Jeepney

The attractions of a destination not just the physical buildings to admire her beauty. No less can make you feel its uniqueness is the story of everyday people, like that of the Philippines.

In the Philippines, there is a main mode of public transport for residents. Jepnjey his name. Jepney an abandoned vehicle that US soldiers after World War II.

When the United States sent an army to protect its territory from enemy attacks in the Philippines, namely Japan. Japan itself is almost controlled the whole region. US military equipment brought one of them is epney. World War II ended, even this vehicle to be used by the public left the Philippines.

Interior jeepney then modified so that it can be used for public transport and unloading of eight passengers. The shape is similar to minibus glance, but jeepney longer. Interestingly, the jeepney-jeepney also has a sound system to play music whenever jeepney operation. Thus, passengers will be entertained music vigorously, and will be more festive when meeting other jeepney that was also put to music.

jeepney fare Peso about 8 cents per passenger per trip, near or far. Uniquely, when here passengers had approached the driver to give fare, ride a jeepney not. Passengers at the very end gives the costs to passengers in side, the relay continues to be passed to get to the driver. In this way, the cost of course be given before the passengers get off because the goal is to accelerate the process.

jeepney has become an indispensable part of everyday Filipinos. Not surprisingly, there is a special activity to raise the prestige of the jeepney, titled Jeepney Festival. When the festival is held in July, the jeepney owners will enhance their vehicles with colorful paintings.

Totora boat

Uros island located on a lake titicaca, peru. Lake titicaca is the highest lake of the world, which is 4000 meters above sea level. Locals live by hunting, fishing and of tourist visits to the place. Titicaca lake becomes a significant population growth since the pre inca indian tribe, called uros tribe living in artificial islands made of floating reeds (totora). These islands have become a major tourist attraction for Peru, drawing drive from the lakeside town of puno. The purpose of the settlements on the island initially defensive, and if it appears the threat they could be moved. The island even supervised a watchtower made almost entirely of reeds.

Totora is a kind of native cattail growing in the lake. Solid roots into a top layer, which is decomposed to be replaced regularly to accumulate more reeds above the layer below. Changes in the size of the island territory more are created as needed. Surface islands uneven, thin, and walk in it feels like walking on a waterbed. And we must be vigilant in their stride so as not to fall on a thin layer of totora (reeds) that our feet do not vanish into lake

uros tribe also tend to use reeds as diet and medication, when
reed is pulled, the bottom of which is white is often eaten for iodine. Ethics sick, wrapped around a reed in pain to absorb it.
Also if it's hot outside, they roll out the white part of the reed in their hands and split open, put the reed on their foreheads. At this stage, it is very cold to the touch. The white part of the reed is also used to help relieve a hangover associated with alcohol. They also make reed flower tea. The food is cooked by the fire were placed in a pile of rocks.

Floating islands protected by puno bay and is home to over 2000 residents uros tribe. They live by fishing, weaving and now, in the tourism sector. They catch fish for themselves or sell it on the mainland. Uros also hunt birds such as gulls, ducks and flamingos, and menernaknya on the island. They also run a craft stalls devoted to the many tourists visiting during the 10 months in the first year.

Is a job that is not easy to keep this floating islands. Because of the occupants also deengan arrival of many tourists now, they have little time to keep everything, so they have to work harder to for the maintenance of their island. Tourism provides an opportunity for indigenous finances, while simultaneously slowly affect their traditional lifestyle.

Polar Rover

Did you know that the vehicle used to see polar bears in the wild in northern Canada was originally a fire control truck at the airport? They then redesigned to cope with icy conditions were rough and bumpy and rocky tundra make travel convenient for tourists who want to see the icon of the Arctic.

Explore the Churchill Wildlife Management Area in our luxurious Polar Rover.  These vehicles are heated, wheelchair assessable, reclining seats, easily opened windows and have comfortable washrooms with flush toilets.  All our vehicles have outdoor grated see-through decks and the vehicle height is designed to ensure passenger safety and comfort.

