkot u can get buskers serenading songs to you and ask u for money after that. Hehehe. The way people make a living in Indonesia is colourful!
hey… this is good idea, wonder whether, will this, happen in Malaysia/Singapore, in KL or JB/Singapore causeway.
i wonder why wasn’t i approached by those porno sellers when i was in Jakarta??
no more than YOU.
I heard they banned it already. Anyone who buy these “goods” or “donate” money will be fined.
hahaha very good one Kenny 🙂 I remember one of my Aussie friend said about these street vendors : wow, Indonesians people are so creative, they just find so many ways to make money LOL….! In many countries you probably see many street kids begging etc, but in Jakarta the street kids not only begging, they work, selling magazine, newspaper, singing (some are pretty good too hehe..), sell things etc. And the other comment from him: they work so hard, n never stop working.. really, rain or shine you will see these street vendors continue selling their stuff.