Pungli?

On my way to puncak, we had to drive pass villagers' road (jalan kampung?) 'cause traffic on main road is overload you can barely budge your car even 100 meters. Hence, village people near the main road made a business out of our longing to get away from Jakarta and get some nature in Puncak.

During this time of year, these villagers are making a fortune.
Jakartans are so impatient when it comes to heavy traffic. We chose alternatives even though they cost.

Villagers set a fixed rate for us to drive pass their road (or so to their claim). It's cheap, only Rp.1000. Of course, for Jakartans better to pay up rather to wait numbingly on the main road. However, you have to be aware of these random villagers who'll stop you in the middle of the road just to ask compensation for driving on their road. They're called 'pungli' (pemungut liar if i'm not mistaken). Some will use force or nasty words if you don't give them away at least a thousand rupiahs.

Even little children will stood-by every corner of the roads for these illegal 'toll charges'. My grand-uncle said to me "It's charity, dear". I still couldn't grasp the idea of kids getting easy money as such.

and these people are everywhere...
as if, we're trespassing their road and had to pay road toll.

Am I being too petty over small amount of rupiahs?
or Culture has buggin' me?