Because of the unique requirements to keep people safe from the polar bears yet enable them to safely view the polar bears, these vehicles have to be custom built for both rough terrain travel and passenger comfort.  They are constructed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada by Don Walkoski

Although massive, our polar rovers put down a low 4lbs per square inch in ground pressure minimizing damage to the fragile arctic landscape which is due to the large tires that we use.  The machines burn an average of 12-15 gallons of fuel per day because of the low gear ratios and small 210 hp diesel engines that power the vehicle.

There are only two operations in Churchill that have permits to access the full Wildlife Management Area (WMA) where the best polar bear viewing occurs. Naturally, NatHab and GWB run one of those operations and we cherish those permits! Since our goal is to provide our guests with the best wildlife viewing, we travel in our exclusive Polar Rovers along the pristine tundra and remote shoreline to access the prime bear viewing and photography areas. Please be aware that some operators provide their guests with ‘bus-like vehicles’ that take travelers along the paved and gravel road to Halfway Point, which is, naturally, halfway to the best viewing areas. If you’re going to Churchill one time in your life, we encourage you to gain the full superior experience.

The original tundra truck used to view bears was invented 30 years ago. It was a really cool concept that has now been improved upon. Our partner in Manitoba – a world-renowned specialty vehicle architect and designer – has created a new type of superior vehicle – The Polar Rover – driven by a new and unique drive train that carefully and safely allows us to patrol the tundra with veritably no chance of breakdowns. Additionally, the elite suspension system, created specifically for our vehicles, has improved passenger comfort and ensured the most pleasant polar experience for our guests. All vehicles have flush toilet facilities (not drop buckets which tend to smell) and offer plenty of heat for comfort. But the vehicles go way beyond comfort: they are truly remarkable machines, consistently giving our guests the closest of polar bear encounters. Built into the rear viewing platforms are innovative corrugated steel mesh floors so we can view curious bears that may walk beneath our platforms – remarkably this allows us to be safely within just inches of the bears! Additionally, inside our vehicles, guests can view and photograph bears through our sliding windows, which we open and close in accordance with the action.

At Natural Habitat Adventures, we are “Nature People”, constantly focusing on what we can do to enhance our guests’ nature travel experiences. One of the most fundamental elements of a great nature expedition is having extremely small groups – it may cost a little more but in the end we know it’s well worth it! This is why we limit our groups to approximately 16 guests, even though our vehicles can hold 30-50 passengers!

our round-trip air transportation from Winnipeg to Churchill is included in the program fee. The vast majority of our fall trips make use of our exclusive private charter aircraft, providing us with the ability to travel to and from Churchill at the most convenient times. Generally we depart Winnipeg at approximately 9:00-9:30 am and arrive in Churchill in time for lunch. On the return, we normally leave in the afternoon so we can maximize our time in Churchill.

To us, there is no question that one of the most important aspects of any adventure is the quality of its leaders. In our effort to offer the best nature vacations, we provide the very best Expedition Leaders... it’s that simple. Our Expedition Leaders travel throughout the world leading small groups of guests on specialized nature journeys, and, though many have one or more Master’s degrees or Ph.D.s, they are chosen for their good nature as well as their good grades. Each year, we fly our leaders from around the world to an exotic locale for annual training (most recently it was held in the canyons of Moab, Utah) to share ideas and skills that simply cannot be learned in school. In Churchill, our Expedition Leaders and staff have an average of six years guiding polar bear trips and many more years guiding bear and Arctic expeditions! This experience truly is unmatched in the industry. Click here for bios on Natural Habitat’s Expedition leaders.

Our specially designed exclusive Tundra Lodge is a remarkable rolling hotel placed in an area of high bear density in the beginning of the polar bear season. Recently constructed and meticulously maintained, the lodge has taken an old concept and perfected it for privacy, comfort, optimum bear viewing and safety. It accommodates up to 35-plus travelers (we limit our trips to 28-30 travelers) in individual single compartments similar to a room on a train. We have installed six full flush toilets in individual bathrooms and four single hot water showers to add some of the comforts of home. Our large lounge area with sliding windows provides wonderful bear viewing from the warmth of the “living room.” Alternatively, there are several large outdoor platforms—each with mesh steel flooring so our guests can come within just inches of bears!—to view and photograph in the elements. Additionally our full dining room is staffed by world-class chefs adding an element of luxury to this renowned adventure.

