Alone in the World

It was more than a week I haven't created a new blog post. Going to visit Jakarta Book Fair was one of the reason. Another reason was I took so much time to read and contemplate the books I bought there. And here's the result.

This is a picture of our city view, Jakarta, taken from a bus in Pancoran area, when I was the only passenger in the 921 route SteadySafe bus.

It was Tuesday, June 5, 2007, when I went to Jakarta Book Fair in Istora Senayan. On previous Saturday and Sunday I've been there, too, but this time there was a rendez-vous with two old friends of mine. I reached Cawang from Condet, about 10.30 AM, and the SteadySafe came toward Blok M. I got in the bus, surprised at first because no passenger in it.

But I didn't care. There will be other passengers on the way, I thought. So I sat calmly, picked the nearest seat to the front door, and tried to enjoy the trip. Until the bus entered the toll-way gate after Cawang Station.

It was the first time I realized that this would be a very special trip. By taking the toll-way, there would be no chance for any other passenger to accompany me during the route until the bus leave the toll-way exit near Polda Metro Jaya. This is my special moment! This bus is totally mine for the first time! Wooow!!!

I took some pictures with my digital camera without being feared a criminal will rob it forcely from me. I trusted the driver and the "conducteur", I believed they won't do anything bad to me, the only passenger who brought them a couple of thousand rupiah that morning... :)

Then I remembered an old book I bought on the book fair on Sunday, Sebatang Kara or Alone in the World by Hector Malot. It's a story I read long ago as a comic book Album Cerita Ternama published by Gramedia. I always love the adventure of Remi in searching his lost-rich parents, wandering in France and England.

In the bus a flash of thought passed: perhaps this is a situation when we're alone in the world. Many people around, but they don't care about us. I was really glad that in fact I'm not alone in this world. But that morning in the bus, I also believed that sometimes loneliness could be comfortable.

StilI feeling comfortable and glorious (again!), I got off the bus on the Istora bus stop. It continued its journey, having no passenger toward Blok M.