View from the rooftops... train rooftops

No more free ride for Indonesian commuters riding on the roofs of trains. From next week they will be sprayed with dyed liquid, so they can be recognised when getting off the train and then issued a ticket.

Although roof riding is illegal, the trains are so packed with passengers during rush hours that many are forced to do so due to lack of space inside the carriage or to avoid paying.

"We will send a copy of the ticket to their family, their local neighborhood unit head, their employer, or, if they're students, their headmasters" said a spokesperson for the rail company.

That is how you put colour into colourful journey!

Public holidays cut back in Indonesia

Last Tuesday, the Indonesian government cut down the number of public holidays by three days, bringing it to total of 20 days. According to the decree issued by the ministers for religious affairs, manpower and transmigration the cut back is caused by fear of a global economy slowdown.

The cut three holidays were among so called “sandwich holidays” - days sandwiched between public holidays and weekends, introduced in 2002 to encourage domestic tourism.
Private sector businesses can decide whether or not to offer the holidays to their employees.

I am trying really, really hard to feel sorry for Indonesians. However, with our mere eight days of public holidays, just somehow I am more envious than sympathising.