Indonesia does not have any metro system, yet existing public transport modes are as efficient and convenient as the metro. In the city, any time you need to travel somewhere, just wave your hand and someone will be eagerly offering you their service to take you there. You don't have to wait. In my country, trains travel fast but waiting time is slow and sometimes even break down during peak hours. Hence, I was fascinated with this just-in-time service I discovered when taking public transport in East Java.

Mini van is awesome because you can board and alight anywhere. High frequency. Rp 2,500-3,000 pp regardless of distance.


No wonder no one takes the taxi. I just have to show you what their taxis are called. Blue bird refers to the male genital in Hokkien.


No wonder no one takes the becak either. Slow and expensive. But environment friendly!


Damri bus fare costs Rp 5,500 (no A/C) - 6,500 (A/C) pp. Board and alight at bus stops only. Sometimes the bus will stop and pick up pedlars along the way. I'm surprised, at the same time guilty, that even students drop their coins into the pedlar's bag.


Ojeks are everywhere but it's not cheap and vary quite substantially so you should only take an ojek if you have no other choice.


Public transport in villages and mountainous area is infrequent and timing uncertain. Be sure to stop any vehicle that passes by and ask the driver how much he's willing to take you. Most of the time, they'll jack up the price but this driver didn't.

We met many kind folks like him while taking public transport in East Java. It's difficult to get lost because locals will point you to the right direction. Even if they don't know the way, they will ask around for you and go the extra mile to bring you to the spot where you can continue your journey to your final destination. If they are unable to guide you personally, they will get someone else to take you there. As a result, transfers were seamless. I had an unforgettable experience and a pleasant journey, thanks to the cheap and convenient public transport system and the good people we met.