How to get around Manila:
Basically you have four reasonable options:
1. Best is a CAR: having your own car means you'll never break a sweat riding in air-conditioned comfort. You can wear anything you want without fear of getting dirty. However if you are seriously considering driving yourself, you better realize fast that road conditions and other drivers are an extreme test of patience and quick reflexes. It's not for the light of heart. Other than that you have to consider the possibility of dealing w/ corruption.The consequence of honestly would be, in addition to paying a fine, losing your license and retrieving it. Gee, isn't that an efficient system for you. However, there are some honest officers out there. Maybe if I had my Jeep Wrangler I'd try driving there. Otherwise I'd use one of those cute Daihatsu Hi-Jet's/Suzuki Carry's I saw, maybe a Kia Pride, or better yet a Mitsubishi Lancer.
2. Better is a TAXI: for about P200 ($5 USD), they are always air-conditioned, best for dates b/c you don't look cheap. :) However they are known to be dangerous. Drivers have been known to set up ambush points where they bring victims to certain locations, then stop the taxi while a group of associates take everything you have. (White Nissan Sentra coupes are rumored to be part of a crime syndicate, but that's probably an urban legend) Minor bad things are that they milk the meter, by driving the long way they can charge a lot, other times the meter is just plain broken or "adjusted". Other problems are that they don't go everywhere in greater Manila. Most taxis don't like going to Marikina b/c it's too far from the city. They almost always want you to pay for the fare going back. Best bet is to travel with a friend. Otherwise, if you sort of know the city, you can get around all right during the day. But on late weekend nights at about 3am, they might be the only things on the road.
3. Good is a TAMARAW FX: (also known plainly as an FX) It costs just P20-30 ($.50-75 cents). This vehicle looks like an old Nissan Stanza wagon, it carries a driver w/ 10 passengers; 2 in the front, 4 in the middle, and 4 in the back. They are comfortable b/c they have air-conditioning (well most of them but sometimes they are broken). This is perhaps the safest of the three public transports. It's rather difficult for robbers to commit their crime and the driver can't scam you b/c he follows a fixed route and has a fixed passenger rate. They are easy to ride once you know the routes. Personally this is my favorite public transport. You don't sweat and they are much cleaner and less crowded than a jeepney, while being more affordable than a taxi, as well as safer.
4. Fair is a JEEPNEY: When you have no choice you can ride the jeepney. It only costs P2-3($.05 cents!!!) Crime is relatively low on jeepneys, but it does happen. Typically gangs of four or more ride the jeepney, then one set of thugs blocks the rear aisle exits while another puts a knife to the driver's throat, the jeepney keeps driving while the robbers collect wallets, purses, watches and jewelry. Then the jeepney comes to a stop and the robbers flee and disappear into the crowds and traffic. In light of this, I feel that it's still pretty safe. However they're not very comfortable. It's an open-air vehicle so there's no air-conditioning. The routes and prices are fixed so there's usually no rip off by the driver. Except when they know you're a tourist, so count your change. Also, I guarantee that during rush hour traffic you will only find a jeepney b/c the taxis and FXs will already be full.
Other Transportation:
5. Worse is the BUS-if you don't have a car or there are no taxis available, the only way you can get downtown or back in reasonable comfort is by bus. There are air-conditioned and open-air buses. The air-conditioned types are pretty nice when they are not filled to capacity, sometimes you'll get a bus with a TV that plays the latest pirated movie, otherwise just take a nap. Normally you are taking a bus b/c its rush hour and during that time its standing room only. Basically it's crowded and confusing. You don't really know where you are going. One time the driver didn't even know where he was going and had to ask for directions! Beware of vendors that pretend to be selling tickets, they ask you for "one or two". Be sure to ask "one or two" of what? Because otherwise you get "one or two" sodas. Funny scam.
6. Ok is a TRICYCLE (also known as a trike), This hybrid motorbike and carriage is just for local transport around the neighborhood. They don't travel on the freeway and they are rarely found in the business districts like Makati. To get around parts of Marikina it would cost me anywhere from P5-20 ($.10-50 cents) It's kinda funny to think that although you could technically walk the distance a normal trike would take you, you'd rather not. Why? Because it's so hot. You would be drenched by sweat and burned by the sun by the time you got there. Believe me, I know, I tried walking from my lola's to my tita's house, a comparatively short distance back home of less than a mile. However I was so dirty and dripping w/ sweat by the time I got there that I never did it again. By the way, this was at night and it was still hot.
7. LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT), I have recently tried the LRT and MRT (MetroStar) lines. It costs between P9.50 and P15 to ride. The LRT is not limited by traffic jams due to its elevated rail nature. The MRT spans 22 km end to end. The train has three carriages that can each accommodate 80 passengers seated and an additional 314 standing passengers. The LRT runs from Monumento to Baclaran while the MRT runs from North Avenue to Taft. Both lines meet near at Taft. The frequency of trains arriving is very good. Thee stations are very clean and the cabs are airconditioned. The above ground views are nice. The only concern you would have are pickpockets because it can still get crowded in there. |
