Jakartans are gearing up for the massive holy season exodus this week, when many will visit relatives mostly in small towns in Central and East Java as part of the post-Ramadan festivities.

Housekeeper Siti Rohani, 38, said she, her husband and their son would take a train from the capital to their hometown in Gombong, Central Java. After spending time there Siti plans to return to the capital by motorcycle.

"Usually the train to Jakarta is more crowded than the train from Jakarta. I don't want to get crammed inside a train on my way back to Jakarta because I'm planning to bring my six-year-old son," she said, adding that it would be their first homecoming trip for six years.

Siti had not joined an organized exodus convoy but would simply go together with her husband's friends, who come from Tegal (another city in Central Java).

"I've talked to friends who have traveled home by motorcycle during Idul Fitri. They say it's a tiring journey, but is a lot faster and cheaper than taking a bus or train. I think I'm ready for it," she said.

Iman Ruseno, 63, a retired civil servant, offered a different opinion. Iman was planning to ride his motorcycle to his hometown in Purwokerto, Central Java.

Unlike Siti and her family who are planning to travel in a small group, Iman will join an organized exodus convoy program called "Mudik Bareng Honda-Warta Kota" (exodus with Honda and Warta Kota), departing Jakarta on Sept. 18.

The program will include some 2,500 bikers and will run on six routes: Jakarta-Semarang, Jakarta-Yogyakarta, Semarang-Yogyakarta, Surabaya-Yogyakarta, Bandung-Banjar, Bandung-Cirebon and Cirebon-Semarang. Iman will join the Jakarta-Semarang group.

"Going by motorcycle is cheaper than, for example, taking the train. A one-way train ticket can cost Rp 200,000 *US$20*. Besides it being cheaper, I can also make new friends by joining an exodus convoy," Iman said.

Taking part in "mudik bareng" (a homeward-bound convoy) has several benefits that include health and life insurance as well as being escorted by police. Iman and his wife have been joining the exodus convoy program since 2006. However, Iman said this year his wife would take the train to heed police safety recommendations.

"I will join her on the train for our return trip to Jakarta, and put my motorcycle in the baggage car," said Iman, who returns to his hometown each year, also to pay respects to his late father, Sutejo, the founder of RRI (Radio Republik Indonesia) Purwokerto.

Joanita Ary, the chief of the organizing committee for the convoy program, said her office had initiated the program in 2006 after seeing a need for an organized motorcycle convoys for exodus travelers.

"For safety measures, we encourage bikers only to carry one passenger - aged at least 7 years old. We have also set up several regulations so they will not speed," Ary said.

Bikers interested in joining a convoy should register before Sept. 16 at the Warta Kota office.

To register, bikers simply pay a registration fee of Rp 50,000, fill out a registration form and provide copies of their ID.

Besides Warta Kota and Honda, another company providing exodus transportation for its employees is herbal medicines producer PT Sido Muncul, which has provided a Ramadan transport service for its employees since 1991.

Sri Wahyuni, the media relations officer of PT Sido Muncul, said her company only made its program available to herbal vendors that sold its products. This year, the company plans to send around 16,000 herbal vendors back to their hometowns, using 260 buses that will depart from Kemayoran fairground on Sept. 15.

Popular

Indonesia not affected by Southeast Asia-wide heat wave: BMKG

Residents fear for safety as Mount Ruang volcano erupts

In defense of Indonesian democracy