Eco-friendly Transport Vehicle from Minahasa

Bendi is a cart pulled by horse. This environmentally friendly public transportation vehicle can still be seen in Minahasa regency of the province of North Sulawesi of Indonesia. In 1980s, the capital Manado and most of the towns, and villages in Minahasa were served by bendi. Not many people drove cars at that time. So, bendi was quite popular. Bendi drivers do not need to bring their cart to petrol station for refueling. What they need are a field with fresh green grass for their horses to eat and a small stream of water for the horses to drink. The carts are decorated with various traditional ornaments to make the cart look more attractive. The only problem of bendi is the feces that the horses drop along the road. But is not harmful to the environment because it is an organic waste that can be used as natural fertilizer for vegetable gardens around the home yard of the bendi owners who also work as drivers. Most of these bendi drivers can send their children up to university level.

Today bendi carts has to compete with motorcycles and cars whose capacity and speeds are higher. However, these modern motorized vehicles are not friendly to the environment. They consume a lot of diesel oil and gasoline that will be turned into CO2 gases and toxic fume that are harmful both for human being and the environment. In addition, these cars and motorcycles have changed the peaceful atmosphere of small towns in mountainous region of Minahasa into a busy and noisy places.

In recent years, the provincial government of North Sulawesi is working hard to promote tourism as an important source of income for thousands of people in the tropical island. From scuba diving, white water rafting to hiking, various recreational activities are offered to tourists who will come from all corners of the world. Gradually, bendi carts are seen as an important icon for North Sulawesi. It reemerges on the roads of Minahasa as tourist vehicle. Bendi is decorated with colorful ornaments that depict the unique culture and tradition of the Minahasan people. As an eco-friendly vehicle, together with bicycle, bendi is expected to survive in the years to come to bring more income to Minahasan horse owners and to restore the mountainous region to its former beauty again. by Charles Roring