So, what is in these colourful bottles you see slung across the back of a Jamu peddler? Sambonoto is the name of the mixture in the black bottle, which is used to treat allergies. In the orange bottle the mixture is called Kunir Asam, which keeps the body from smelling, a very useful aid in the hot, humid climate of Jakarta. There is even a red bull equivalent. This one is called Sirih, a medicine to help with tiredness, which also acts to stimulate fertility in woman.
Salyem’s day typically starts at 7 am. She walks the streets selling her products until 12 noon and then returns home to mix up more medicines for the afternoon sales.
They have two children, the 11 year old lives in Semarang and is cared for by Salyem’s grandmother and her other son is 19 years old and has applied for a job with Astra. Salyem and her husband are trying to save enough money to buy their 11 year old a laptop, but feel that this is a dream that may not become a reality.
I tried a few of Salyem’s medicines and the energy drink definitely worked! She would not accept any money from me for the herbal drinks as she considered me a guest in her country, testimony to the character of these warm, genuine people of the streets.