Because of our reputation for running the finest nature expeditions on the planet, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has selected Natural Habitat Adventures as their exclusive conservation travel provider, a designation that makes us very proud. We work annually in connection with WWF scientists to ensure that our Expedition Leaders are provided with the most current information on natural history and conservation. Further, we gain access to many areas and scientists around the globe via our long-standing relationship. While our trips are surely your vacation, it is our responsibility to be the best in natural history!

Aerial Tramway

Let’s start with the highest. To do that we must go to Venezuela and the Cableway of Merida. This is a system of four aerial tramways that connect the city of Merida with Tip Mirror. The tramway itself goes from 1640 meters to 4765 meters and that makes it both the highest and longest tourist aerial tramway in the world. The views from the cabins are almost like being in a plane. 

Strange how most people do not mind being enclosed in what, according to physics, is not much more than a navigated catapult – that is a passenger plane. However, a good percentage of those who will blithely escape to the sun in a 747 will not step on to an aerial tramway, suspended at most a few hundred meters above the ground, for fear of their lives. However, even though aviation is much safer than many other forms of transport, being a passenger in an aerial tramway is, in turn, safer than being taking a flight in a plane.

Lowest
The lowest, on the other hand, is the Masada system in Israel. The station at the top is a mere thirty three meters above sea level. It consists of a single support pillar and twp cabins. Its length of nine hundred meters seems and elevatory change of two hundred and ninety meters is enough to put many off.
However, the journey by foot is daunting and dangerous and what lies at the top is well worth the ‘risk’ of taking the aerial tramway. In AD 72 it was the scene of a siege – almost one thousand Jews rebelled against the might of Rome. When the siege was finally broken its Jewish inhabitants committed suicide rather than give themselves us. As suicide is frowned upon in Judaism, lots were drawn and then, turn by dreadful turn, killed each other.

Tallest Support Pillar
Many British people reading this may wonder why I am referring to aerial lifts instead of cable cars. This is in deference to American readers who associate the latter with the land based systems found in cities such as San Francisco. However, many travelers, especially those who favor skiing, also know the French and German words, which are téléphérique and Seilbahn.
Of course, whatever you call the system, the pillars which support them are vital. The tallest support pillar can be found scaling the Kitzsteinhorn in Austria. Built in 1966 it towers an incredible one hundred and thirteen (point six) meters high, although it was originally ten meters smaller (having been extended twice). The concrete block on which it stands has sides of seventeen meters in length.

Tramway as Mass Transit!
Although the numbers of people who use aerial tramways as tourists are vast, the record for the amount of people to use a system must involve it being part of a mass transit system. One would normally associate mass transit with speed rather than the slow grace of the aerial tramway.
However, spanning the East River in New York City, the Roosevelt Island Tramway connects the latter with Manhattan. It began service in 1976 and has since then carried almost thirty million people. Until recently with the introduction of the Portland system it was the only mass transit aerial tramway in the USA. And yes, you did see it in the Spider-man film.

Longest
If you dislike the idea of travelling in an aerial tramway, then it may well be a good idea to avoid the Sandia Peak in New Mexico, USA. It is the longest passenger aerial tramway in the world. It has an incredible span of 4,467 meters and so is not for anyone who may feel airsick after a short amount of time. Starting out at the edge of Albuquerque it reaches the crest of the Sandia Mountains fifteen minutes later.
Those who operate the tramway call the journeys ‘flights’ and four each hour leave the base and the station at the top. It is a double reversible – which means that as one tram is going up another is coming down.

Double-decker experience
If you want a double-decker experience, then London is not the only city! The third largest mountain in Japan, Mount Hotaka, has this system. The Shinhotoaka Ropeway Number Two allows spectacular views of the mountain. With the double-decker system a massive ninety people can take this aerial tramway trip of approximately seven minutes. For many, of course, this might be six minutes and fifty nine seconds too long as it rises eight hundred and forty meters in that space of time and the span is 2.6 kilometers.
One of the oldest aerial transport systems can be found in South Africa and perhaps the oldest familial connection. The Table Mountain system opened in 1929 with a single cable system that carried twenty five passengers and was sold in 1993 by the son of one of the founders. Now, one of the problems with a single cable system is the wind. The cars are quite liable to sway in a slight wind making the journey something akin to being riding a very slow, long wave.
Fortunately this system now runs on two cables which make it very much more stable and it is also now capable of carrying sixty five people. This upgrade happened in 1997 and much fewer people are now a green hue when alighting at the mountain top.

