I found traveling in the Philippines to be much more of a local experience than in the other countries I have been to in Southeast Asia. Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia are visited by so many tourists that they have a nice system of organized shuttles that make life so much easier for the traveler. Here in the Philippines there is no such thing - you take the local bus. Buses crowded to the point that not one more single person can squeeze in, people riding on top of the bus and hanging out the doors, bus drivers driving like maniacs and dodging all the suicidal sleeping dogs that like to lie in the middle of the road.
The only time I actually found the option of taking a shuttle versus the local bus was on the trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido in Palawan. By bus it’s an 8-9 hour hot, dusty, and bumpy journey and by shuttle it was only 6-7 hours in an air-con minibus. But there are a few downsides to taking a minibus. When it comes to slick mud you almost always get stuck unlike the bigger buses. Luckily the driver only made the “boys” get out and push the minibus out.
Stuck in the mud on the way to El Nido
Except for in a few of the bigger cities you will hardly see any taxi’s on the road. Everyone here drives a “trike” or “tricycle”. Basically a motorcycle with a side car. Some can even fit up to 7 people in them and you see them everywhere.
Riding in a trike!
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