Friendship, romance on Cisadane Express

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 03/19/2008 12:20 AM  |  City

BREAKFAST ANYONE?: Ceci (standing) sells snacks to fellow commuters. She has been selling snacks on the train for the past two years. (JP/Triwik Kurnisari)  It was around 6:20 a.m. and commuters crowded Pasar Anyar station in Tangerang waiting for the Cisadane Express which would take them to Jakarta.

When the Tangerang-Depok train arrived they rushed aboard and began hunting for empty seats.

As the train pulled out, a woman in a black business suit began removing small plastic packages from a bag.

Caci moved from one car to another with her pastel (pastry filled with sliced carrots), dadar gulung (pancake with sweet grated coconut) as well as other cakes and fried noodles.

Caci, who works at an office building on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta has been selling snacks on the express train since first becoming a passenger two years ago.

"It was my mother's idea. She is a good cook. Every morning, I get up early to help her in the kitchen," said Caci, who works at a company on Jl. Sudirman.

"I can sell about 50 items a day," she said of her snacks which cost as little as Rp 1,250 (50 cents). I'm grateful so many commuters buy them," she added, declining to say how much she made.

Many commuters have become loyal customers.

"It's not a bad breakfast. It's quite yummy and cheap," said Nur, who bought two pastel at Rp 1,250 each.

Caci is not the only commuter who selling things on the train.

MOONLIGHTING: Iin (right) takes a plastic bag of otak-otak from her friend Sri, who often sells the food to fellow commuter on the Cisadane express train. (JP/Triwik Kurniasari)  Sri often sells otak-otak (mashed fish wrapped with banana leaves).

"Actually, a friend of mine makes it. I buy it from her and take it to the office. Some commuters like it and ask me to bring more," Sri said.

"I didn't really plan to sell food on the train. It just worked out that way. I don't make much," said Sri, handing a plastic of otak-otak to her friend, Iin.

Snacks and chit-chat are part of the daily routine for commuters on the Cisadane Express. The train is more than just a way to get to Jakarta, especially for the women. It's a place to make friends or even become an entrepreneur.

At Rp 10,000 for a one-way ticket, the air-conditioned train is too expensive for many. It doesn't allow traditional hawkers on board, either.

The restricted schedule -- twice daily on weekdays -- only suits office commuters, who are likely to recognize or even be acquainted with one another.

Iin, who started taking the train in 2005, said she has enjoyed many benefits.

"The first time I took the train, I knew nobody," said Iin, talking about the train like a cafe or book club.

Then I started to say "Hi" to other female commuters. As time went by, I become close to them because we see each other every day. My circle of friends is growing. There's about eight of us and we always sit in Car 2," said Iin, who works in a trading company in Cideng, Central Jakarta.

After she began to swap phone numbers with fellow commuters, she said, the friendships extended into the world beyond the train. We would meet for dinner or go to the cinema, she said.

"We give each other advice on just about everything -- raising kids, cooking, dealing with the boss. For female commuters, it's also good to be in a group because of the possibility of assault and sexual harassment.

"We also often share food, like siomay (fish balls served with crushed beans) and sate. When the train is crowded, we just sit on the train floor and enjoy the food. It's so fun. A happy family, you know," Iin said.

Already organized as friends, Iin and fellow commuters spearheaded a petition asking railway company PT Kereta Api, via the Pasar Anyar train station head, to add more trains and cars because the express had become more overcrowded.

"The train used to have four cars. But then more people stared riding," said Iin.

"More than 300 commuters signed the petition. We gave the letter to the station head last November and PT KA provided two more cars a month later. Now, the cars seem more roomy."

As with tables in a cafeteria, people tend to sit where they feel comfortable. Commuters "from other cars" also have their own groups, according to Iin.

Car 1, she said, was a good place to learn something new.

ONE FOR ALL: Amoy (center) reads a tabloid with other commuters on the Cisadane Express on their way to Sudirman station. (JP/Triwik Kurniasari)  Yudith, who usually sits there, often swaps books and magazines with other commuters who are her friends.

"We even have to wait in line to borrow favorite books, like Ayat-ayat Cinta (Verses of Love). I often bring tabloids and my fellow commuters here will read them together," said Yudith, who is called "Mama" by other commuters because she's been riding longer than the others.

"We also like to go for dinner or to movies after work. It's so exciting."

Meanwhile, relationships take their natural course on the train and on-board romance isn't rare.

Sandra, an insurance company employee, never imagined she would marry Edo, who she met on the train in January 2006.

He used to save a seat for her because he got on at Pasar Anyar.

"We just clicked. We became very close and spent a lot of time together. It never crossed my mind I would meet the man of my dreams on the train. It was just the right man at the right time."

They got engaged six months after they met and were wed in September 2007, in a ceremony attended by other commuters. Sandra said she and Edo would keep riding the train together.

"We'll keep taking the train to go to the office. It's comfortable, cheap and faster than other public transportation. Besides, it has memories for us." (trw)

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