Fastes
Currently the world’s fastest aerial tramway is the Genting Skyway in Malaysia. A famous mountain resort, it is also South East Asia’s longest system. It is a hugely popular tourist destination and a slightly strange on at that. As well as being the home of an ancient rainforest which has a unique ecosystem, Genting is also where Malaysians can find their only legal land-based casino.
So, no doubt, there is an odd mix of tourist visiting this place and riding this system! I have found it difficult to find information on the actual speed of this system, even though it is regularly boasted as the fastest – so any help – please put a comment in the box below!

Bamboo Train

The bamboo train is one of the world's all-time classic rail journeys. From O Dambong, on the east bank 3.7km south of Battambang's Old Stone Bridge, the train runs southeast to O Sra Lav, via half an hour of clicks and clacks along warped, misaligned rails and vertiginous bridges left by the French.

Each bamboo train - known in Khmer as a norry consists of a 3m long wood frame, covered lengthwise with slats made of ultra light bamboo, that rests on two barbell-like bogies, the aft one connected by fan belts to a 6HP gasoline engine. Pile on 10 or 15 people or up to three tonnes of rice, crank it up and you can cruise along at about 15km/h.

The genius of the system is that it offers a brilliant solution to the most ineluctable problem faced on any single-track line: what to do when two trains going opposite directions meet. In the case of bamboo trains, the answer is simple: one car is quickly disassembled and set on the ground beside the tracks so the other can pass. The rule is that whichever car has fewer passengers has to cede priority, though motorbikes pull rank, so if you bring one along - or have a convincing inflatable moto decoy - you'll get VIP treatment.

What happens, you may ask, when a bamboo train meets a real train barrelling down the track? First, Cambodian trains don't barrel, they crawl. Second, bamboo train conductors know the real train's schedule. And third, the real train can be heard tooting its horn from a great distance, providing more than enough time to dismount and disassemble.

Hiring a private bamboo train from O Dambong to O Sra Lav costs USaround US$8, though it's much cheaper to take a share-norry with locals transporting veggies, charcoal or wood to market.

Sadly, rumour has it that bamboo trains will soon be banned, especially if the rail line to Phnom Penh is as planned upgraded

Ker-bump. The carriage goes over another joint in the track. Although to call this a ‘carriage’ is misleading. Ker-bump. I’m hurtling and hurting down a railway on nothing more than bamboo. It’s almost like a raft on wheels, this little contraption. Ker-bump. And at about 50 kilometres an hour, I finally realise how imperfectly flawed a train track can be. Again, ker-bump.

This is the Bamboo Railway of Battambang a surviving section of the rustic Cambodian public transport system that once stretched across much of the country.

It’s a cheap and simple mode of travel. Passengers are transported on the flat beds by a driver who stands or sits at the back and uses a small motor to propel the carriages along. There are no brakes and it reminds me of the small fishing boats I’ve used to get to islands off the coast. As with the boats, it’s best just to look ahead and not think too much about what would happen if something went wrong.

I don’t imagine real trains have much in the way of suspension but at least they provide a certain cushioning from the regular shocks. This close to the ground, though, every jolt sends my teeth crashing together, ker-bump after jarring kerbump, until I leave my mouth agape to prevent a fractured molar.

It’s probably partly because these bamboo carriages are so light. The bed is made of just bamboo and the frame from a slightly sturdier wood. It sits on two metal axles connected to the small wheels. It’s so light, in fact, then when the driver meets another train coming in the opposite direction, he just lifts the whole thing off the rails to allow the oncoming vehicle to pass.

He also lifts the bamboo carriage off the track and turns it around when we reach the designated ‘end of the line’. Once again, to call it a station would be misleading. It’s really just a collection of shops trying to sell drinks, shirts and scarves to the tourists. The bamboo which brought us here may be strong but the real strength is in the currency it transports and the local vendors fawn over each new arrival.

