Jeepney’s Galore!
The Jeepney is a Filipino institution, and I love them!
Jeepney’s are derived from the thousands of Jeeps that were left behind by the Americans in the Philippines after World War II.
Enterprising locals then extended them, added a roof and seats, and then a new mode of Public Transport was born.
Today’s modern Jeepneys are decorated with colourful ornaments, including crucifixes etc (sometimes I think the amount of religious paraphenalia decorating a rear vision mirror is inversely proportional to the standard of driving…but, it’s not too bad!).
Sure, Jeepney’s spew out copious amounts of pollution, but apparently electric powered Jeepneys are being trialled to reduce smog and greenhouse gases.
Anyway, here is a Jeepney carpark located in the capital, Manila.
They follow defined routes throughout Manila, and you just hand your money through to the driver at the front.
I’m guessing you could use them to find a place that serves Balut (duck fetus), and then have lunch at Spam Jam. But they probably won’t be any good during a Philippines flood.
Anyway, try out a Jeepney if you’re in the Philippines - it’s worth checking them out!
See more at Jeepneys: Public Transportation – The Philippine Way.
Just returned from Manila and had the privilege of checking out these weird and wonderful vehicles. Not sure on the history of them, but it looks like they based them on an American jeep. Probably something to do with the war? Do you know?
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What an idiot. I just realized I skipped the first paragraph. Sorry mate. You can remove the comment. I feel pretty stupid now. I must stop reading people’s blogs at 6 in the morning.
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anthony Reply:
January 25th, 2011 at 8:41 am
Ah, it’s no worries mate! I think we’re all guilty of this!
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Twitter: RedNomadOZ
Haha! Fancy taking a ride in the love child of a bus and a troop carrier! I once lived in Fiji where the public transport buses all had open windows with canvas blinds to roll down if it rained. But this takes it to another level altogether!!
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