Jeepney

Manila is a sprawling dusty city choked with cars, buses and lorries which means it takes ages to get anywhere. Also weaving about on the road are tricycles, which are a kind of motorbike with side cars that act as taxis, and jeepneys.  The latter first appeared after World War 2 when the locals converted jeeps left by the Americans to accommodate passengers in the back. Today they look like stretch jeeps with long rows of benches in the back for ferrying passengers. They are all decorated beautifully with garish paint, ribbons, mini catholic shrines etc. This particular one was near Rizal park, named after a revolutionary who was executed there and who is credited as playing an important role in gaining independence from the Spanish in 1898.