Street People

Admittedly, most of my photos of people on the street have been taken from the back seat of a cab. Though shooting through the window of a moving vehicle is far from ideal, I've still managed to capture some glimpses of street life during this first couple of weeks in Bandung. As time goes along, I hope to be able to do more actual street photography on foot and capture in more detail the people and activities that I've only glimpsed in passing. Although there is much to see and experience here, it's the everyday people carrying out everyday activities that I find most interesting.

This lady was begging for money in stopped traffic. We were told that there are many more beggars in the streets during Ramadan. Muslims are more generous at this time, believing the reward for charity is 70 times greater than during other times of the year.




Since this is their Ramadan period, people are fasting from sun up to sun down. At 6 p.m. Muslims are breaking their fast and the streets remind us of ants on an anthill. Food vendors are set up literally everywhere you look!

street vendor

street musician

Whenever the traffic stops, there are people moving in and out of the cars, either selling something or singing for a bit of change.

motor scooter man

litter everywhere!

It's funny how many people on the street are using cell phones (they call them hand phones). Here a rider sitting next to our cab takes the opportunity to make a call or send a text. People who ride scooters are often seen wearing masks - for very good reason! Apparently emissions laws are non existent and the pollution is hard on lungs and eyes.





Litter is common along streets and sidewalks. Not every street is as bad as the one at the right but this is not the worst we've seen. One has to assume that the residents of Bandung are not that bothered by it.

buy a balloon?

pineapples for sale

Balloons for sale outside Setiabudhi Supermarket. Vendors are always hawking their wares along the sides of the streets, or in this case a supermarket parking lot.


This is the street that Ben and Marlene call "Pineapple Road." We stopped and picked out 2 of (about $2 each) and they were super sweet. I don't know what the maroon colored fruit in clusters is. I've seen these in the grocery store as well. Does anyone know what they are? Maybe we'll try it one of these days.

Street singers are common, the majority of whom play guitars. Some can sing; some can't. As soon as the traffic stops, they quickly move among the cars, coming up to your car window in hopes of scoring a quick tip. Last night, I spotted someone sitting cross legged on a small triangle of concrete playing a wooden flute in the middle of a congested intersection. Sometimes you see mothers with young babies.

angkots - a common sight

Angkots or minibuses are probably the most common form of public transportation. They are often overcrowded (cram packed is more accurate) and have no doors. They are designed for 10 people, but often carry as many as 18. A one-way ride usually costs 2.000 to 5.000. We were charged 5.000 for a short ride because it was obvious that we didn't know what we were doing. Pickpockets are common in angkots.