Cowbright: A Train Ride to Jakarta

Actually, we could have had Ferry (our driver) bring us here, but riding the train to Jakarta is something I’ve wanted to do almost since we arrived. I had heard that some of the scenery was really beautiful and I knew I would see rice fields and other things that I would not see flying along the freeway at high speed. I was not disappointed. The train itself wasn’t bad – a little old and not very clean, but still comfortable. We upgraded to First Class (with AC) and it was still under $7 each. Not bad, eh? The windows were quite dirty, but I was able to find an area at the back of our car where I could stand and catch some shots through a larger (and cleaner) window.

villagers walking behind homes

When riding a train and passing through these small towns, you’re basically riding through people’s back yards. Of course it’s not your wealthiest people who live near the tracks so we saw a lot of poverty there. We saw everything - reasonable looking homes as well as shanties. We also saw Indonesians going about their everyday lives. I think collectively we observed people doing just about everything people can do. Seriously. We saw women washing clothes in a flowing stream, men relieving themselves, women feeding babies, people tending goats, driving motor scooters, burying the dead, bathing, sleeping, cooking, eating, buying, selling, threshing rice and pretty much anything else you can think of as we rumbled through the villages. It was an interesting ride and parts of the scenery were exceptional. We also saw more trash than I hope to ever see again.

all too common trash scene

motors wait at train crossing

off the dirt road


rice farmer at work

Our ride lasted a little over 3 hours and delivered us into Jakarta Station where dozens of cabs were waiting outside. One of our discoveries here is that Indonesians will come up with any and every way possible to make a rupiah. As soon as the train pulled to a stop, men who had never even heard of deodorant surrounded us, each hoping to be the one to get to carry our bags off the train. We made our way to a long row of waiting cabs and held our ground for a Blue Bird (a reputable company) though our luggage had already been put into another company’s cab. A half hour later we were at the Pullman, and pleased as punch to be here.