drivemecrazy

I was again a traveler! I recalled, during my sole visit to the Philippines (located in Southeast Asia), something that caught my attention. With respect to their sumptuous foods, scenic landscapes, and hospitable people, what intrigued me most was their mode of public transportation—they call it the “jeepney.” And it continuously intrigues me until now. That led me to researching about those street icons from that country.

When you see one, you’ll be amazed of the Filipinos’ sense of artistry. They crafted this once military vehicle into an awesome piece of art! Now it’s dominating their roads. In fact, this is tagged as their “king of the road.” Hey, take a look at this:

Imagine how many people are riding on that jeepney. This vehicle can really serve so many people. Its interior is designed with two long seats, more like a bench. Therefore, more people could occupy its inside. Aside from that, two other passengers could seat beside the driver. Just like the front seats of sedans and other vehicles. But wait! It’s not over yet. In rural areas in the Philippines where only few jeepneys are on the road each day, the situation is similar to what you see is in the picture. Passengers could occupy even the roof of the vehicle for fear that they can no longer reach their destinations. However, this is really dangerous especially when driving through rough roads. Here’s another one!

Here’s how sophisticated jeepneys could be! This is a common sight in the Philippines’ capital—Manila. Though most jeepneys vary in style depending on their owners, they all have a common denominator. Fares are incredibly low here compared to riding taxis, buses, and railroad transits. Another thing is that you never have to worry about the ventilation here! You don’t need an air conditioning unit because its windows are definitely wide open to allow passengers to experience fresh air, as they call it. Moreover, this is also equipped with a window cover, commonly made of plastic, to shield the passengers from getting wet during rainy days. Amazing isn’t it? However, this is still a vehicle that contributes to the worsening air pollution in the area. But they are finding a way! I want to end this post with the image of their environmentally friendly electronic jeepney. Jeepneys of this kind are popularly running in the streets of a city near Manila.