During my research project, I will travel to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Java island; Kendari, the provincial capital of Southeast Sulawesi and many small villages on the west coast of Southeast Sulawesi. Transportation in each of these locations is very different.
Jakarta has made headlines around the world for having the worst traffic in the world (or 12th worst by the 2018 estimate of INRIX, a transportation research agency). Taxis and cars clog the streets here. There are also buses, many motorcycles and even motorcycle taxis. Rarely do you see bicycles on the main streets. There are also two metro train systems.
In Kendari, long jeeps calles bemos are the main form of public transportation. It costs 4000 rupiah (28 cents) a ride. Many people here also ride motorcycles. In fact, the more rural you get, the more bemo and motorcycles you see. In the villages on the coast where I work though, more people own boats than motorbikes.
I do not enjoy traveling in Jakarta because I often find myself stuck in traffic. Knowing that it takes a long time to get anywhere here, I will plan to only be in two, or at most three, places in a day. I usually bring a book to read or work to do to pass the time.
Travelling is relatively fast in Kendari.
