I suppose if we lived in Indonesia the bemos (mini buses) would drive us up a wall.
They're all over the road, traffic rules (are there any?) be damned. They're stinky - not a lot of emission standards in effect on the islands. Bemos are loud, mufflers growling and music blasting out of their open windows and doors at decibel levels high enough to rattle eardrums. And if you're not a local fares are, um .... fluid.
But bemos are so cool.
We stand on a Padang curb at dusk and can't help but smile at the parade. Each bemo is different, every one a statement.
Drivers and the guys who sit alongside, collecting money from passengers, take a lot of pride in their rides. They're the Indonesian equivalent of Los Angeles' lowriders.
In Padang bemos grudgingly share the road with horse-drawn carts, motos, and many a kaki lima (literally, 'five feet' - the three of the cart and the two of the food vendor who pushes it).
Kaki lima owners take as much care to personalize their 'wheels' as bemo owners do.
Padang has a surprisingly strident skateboard culture. This practice ramp is set up in front of a surf and skateboard store at a bend in the road that sees regular traffic jams. The whoosh and slam of skateboarders riding the curve back and forth is accompanied by the thump-thump of bemo sound systems.
Stalking bemos makes us hungry. A bowl of tasty beef soto does the trick.
It's a food blog, after all.
Boy, I'm really enjoying your blog. Vibrant photos and a nice way with the word.
Posted by: Tammy | 2007.01.16 at 09:41
Many thanks Tammy!
Posted by: Robyn | 2007.01.16 at 13:22
There's an Indinesian food cart here in Madison called Kakilima. I'm happy to finally know what it means!
Posted by: lee | 2007.01.16 at 23:30
Are you there again recently? Or the pictures are from your early trip?
Posted by: Jem | 2007.01.17 at 11:07
Lee -what does the cart serve?
Jem - these are from our Sept trip. We have a backlog of posts going back quite a ways... and we're planning a trip back to Sumatra for Feb!
Posted by: Robyn | 2007.01.17 at 11:46
Umm... a chicken dish and tofu. Crap! I don't know any of the names! Their food is really good. When spring comes and the food carts are back, I'll be sure to take some photos for you.
Posted by: lee | 2007.01.18 at 23:56
Minangkabau cuisine is very famous here in Indonesia and our neighboring countries, and there's no place better than West Sumatra and its capital Padang itself! :D
Posted by: Ari | 2007.09.06 at 17:09
I don't know in Padang it called Bemo :D
In Jakarta it called Mikrolet or Angkot. Bemo is another vehicle with 3 wheel original name is Daihatsu Midget
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daihatsu_Midget
Posted by: vicong | 2011.05.18 at 05:54