man seated on bike

Surabaya is Indonesia’s second largest city. But, it’s relatively unheard of outside of Indonesia. When I’m in Surabaya, I try to take at least one becak (traditional pedicab) ride. The becak were once pervasive throughout Indonesia. Due to modern “progress”, the becak are a dying breed. This friendly becak driver is the first native Indonesian I’ve met with the name Robert. He began speaking with me while I was photographing next to him. I decided to hire Robert to take me around the block. Moments like this one is why photography is more like soul-searching than anything else.