When you’re heading down the chaotic streets of Manila, Philippines, you’ll like see the king of the road – the jeepney.
Click start to play today’s Spell It, where we leave behind the bus, the train or the ‘tube’ to look for unusual forms of public transport.
Jeepneys are a post-Second World War innovation and a beloved cultural symbol in the Philippines. These vehicles, which are repurposed old US army carriers, are usually painted with bright colours and outlandish accessories, and you can spot them from hundreds of metres away. However, the country is now phasing out its jeepneys and replacing them with more modern, efficient modes of public transport.
Unusual rides like the jeepney can be found all around the world. Here are a few you can look out for on your next vacation:
1. Trishaws
In the Malaysian city of Malacca, and other places around Asia, you’ll find trishaws, which have quickly become an Instagram favourite. These pedal-powered rickshaws have regained their popularity because they’ve gotten eccentric makeovers – perfect for tourists looking to update their social media stories. Decorated with neon lights, cartoonish designs and often accompanied by loud music, they’re like rolling nightclubs, and a fun way to move around a city.
2. Suspension monorail
Imagine the Metro hanging upside down – that’s what Wuhan, China’s hyper-modern monorail looks like. It completed its final trial in May this year, and is set to launch soon. The Optics Valley Photon train is suspended below a rain beam, and comprises two carriages that can accommodate up to 200 passengers. The train can travel up to 70km/h and offers passengers a 270-degree view of the city as it moves.
3. Toboggans
If you head to Madeira, Portugal, you have the opportunity of taking a seat on a wicker armchair and sliding down a hill. Since the mid-1800s, toboggans have been used as a form of public transport in the city, although nowadays, it’s mostly tourists who use this vehicle to descend hillside streets.
4. Amphibious buses
There’s no need to panic if your bus slips off the road into the water, in the Netherlands. The country’s Amfibus regularly splashes off the road, into the canals, where it immediately floats and cruises along the waterway before heading back onto the street. This part-bus, part-boat vehicle was built by Dutch Amphibious Transport, and can travel up to 96km/h on land, and 6.5 knots on water.
What do you think of these unusual modes of transport? Play today’s Spell It and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.
