Transporting passengers, delivering food, delivering goods, and… a friend in a time of need?
All of the above can perhaps describe this motorcycle taxi driver (colloquially known as ojol) in Jakarta, who went above and beyond to help a distraught passenger.
In a recent post, which is doing the rounds online after it was picked up by popular gossip accounts like Lambe Turah, the driver, who goes by the handle @abang_ojol_botak, receives an order to pick up a female passenger.
Prior to the pickup, the passenger asks via the in-app DM if the driver, “Can you drive slowly? I have problems at home and I need more time on the road. I will pay you more.”
Not only did the driver agree to the request, he also took her to three parks where the woman, in a gray hoodie, took some much needed me-time while taking snaps of her lush surroundings and famous landmarks.
Their trip ended with the passenger asking to be dropped off at Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Central Jakarta. She thanked the driver for his kindness, and he replied with a warm smile while wishing her all the best.
In the end, the passenger tipped the driver IDR50K (US$3.27), which is a considerable amount and likely higher than the actual fare.
“To anyone who has a problem in their lives, do not ever feel like you’re alone. There is always a way out,” he said at the end of the video.
Comments of praise flooded @abang_ojol_botak’s post.
“Ojol these days can be your companion for healing. All the best to those struggling in life,” one user wrote.
“It’s not about the tip, but about the trust placed on the driver. Awesome,” another chimed in.
Speaking of trust, the driver noted that he obtained permission to post this story on his Instagram, and still made sure to conceal her face and identity to respect her privacy.
Can we give more than 5 stars to this driver?
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