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The thing I enjoyed most about my recent trip to Hong Kong was how easy it was to get from one place to another.
All set to leave Manila!
Hong Kong is the mecca of public transport systems. The trains arrive on time, the buses are efficient, and the trams are cheap. The Octopus card eliminates the need to fish out for spare change when commuting and the confusion that comes with handling foreign currency. There are signs everywhere, signs on where you are, signs on how to get to where you want to be, tactile markings for the blind etc., making the city very pedestrian friendly.
The thing that frustrates me most about traveling is how I hate Manila after, how in other countries they’ve found simple solutions to make things better, faster, and more efficient and how we’re stuck in a rut. Our public transport system sucks, jeepneys are noisy and are almost always never full so why do we keep them on major roads? Bus conductors are rude and are usually dishonest with fares so why don’t we replace them with automated systems? The MRT is an effin’ disaster waiting to happen because of the overloading during rush hour so why don’t we add additional trains? Why are there barkers when they have no practical use? Why do our trains have different tracks?
My Octopus card is my bestfriend.
Central MTR Station
Central Pier, Star Ferry Station
Double-decker trams on the street
The bus to Ocean Park
Inside the MTR
The Peak tram
Inside a minibus
The mid-levels escalator
BONUS: Keri koya inside the Star Ferry
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Hi Koya! It’s the same here in LA. Loving the public transport. And the metro card is okay sa alright in buses and trains.
I think may sinubukan silang i-implement dati na contactless smart card sa MRT pero never nag-take off. Parang ang simple lang kasi – pag efficient ang transport system mas konti ang mangangailangan ng kotse a.k.a. mas maluwag ang kalsada, mababawasan ang traffic and mas magiging less dependent tayo sa imported gas.
Agree on all points. Well-said.
An efficient transport system is the way to go UP for the Philippines.
Let’s go Mar Roxas! Lelz.
Exactly the same feeling I always have whenever I visit Singapore. Everything seemed well planned. As a foreigner once pointed out, we should stop racing towards the lowest common denominator. Filipinos always try to look for the lowest standard that everybody will find agreeable instead of pursuing the best that we can reach but not everyone might like. :/
I agree with that wise foreigner’s observation.
syempre nagtanong ako…bakit kaya wala tayong double decker bus?!
ay sasabit pala sila sa mga kung anu ano! bwahaha
Sasabit sila sa anik-anik na power lines, and I can’t imagine our bus drivers handling double-deckers. Ngayon pa nga lang parang tataob na yung bus sa kanila eh.
“The thing that frustrates me most about traveling is how I hate Manila after, how in other countries they’ve found simple solutions to make things better, faster, and more efficient and how we’re stuck in a rut.”
Haaay. Sinabi mo pa! I don’t understand why the Philippines doesn’t put more effort into improving things like this. Now I want to go to Hong Kong and commute. Haha
Grabe yung amount of time wasted in traffic sa Manila no?
As much as I wish the public transport system in Manila can improve drastically, I think that is impossible at this point. Sadly, huling-huli na talaga tayo. What you experienced in Hong Kong is what is merely basic public transport in many countries. Sad reality pero wala e. What can we do.
And I agree, ano ba talagang silbi ng barkers? Lalo lang ginagawang spoon-fed yung mga pasaheros. No different from those parking dudes na nanghihingi ng barya after kunwari kang alalayan sa pag atras ng kotse kahit di mo naman kailangan.
Siguro dahil sa kulang din sa trabaho kaya these people invent these ‘jobs’ for them to nick off a buck or two from motorists. Nakakainis yung barkers kasi most of them are rude, like tengene mo koya wag kang manutsot or manigaw.
I hate the MRT with every fiber of my being. During rush hour, it’s always jam-packed and it can take hours to board a train because there are so many passengers.
I wish Manila had automated buses, too; it’d make for less arguments with conductors over the fare.
We can hate the MRT with all our hearts pero nakakainis na at the end of the day it’s still the fastest and cheapest way to commute through EDSA. Sana ibenta na siya kay MVP or something, I’m all for an increase in fares if that would improve their service.
I love how you can cross the street even with your eyes closed. Yes, I tried doing that. Haha!
You’re one brave soul! Sobrang praning ko when crossing the street kahit saan!
Hey there,
one big SIGH for the comments on this thread … kasi lahat sila totoo
And we keep on letting old rusty cars run on our streets. Hahaha. Basta tumatakbo pa, keri pa i-renew ang vehicle registration!
“The thing that frustrates me most about traveling is how I hate Manila after”
I had the same reaction after going back to Manila. I loved moving around at Hong Kong because of the efficient public transportation system. It’s also a joy walking down their streets. There’s less pollution and most of all, people there are disciplined. That alone makes a lot of difference.
And yes, there’s always a reason to hate those good-for-nothing barkers.
Hi Jace, I’ve been dreaming of becoming the DOTC secretary since my Hong Kong trip and taking the barkers off the streets. Hee.
That’s amazing! And I’ll be the DILG secretary giving them jobs. It’s not bad to dream, right? Haha.
Sounds like a good plan to me!