In Reply to: Bemo Correct posted by Fernandez on Tuesday, 11. September 2007 at 12:47 Bali Time:
- is a small, company owned, bus-like vehicle used all over the island on fairly fixed routes for public (and animal) use. The colour usually indicates the particular route they will follow. There is an interesting history to the name - see below.
Private drivers of Kijangs or the (perhaps more popular now) newer Suzukis, old Mitsubishi Colts etc etc who have a penchant for calling, "Trrransporrrt?" outside your hotel are the ones you bargain with over a price for a fixed trip anywhere. They are not bemo's and do not have a particular name.
The name bemo is a derivation of the original 'Becak' which was a 2 seat carriage pulled by a runner in the front shafts, rather like a horse. The Japanese considered it a slight that a man should work so much like an animal and devised a high seated, 3 wheeled bicycle derivative with the 2 seats in front of the rider whom they therefore did not have to see pedalling and who they therefore could pretend was not there offending their sensibilities. When the 'Vespa' invasion started many of them were adapted to power these bicycle things rather than using a rider and these became known as 'Becak Bermotor' ('Becak with motor') or 'BeMo' for short. Most these days are small vans converted to carry passengers but the name Bemo sticks.