What we call a ‘horse and cart’, dokar used
to be the only form of public transport in Indonesia prior
to the introduction of cars and buses. They are still fairly
popular in the cities and it’s not hard to spot dokar
ambling along beside the motorized traffic in the heat of
the tropical sun. The cart has just two wheels and a wooden
and metal frame with a roof to shelter passengers from the
elements. As well as other decorations, the owner ties bells
on the horse’s body which jingle when it walks; this
sound lets motorists and pedestrians know that it’s
nearby.
Seating only two or three people plus a driver, dokar certainly
are a leisurely form of transport and can be good way to see
Indonesia at a slower pace. Local people with more time on
their hands, particularly the elderly, choose to take dokar
because they are less expensive than other vehicles.
Being horses that pull these carts is not an easy life because
they constantly inhale fumes and they also have to walk long
distances carrying passengers and their loads. They wear blinkers
so that they are not frightened too easily by the noisy and
often intense traffic. But this doesn’t always protect
save them from accidents. While injury is not too common,
dokar rides are not recommended for animal lovers!
Dokar are found on other islands but have different names.
In Java they are called ‘delman’ and in Lombok,
here pulled by ponies, they call them ‘cidomo’.
You need to bargain when you ride a dokar, even if you are
a local. Be aware that charging tourists or foreigners a higher
rate is the norm and you just have to try to bargain for what
you consider to be a reasonable price. Adopt a light-hearted
attitude and always remember what you might pay for a novelty
ride back home.
Copyright@ Kulture Kid 2006
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