Of Hurricanes and Ojek Payung

This morning I watched images of Hurricane Isabel ravaging the East Coast of the US on the BBC. I was immediately reminded of a joke cracked by one of the cop characters in Steven Soderbergh's award-winning movie on the drug trade, Traffic. (I watched this movie three times when I was working in Singapore, couple of years back).

While on a sting operation masquerading as drug buyers, the lovable Hispanic cop played by Luis Guzman, narrated one of his corny jokes to the drug dealer, much to the chagrin of his partner, played by Don Cheadle.

The joke goes:
Why are hurricanes named after women?
Answer:
Because when they come, they are wet and wild. And when they leave, they take your house and car.

Jakarta is wet these days. The rainy season has just started. I wake up everyday with splashes of raindrops on my window and a view of cool gloomy wetness outside.

When it pours in Jakarta, the city can be quite a sight. Immediately you wlll see multi-coloured umbrellas suddenly sprouting up everywhere like mushrooms. These are umbrella services provided by young kids in the street, called ojek payung, who will offer to shield you across the street for a small tip.

The rain is like a hujan rahmat to these street urchins. I suppose this is one of the most seasonal business one can find in Jakarta. But the kids have great fun: drenched from head to toe, they would happily splash and dash their way to offer umbrellas to you when you come out from the office.

Ojek payungs provide a useful service and are such a welcome sight during this rainy season; unlike the "hurricane women" who would only take your house or car away. I try to stay far away from those.