Room for One More - Riding the Philippine's Jeepneys
The Philippines is renowned for its multi-coloured, highly decorated jeepneys. But after about 10 minutes in the country, view, Top Money Saving Budget Travel Tips , Madrid Spain - Take A Tour Of A City That Rocks you realize that these are the exception. Officially referred to as PUJs, the majority are drab utilitarian vehicles You may also consider, Maui Vacations , Nutrition Bars Come in Handy when you Travel with route details as their major decoration and more often than not belching black smoke.
That being said, they are the back bone of the public also related, Christmas Vacations , A Toast to California Wine Country transport system as they career down major thoroughfares and side streets also related, Compare Cruise Insurance - You often get what you pay for! , Photography Tips While Traveling playing tag with each other. The first jeep gets the passengers. See, Why Florida? Here's Why... , Living and Holidaying on Poole Quay
Holding on average up to 20 passengers, Try also, Life in a Steppe Climate , From the Hills (Beverly Hills) To The Beach (Santa Monica) B 2 up front next to the driver and 18 in the back seated on benches running down the sides. It is not uncommon to see an extra body on the outside hanging onto the back waiting for someone to alight so they can move inside, although these passengers check out, Consider This When Planning An Exciting Alaska Vacation , Madrid Spain - Take A Tour Of A City That Rocks do tend to be young and male.
Jeeps stop and start at their passenger's whim, apart from their start points, where they will sit until they have a full load. There are no designated stops, to get off you shout "para" or knock on the roof or both. To hail a jeep, you need to attract the driver's attention.
This is easier than one might expect considering the traffic, which in Manila, like all big cities, check out, Discover Paseo Colorado In Pasadena California , Consider This When Planning An Exciting Alaska Vacation is chaotic. Jeepney drivers drive view, Discover Paseo Colorado In Pasadena California , Why Florida? Here's Why... with one eye on the traffic and the other searching for customers. Make eye contact and nod or stretch out your arm, palm down and close your fingers and your ride will stop. With luck it will have pulled over to the side of the road, if not thread your way through the traffic and climb aboard.
Watch your head! You will be shuffling along inside the jeep bent at right angles to a vacant bit of bench and it's a good idea to hang onto the hand rail on the roof. If there is a gap in the traffic before you've found your bit of bench, the driver will be heading for it. Also be aware of your fellow passenger's toes, if you inadvertently do step on someone's toes a smile and saying "ay sorry" should avert any serious recriminations.
The standard bayad (fare) for a jeepney is 7.5 pesos (AU$0.20) although if you are going for a long ride, more than 4.5 kms, expect to pay an extra 50 centavos (AU$0.01) per kilometer. Pass your money Try also, Montreal Grand Prix - One Reason Why You Should Visit Montreal in the Summer , Bali Culture down the jeep saying "bayad" along with a recognizable land mark near your destination. See, The Ancient Wonders of Cairo , Wyoming: A Great State for Natural Resources Your fellow passengers check out, Don't Burden Yourself on Vacation, Pack Light , SURVIVING THE ABORIGINAL OUTBACK will pass the money view, Celebrity Cruises; For The Delight Of It , On Safari in South Africa - Where Africa's Wildlife Never Disappoints to the driver whose hand will appear above his shoulder to accept it. Like wise your change will be passed back the same way.
Now, not only is your driver negotiating Manila traffic, scanning for customers, he is also making change. The majority of jeepney drivers are very competent if somewhat erratic. I have often marveled at their ability to take their vehicles You may also consider, Top 10 Tips Taking for Road Trips With Kids , Parador of Santo Estevo, Spain into spaces I was pretty sure they wouldn't fit and to do so at speed.
If your Tagalog isn't up to counting, hand signals will suffice for the number of fares you want. Index finger for one; V symbol for two; middle, ring and little fingers for three; four fingers for four and add a thumb for five.
A sense of geography is handy but not a pre-requisite as jeepneys traverse a pretty much pre-determined route and as long as you know where you have come from you can catch one going back the way you came. There are literally dozens of them passing any given point most hours of the day. Ok, between 1 am and 5 am they do become a bit thin on the ground. That is when taxis come into their own, assuming of course that the driver wants to go where you do.
Jeepneys are a great way to explore the Philippines and get a sense of the place Try also, 7 Killer Ways To Beat Jet Lag , Maui Vacations from the local's perspective. They are the preferred means of local Try also, How To Live On A Cruise Ship Part Time , Save Up to 50% Off Hotel AV Equipment Rates with a Tech Travel Agent transport for the majority of the population and there is always room for one more, if not in this one, then in the one behind it.
Henry Bateman is an Australian view, 7 Killer Ways To Beat Jet Lag , From the Hills (Beverly Hills) To The Beach (Santa Monica) B expat living in the Philippines, his musings about life there can be seen on his blog The Expat.
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