• Home
  • Journeys
  • Australia
  • China
  • Tibet & the Tibetan Plateau
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Bali
  • PNG
  • Vietnam
  • About
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

NomadicPixel

People | Places | Travel | Photography | Stories

Home > Indonesia > Bali > Feral Scooters – An Eclectic Gathering in Ubud

Feral Scooters – An Eclectic Gathering in Ubud

November 2, 2009 By Don Silcock 4 Comments

Feral Scooters… We heard the first one before we saw it! And it sounded kind of somewhere in between a chain saw and a garden whipper-snipper. My first reaction was it was that either it was some kind of joke, or maybe an Indonesian version of the Mad Max movies was being shot nearby…

Feral Scooters

We were in Ubud for our annual Xmas sojourn in Bali and completely unaware that the football field in the center of town was the venue for “A Celebration of Indonesian Scooter Culture”.

Hosted by Bali’s Dewata Scooter Club, more than 2000 Vespas ultimately turned up for the event. But it was the feral scooters and their riders that caught the eye.

Feral Scooters - Vespa "bikers" in Ubud

Vespa “bikers” in Ubud

Anybody who has spent any time in Indonesia will be well aware of the people’s ability to make the most of what they have.

On my travels through the archipelago I have seen many examples of that… Mechanical contraptions crafted from a variety of parts salvaged from the scrap yard. But the feral Vespa’s are in a class of their own.

Feral Scooters - Indonesian creativity - Vespa style

Indonesian creativity – Vespa style

The basic theme for the ferals seemed to be create the weirdest form of two and three (or more…) wheeled transport possible. Load it with as many “scooterististas” that can squeeze aboard. And then ride it from as far away as possible to attend the rally in Ubud.

Feral Scooters - Have Vespa will travel...

Have Vespa will travel…

Feral Scooters and their Scooteristas

An Indonesian feral scooteristista appears to be a cross between a hippie, a bikie and a rastafarian.

Feral Scooters - Indonesian scooteristista - a cross between a hippie, a bikie and a rastafarian

Indonesian scooteristista – a cross between a hippie, a bikie and a rastafarian

Age does not seem to be a barrier as the oldest scooterist I spoke to was 71 year old Rusno. Who together his mate, 65 year old Kohir, Rusno had ridden their feral Vespas from Balikpapan in Kalimantan!

A distance as the crow flies of 800km. But involving some rough roads in Borneo and crossing the Java Sea by ferry. Truly a journey not for the feint at heart…

Feral Scooters - Long-distance Vespa Scooterista

Long-distance Vespa Scooterista

Wandering round the football field and talking to the scooterististas was an interesting experience. Because despite the wild look of the ferals, they all responded to my request to take photographs politely and positively and seemed to relish the attention.

Filed Under: Bali, Motorcycles

Next Post
Papua New Guinea Village Homestay

Comments

  1. sty mujahid says

    January 9, 2010 at 21:13

    salam sp 165 dari Tanggul Scooter Club

    Tanggul-Jember-Jawa Timur-Indonesia

  2. STY MUJAHID says

    August 3, 2010 at 12:10

    haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa salam SP165 dari TSC = tanggul scooter club

  3. STY MUJAHID says

    August 3, 2010 at 12:13

    Anda ingin ber Regae kami tanggul scooter club siap dengan “LA RAEGAE” MUSIC , iramanya anak scooter
    Telp.(0331)3629721 , Hp. 087857543880

    Cam; Jln Kamboja No.02 Tanggul-Jember jawa Timur

  4. Ubud Lover says

    April 21, 2012 at 22:52

    Fantastic! Good work guys!

Leave a Reply

Search

Browse Nomadicpixel

  • Australia
    • Photographing Cathedral Rocks
    • Photographing Sea Lake
  • China
    • Harbin – Ice and Snow Festival
    • Sichuan
    • Things you need to know about China
    • Tibetan Plateau
  • Cultures
    • Baliem Valley Tribes
    • Dayaks of Kalimantan
    • Facial Tattoos of Oro Province
    • Larung Gar
    • Puri Puri Men of PNG
    • Tibetan Sky Burial
  • Featured Post
  • Himalayas
  • India
    • Mahabodhi Temple Bodhgaya
    • Photographing the Golden Temple
  • Indonesia
    • Bali
    • Baliem Valley
    • Java
    • Kalimantan
    • Living in Bali
  • Journeys
    • Getting to Sertar
  • Morocco
    • Photographing Djemaa el-Fna
  • Motorcycles
    • The BMW Beast
    • Vespas
  • North Korea
    • Pyongyang Restaurant
  • Papua New Guinea
    • Port Moresby
    • Tufi
  • Photographing Icons
    • Borobudur
    • Cathedral Rocks
  • Tibet & the Tibetan Plateau
  • Vietnam
    • Ho Chi Minh Trail

Recent Comments

  • later nater on Hanuabada Stilt Village in Port Moresby
  • Budi on Penglipuran Village at Galungan
  • Julie Saltissi on Penglipuran Village at Galungan

Follow Nomadicpixel…

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • RSS feed

© 2023 Nomadic Pixel All rights Reserved