THE COLORFUL JEEPNEY

Another thing you have to do in the Philippines is riding in or on a jeepney! Why? Because it's fun! It's cheap and it's windy, no need of an air conditioner!

But what are these jeepneys and where do they come from? The U.S troops left old military jeeps back in WW2.

The Filipinos opened the back, added two benches, gave them a colorful and unique design, decorative ornaments, flashy paintings, stars, dots and sometimes even extra lights. And just like that, the Philippine jeepney became a cultural sign of the country.

An average jeepney can carry 16 - 20 passengers, two up front next to the driver and 14 - 18 seated in the back facing each other on two benches. Well, that's the normal case, but often you'll see an extra body hanging outside or onto the back, or people even occupy the roof.

For some reason, mostly these "outside" passengers are young and male. You will be surprised, how much a jeepney can carry.

To get a sense of the place from the local’s perspective and to see how people interact, Jeepneys are a fantastic way to explore the country. So don't forget to hop on one whenever you have the chance!