There’s no real destination for the Battambang leg of the Bamboo Train it’s all about the experience. It’s just a little show for tourists and a ‘tourist police officer’ organises things when you first arrive and matches you with a driver. There are plenty of us who seem willing to pay the five dollars to ride the twenty minutes in each direction. That’s a considerable sum in this part of the world and there’s a certain incongruity that the locals once used these trains because of how cheap they were. (On a side note, the trains were sometimes used as minesweepers after the Khmer Rouge period and passengers could ride on them for free… albeit with quite a risk!)

Soon it could be the end of the line for the Bamboo Train, though. The Cambodian rail system is being upgraded and that would mean replacing these tracks with better ones for bigger train and the little homemade carriages would no longer work. It’s not clear when this might happen the project has been slow to start and chronically behind schedule. It seems inevitable, though. But until then, it’s still fun to see a bit of the old culture even if it’s just put on for the cameras. For now the departure point must also serve as the arrival. The little wooden train is lifted up and turned around. The return journey along the track begins. Kerbump.

Toobogan

Madeira is an island in the country of Portugal. It lies in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is famous for tourist panorama and the beautiful natural scenery. On this island we can take a trip down the hill paved using toboogan.

Toboogan past is a means of transportation that resembles a small train. This unique means of transportation has been used since 1880. Now, toobogan be used as an attraction for tourists. This tool speeds up to 45 km / h.

I’ve already given you a bit of an overview of the island of Madeira that I stopped at (as our one and only port day) on my Transatlantic cruise over to Europe in April/May (you can see how far behind I’ve gotten on my travel blog here). I wanted to give separate posts about the two highlights of the tour I took there, however: the cable car ride and the toboggan ride. I started with the cable car ride a couple of weeks ago and this week we’ll cover the toboggan ride.

When I was researching what to do in Funchal, one of the things that kept popping up was the “toboggan” rides that were offered. While reviews ranged from “It was a horrible experience and I nearly died,” to “The highlight of our trip,” I’m always down to try unique experiences and I hadn’t heard of something like this being offered elsewhere, so I decided to go for it.

The “toboggans” are actually more like sleighs and the “drivers” are actually just local men who look incredibly bored with their jobs and run behind the sleigh attempting to keep you moving without causing a serious accident. The “ride” occurs down an actual road, mind you, so I did see a close call with a car and the sleigh in front of me. Additionally, the sleighs are in no way stable and the drivers are only loosely in control (at least from my experience) so the ride itself is a bit anxiety-provoking if you’re at all concerned about toppling over and tumbling out of the sleigh onto the roadway while traveling at pretty decent speeds. It’s definitely not scary and would be a bore for thrill seekers, but it’s not like riding around in a tour bus either. I did read some accounts online of a couple of wipe-outs that left the riders with bruised ribs and broken bones.

Luckily, my sleigh remained upright and I neither wiped out nor sustained any injuries.

Just a tip for single travelers – it appeared they do not allow singles to go down in a Toboggan alone so I was stuck in a pretty tight sleigh with a random stranger and you’ll likely be in the same boat if you go.

Ice Angel

Ice Angel Trucking Inc is an acitve carrier operating under United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Number 1491946.
Carrier is licensed to carry hazmat rated materials from the dirt asphalt, millings, cargo categories.
At the time of its last MCS-150 form filing, Ice Angel Trucking Inc covered 6,000 miles.

In the summer of Madelin Island is an island that can be connected to the mainland by ferry. However, the situation changed after the state ice attack just kidding. In the winter, the water freezes, a ferry that usually serve routes could not operate. Therefore, the ship is used ice equipped aircraft propellers.

Floating Bus Hippo

   
What's A Hippo? A Hippo is a unique 40 passenger vessel that offers land and water sightseeing tours of Toronto. Come splash into Lake Ontario on our "Bus that Floats!". Experience one of Canada's most beautiful cities with all its historical sites and its magnificent waterways.

As the name suggests, this unique means of transportation is the bus drift. The point is floating in the water. So you can take the bus over the river, exciting is not it? Hippo bus is able to accommodate up to 40 passengers. This transport is used for the tourists in the water at the same toured overland tour in the City of Toronto.

