Various Ways People Make Money In Jakarta

There is very little government assistant for the less fortunate.  So, the people do many things to provide for themselves and their families.

This gentleman pushes this cart through the neighborhood selling hand tools, etc.

Some of the items on his cart.

The gentleman sells tools and does woodworking.  Notice the woodworking tools below his hand.

This is a vise that is part of his cart.

This couple and their children are looking for any type of trash that can be recycled.  Notice the cute little girl sitting in the wagon.  She is wearing a "jillbob" on her head.

 This is a mobile gasoline vendor!  Something you will not see in the US.

He is filling up a car on the side of the road across the street from a large shopping complex.

This gentleman has been collecting trash.  He gets pay a small amount (whatever he can negotiate)from the residents on his route.

He will take his load to a place like this---which are all over the city---dump what he has collected, go through it and look for plastic, cardboard, etc--anything he can recycle and get paid for.  What is not recyclable is then loaded on large trucks operated by the government and disposed.

 A young mother selling bottled water during rush hour.  They are standing right on the edge of the road.  Just hope the little boy doesn't decide to run out into the road.  In our 3 mile ride home we will see 10-12 people selling water.

 A young girl--maybe 5 or 6 years old at best--selling water.

 The traffic is terrible in Jakarta for many reasons---one being relatively few traffic lights and many intersecting streets and U turn places along all the main roads.  So, men/boys work these areas stopping traffic so cars can do "U" turns or come off a side street into the traffic.  They expect payment of 500 to 2000 rupiah.  This is the equilivant of 5 to 20 cents US.  I am told working the busier areas a person can make a better income then working an average job.

 These carts are also along the busy streets---the food is a dough filled with vegatables and/or fish, chicken, etc.  Note the right side of the cart--this is where the food is cooked.