I will admit, we use cabs for most of our travel, but there are some unique travel options available here in Davao. A cab will run you 40 pesos at pick up and a 10 min ride will typically be under 100 pesos ($2.15 US). The cabs take you right to your door and they are air conditioned.
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| Davao Jeepney |
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| Jeepney Queue at Victoria Mall |
When you get comfortable with the area, get adventurous and try a Jeepney. Jeepneys are small vans, trucks, buses, etc that have turned the back into an enclosed set of benches for riders. Jeepneys drive back and forth on the main streets. It is 8 pesos (20 cents US) to ride a Jeepney. They stop anywhere along their route if you wave them down. If you are standing on the side of their route, the driver will honk to ask if you want him to stop for you. You hop in through the open back, grab a seat and pass your money up to the driver through other passengers. Believe it or not, if you need change, the other passengers will pass that back to you - amazing! When you want to get off, you rap your knuckles on the roof or try to get the driver's attention. Each Jeepney has its route painted on the side, but other than that the decorations are up to the driver. These things are colorful! Some are even themed, there was a Megadeth themed Jeepney that I wasn't able to get a picture of. You would be amazed how many people can fit in one of these during rush hour or when it starts raining.
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| Inside a Jeepney |
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| Packed in a Jeepney |
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| Three types of transportation |
If you are headed down side streets, there are other options - pedicabs and motorcycle cabs/jeepneys. These are both small passenger cabs bolted onto either a bicycle or a motorcycle. These are not as colorful, but useful for smaller neighborhoods where Jeepneys do not have routes. Pedicabs are a little daunting, they are so small and slow - but on sidestreets they are great. The pedicab will run you about 15 pesos (40 cents US), but you want to tip the driver after all the peddling in the heat! The motorcycle cabs are a little more, but can fit 3 people or more if they have a Jeepney frame. After you get over the fact that the driver is sitting on a motorcycle seat next to you, it's kind of fun.
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