A taxi driver
I met him in the New Year’s Eve when I tried to find a place for celebrating it. When he realized that I am not local, he offered me a service to go around the city. He didn’t set a price for it, he just agreed when I said Rp. 20.000,-. Through this ‘business agreement’ I could orientate myself in the city of Tarakan.
The bad side from the agreement, he asked some personal questions to me like whether I have a boyfriend, how old I am, etc. Maybe those questions were not so bad or impolite, but his action in taking me to places without my approval had worried me so much and made me uncomfortable with him. (see: The City of Tarakan). I lied to all his questions because I don’t want the conversation flourishes. Even for the simple question like do I speak Bugis. Usually, I answer this question with ‘no’ in Bugis. But this time, not a chance, I prefer to lie!
I was scared to death when he took me to a beach far from the city centre. Even the trip there passed a quiet, hilly, and dark area! I kept praying for my safety, I didn’t know what number to call in emergency situation or where should I run for help if the worst thing happened.
In the end, when he finally drops me off at my hotel, I asked him how much he charged me. I really didn’t know his motivation in taking me around outside the agreement; did he try to trick me physically or financially? But surprisingly, he didn’t ask more than we agreed!
Okay, maybe he tried to be nice, showing his city to a foreigner. But surely, the way he did it has to be improved!
A random visitor
I met a guy with his son when I visited the mangrove area in Tarakan. When I visited the place, I was interested to see the famous Bekantan monkey; so when I spotted one of them, I sat at a strategic place to observe it.
When I watched comfortably at my seat, there were a boy and his father walking back and forth in front of me. The boy kept asking to his father, where can he see the monkey. It was clear, they couldn’t spot the monkey as I did.
I felt sorry for the boy, he is a kindergarten age by the way, so I decided to do a nice thing: I called the boy and showed him the monkey from distance. Of course the boy loved it, his search was over. But my nightmare was just started.The father of the boy came to me and started to make a conversation. Of course nothing wrong with this, except that his conversation was trashy. He asked whether and why I am alone. And of course his further questions were flirty :(
I felt annoyed with him. I wanted to observe the monkey but he sat next to me and talked! I really didn’t know how to escape from him as his son enjoyed talking to me. The boy even held my hand and dragged me around the place. That’s nice of course, but it became worst when the father tried to hold my hand too!!! I pulled my hand quickly and told him that it is silly that he holds my hand too.
Oh God, I had to make up something.
When the father asked me how long would I stay there, I had an idea. I told him that I am waiting for my friend from Tanjung Redeb. In real, I waited for my friend from Tanjung Redeb who will arrive at Tarakan at that day; but actually we never plan to meet at the mangrove area. With this answer, I hope he would leave soon because I have to stay longer. In contrary, he would like to stay with me until my friend comes! What a nightmare!
I tried Plan B. I pretend to have an SMS and checked my cellphone. I mumbled that the SMS from my friend that I am waiting for. And after pretending in reading the ‘SMS’, I told him that I need to make a phone call. I walked away a little bit further from them and acted as I call my friend. After some ‘yeses’ I ended my call. I told him that my friend is waiting for me at the hotel so I have to go.
The father decided to go also; but he regretted that he doesn’t have extra helmet in his motorcycle. That is very good news to me. But still, he tried to walk together with me! Argh!! So I tried to escape again. I told him that I want to go to the souvenir shop; and when he still undecided, I told him that I understand if he wants to go first. In this situation, he couldn’t react fast. He went outside without complain.
Finally, I could release myself from him. Gosh, what’s wrong with Tarakan men??!!
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