I came across a talkative driver when I took a taxi last nite, an old man in his late fifties with grey long hair. Sometimes I just want to sit back and relax on the back seat and let my mind wandering off, but last night I was with a friend. By the time we stepped on the taxi, the driver was just talking, or trying to make a conversation with us.
That’s how I learned how he had been driving so far across Jakarta and no passengers all the way. He started to work at 10 in the morning and it was 8 pm already, and he only got Rp 90.000 so far. He has to pay a minimum of Rp 150.000 to the taxi company and about Rp 90.000 for the gasoline daily. No money left for him today, I asked. So many a day like this, he said.
Such a struggle for life… and he managed to keep his chin up, his cheerful face, at least when he talked to us.
