Old Portrait Of The Bus Driver

Old Portrait Of The Bus Driver

What a style,  how manly, majestic he was seated on his throne. How polite his gesture of refusing new passengers along the roadside by courteously waving his hand and bowing his head.. There was a warm friendly almost a big family atmosphere in his over crowded bus, the soft music, the soft light, curtained windows, some humorous pictures, writings were pasted on the front window pane - e.g. Cinderella and Charles Bronson - How easily he held his driving wheel, lighting his cigarette, overtaking all other cars with his very big, long Mercedes bus with such ease and that with so many windings, slopes along a small road. He is indeed Sang Juara (the Champion) as is pasted on the writings.

What a way of saying farewell, goodbye to the passengers. He just said “hati-hati”, (be careful) and aided passengers who had some difficulty in climbing down his bus out of the high emergency exit door, as the entrance of  his bus was stormed by new passengers.

And that was already 8 o’clock in the evening and he had been driving since morning and he should drive the same route again Jakarta – Sukabumi. About midnight will he arrive. Fortunately it is not so crowded as it is during the lebaran (Moslem feast day) season. That was about 40 years ago.

I think there are not many drivers who do bus-driving as profession with dignity and enjoy it.

April 2011