I often go and return via the Rawabuntu train station. This station is close to my house on the border of Pamulang, South Tangerang, with Bojongsari, Depok. Travel time using private vehicles is around 20-30 minutes.
I parked there, then took the Commuterline train towards Jakarta and got off at Palmerah Station. From Palmerah station I took an ojek, angkot, and often walked to the Tempo building on Jalan Palmerah Barat 8, Jakarta. That's how it is every day.
But it has been a long time since I rode the train, let alone crammed into it in the morning or evening. In the past, before online meetings via Whatsapp a few years ago, every turn of the meeting schedule had to be early in the morning from home and scramble to get on and crammed into the train. Barely able to breathe, let alone move.
Technology does bring a variety of conveniences. This year, when Covid-19 hit, it feels like technology is making things easier and changing our lifestyle. We become accustomed to meeting face to face online, such as chatting, meetings, discussions, seminars, workshops, job interviews, work, and hahahihi.
I imagine that one day the streets will be deserted and offices will move to computer servers and Internet networks. Like now, people work everywhere, there is no need for physical presence anymore. After all, the measure of success is not physical existence, but the result of the work itself. So the government and the private sector can save a lot of electricity costs, office overhead, office space itself, etc. What else is the office for if you work anywhere?
Perhaps only certain fields and types of work require offices and physical "crowd" space. This is a new era. Maybe the train that I often ride on is no longer jostling in the morning and evening. This is because workers no longer need to leave their rooms to finish their work.
What may still be needed is a coffee shop. That's where we can meet friends and occasionally sit down to work or write poetry.
PHOTO BY: Mustafa Ismail
LOCATION: Stasiun Rawabuntu, BSD, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, Banten, Indonesia.
MI | ruangmi.my.id