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If you’re in need of a little motivation during the end-of-Ramadan exodus, look no further than Pak Aceng, a local bemo owner and operator.  Aceng, who turned 59 last month, once drove one of his bemo 458 kilometers to Solo for Idul Fitri, so if the traffic’s got you down or the kids in the backseat are a like cranky ,just turn up the air conditioning a notch and think about the bumpy ride that this guy had to endure, or has to endure. This year Aceng is planning on gassing up and going to visit his mother-in-law, a 257-km jaunt that ends in Tegal, Central Java — now that’s dedication.

What did you before you became a bemo driver?

I worked for a coal mining company. At that time, the company wanted to assign me to a job in Kalimantan. I refused the assignment. That same year my wife passed away. So I decided to resign from the company and start working as a bemo driver. That was six years ago.

Why drive a bemo, why not start a limousine company?

My house is close to the bemo station. I saw it as a business opportunity. So I just simply jumped into the business.

Where did you buy your first bemo?

Bogor. It cost me around Rp 9.5 million [$1,055] after putting on a new coat of paint and paying to have the engine overhauled. You can see that this bemo is still in very good shape, even now.

I’m proud to say that it’s my constant maintenance and attention to detail that has kept the bemo in the condition it’s in.

I wash it every morning before I pick up my first customer. All the bemos out on the streets are very old and you expect them to have problems.

But if the bemo’s broke, it means no income for us. So I like to keep my bemos in tip-top shape. A while back, somebody offered me Rp 18 million for this bemo, but I didn’t want to sell it.

For a typical bemo, you’d only pay anywhere between Rp 4 million-5 million.

How many bemos do you have?

I have four. Two for this route, from Fajar on Jalan Tubagus Angke to Grogol, West Jakarta, which is a three- or four-kilometer route.

And I assign the other two bemos to other routes. I always drive this one myself and I rent the others.

How much can you make daily?

I’m not exactly sure. On this route, I’d say I make anywhere from Rp 50,000 to 100,000 a day.

What is the farthest distance you’ve ever travel by bemo?

You won’t believe me. Once I drove it to Solo [458 kilometers] for Lebaran with no problem at all. This Lebaran, I plan to drive it to Tegal [257 kilometers] to visit my mother-in-law.

How much fuel does the bemo consume?

I get seven kilometers per liter. But remember that I need to mix gas and oil.

Why?

A bemo has a two-stroke engine. There is no place for oil, so the only way to lubricate the engine is to mix the oil and gasoline before you pour it in the tank.

Is it easy to find spare parts here in Jakarta?

I still can buy the spare parts for bemo in Tanah Abang and Pasar Baru. I never used second-grade parts. I always use the best available. Plus, I do the maintenance myself. That’s the secret why my bemos are always at top condition.

How old is the engine?

It’s 1962 Daihatsu. I can’t believe it’s 48 years old!

Any plans for retirement?

I’ll work as long as my body lets me. I have four children and two of them have masters’ degrees. Two are working for a bank, one is working for a pharmacy company and one is still is a senior high school.

My children always asked me to marry again, to retire and enjoy life, but I can’t. What will I do if I retire? If I’m working, I can earn money for myself and my youngest kid. I can earn respect and contribute to society as well.

So you enjoy your work?

Definitely. You know, bemo drivers have a fixed route and I have a pretty fixed schedule. I know nearly most of my passengers pretty well, from elementary students to workers and housewives. I always try to talk to the passengers.

Do you work long hours?

The first trip for this route is 6 a.m. and the last trip is around 5 or 6 at night.

Do you work every day?

I take a day off whenever I want. But most of the time, I work seven days a week. If bemo drivers don’t work seven days a week, how will people commute? You can find bemo operating every single day, including Lebaran or New Year’s Day.

Is the schedule for departure fixed?

Peak hours are in the morning and afternoon. You can expect around a 15-minute interval for this station for that time.

The interval will be longer, I think 30 minutes, from 9 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon. Grogol station is pretty crowded, so the bemo departs whenever it’s full.