Wayan Mawa, 62, is a horse-drawn cart operator at Badung traditional market in Denpasar

I feel proud that by working as a cabman I can support my family, even though I’m a grandfather. 

Every day I wake up at 3am, have a cup of coffee and go get my horse from a field close to my house. I give the horse grass to eat and give it a wash. That takes about 30 minutes, after which I attach the horse to the cart and go to the market. It takes just over 10 minutes to get to the market using the horse-drawn cart from my house on Jl. Gatot Subroto.

At Badung market there are now only three or four carts operating. I have to be very patient waiting for passengers because most people already have a car or motorcycle, and I also have to compete with the other cabman.

I can’t force anyone to use my cart, because it causes problems; the cabmen all have to respect each other’s livelihoods. In one day I usually get three or four passengers, if I’m lucky. The route I take is only on the streets surrounding the market, such as Jl. Satriya or Jl. Nangka.

If there are no passengers to be found, I usually leave the market about 8am, first taking the horse back to the field. I often have to spend almost three hours cutting and collecting grass for the horse; so I don’t actually get home until 10 or 11am.

There isn’t much I can do at home, except have some coffee and take care of my grandchildren. Sometimes I feel proud of myself that by working as a cabman I can support my family, even though now I’m a grandfather.

If I still have energy, at 4 pm I take the horse and cart out again. The afternoon goes much the same as the morning, fetching the horse and heading for the market. A few years ago I often worked until 12pm, because there were so many passengers, but now there are only ever fares until 8 or 9pm.

At night back at home, I mostly spend time with my children, grandchildren and of course my wife. We talk until we get sleepy. I have been doing this job for many years, but as long as I still have the power, I will carry on doing it.