Day 416: Tagaytay

May 23 - On recommendation, we take a day trip to a viewpoint. Walk to the Olivares Bus Station and take our first ride in a jeepney. These vehicles were originally Jeeps left by American soldiers after WWII, modified to carry more payload (passengers) by extending the bed. The first one we go in is completely full, meaning 20 passengers.

So, cram in, and for 30 pesos each we get to People’s Park in the Sky, about 30 minutes from Tagaytay. It is located on top of a steep hill.

From the People’s Park, there is a full 360 degree view of southern Luzon. Taal Lake to the south, Mt. Banashaw to the east, Manila and Laguna de Bay in the north.

Mt. Banashaw and rainstorms.

There really are a lot of pineapples around this part of the Philippines.

The concession area below the viewpoint. The sign in red says ‘Terrible’s Canteen’, and I assume this is just a misunderstanding of the word, not irony.

Take a series of two jeepneys back to Cityland. The jeepney cab and driver are open to the back, so payment is effected by passing the money to him and shouting the destination. The driver makes change while driving along. Unlike many other similar forms of transport, there never seems to be an assistant to take care of payments.

Philippines