Looks like fun ya. Buss Hippo offers the experience along the beautiful urban areas through water and land. Guaranteed you will feel satisfied during the tour, which lasted for 90 minutes.

Henrietta the amphibious Hippo is scooting around Victoria by land and sea to prepare for the 2013 tourist season. You can't miss her.

The 40-foot-long bus is bright yellow with cartoon hippos painted on its exterior. It is one of three hippo buses brought to Victoria by tour company owner Geoffrey Lind, who operated a similar business for 12 years in Toronto. Two other hippo buses are parked while Henrietta is being used for test drives on the road and in the water. "She is performing well," Daria Yu, the company's manager, said Wednesday. New staff are being trained at the same time. The goal is to run tours from April 1 to Oct. 31 next year. Passengers will get a land tour, ride the bus into the water, and continue on land.

Henrietta is participating in the Esquimalt Celebration of Light parade starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 4. "The other hippos are hibernating right now," Yu joked.

This past summer, Greater Victoria tourism officials lauded the hippo tours, saying more attractions are needed.

Tourism brings about $1 billion to the local economy every year, according to Tourism Victoria. But operators are getting used to living with uncertainty as visitor numbers fluctuate depending on everything from the weather to currency fluctuations. Tourists are increasingly making travelling decisions at the last minute and are tending to book shorter stays than in past years.

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is allowing the hippo to use the James Bay Boat Launch. No final agreements have been signed to date, said Rebecca Penz, GVHA spokeswoman.

Hippo Tours has been working with Transport Canada, which is responsible for certifying vessels, vehicles and operators.

Henrietta Hippo has a certificate that is good for one year and expires on Oct. 16, Transport Canada spokeswoman Jillian Glover said in a statement. "The other vessels - Harry Hippo and the Happy Hippo - have not been inspected yet for an annual certificate to carry passengers."

Harry Hippo, A unique 40 passenger vessel that offers land and water sightseeing tours of Toronto. Come splash into lake Ontario on our "Buss the Floats!". Experience on the Canada's most beautiful cities with all its historical sites and its magnificent waterways. The city tour of downtown Toronto takes you past some of the city's major landmarks such as Hockey Hall of Fame, Hummingbird Center, Air Canada Center, Molson Amphitheater, IMAX, Eton Center, Osgood Hall, Old and New City Hall, Toronto's waterfront and Ontario Place. 90 Minutes tour is uninterrupted and is fully narrated by our tour escort, to provide with some of the history of Toronto and historical landmark. Hippo is driven by a marin licensed captain to ensure a comfort and safety tour. "Harry Hippo" is amazing vehicle, of Toronto.

One of the amphibious tour buses (known as Harry) operated by Toronto Hippo Tours made the mistake of chugging into the channel between the CNE and Ontario Place which was restricted due to the Air Show. A police boat came roaring over, with the officers yelling "Turn around!". The cop in back is waving his finger around in circles to make the point understood. Of course this was an exciting incident for the passengers who then all waved and took pictures of the police as they waved back. Comedy is everywhere if you look for it.

When the Hippo Bus Tours Happen:
Toronto Hippo Bus Tours run from May to October with trips every hour on the hour between 11am and 5pm. In the peak summer months of July and August, an extra tour is added daily at 6pm. Always try to book in advance, as many trips do sell out.

Length of the Tour:
The tour lasts around 90 minutes, with traffic being a small variable. Seating is first come, first served so you'll want to get there at least 20 minutes early, if not more. That said, no seat on the Hippo Bus is actually a bad seat, but it's still nice to have your pick. This is especially true if you've got more than two people and want to have several of the bench seats close together.

Where to Board the Hippo Bus:
The Toronto Hippo Bus route begins and ends outside of the Hippo Tours offices at 151 Front Street West. That's on the south side of Front, right near Simcoe Street. It's just a few minutes walk west of Union Station, before you reach the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and well before the CN Tower.

Of course, the fact that there's usually a giant yellow bus parked at the curb makes the place pretty easy to spot.

Where the Hippo Bus Goes:
The land portion of the Hippo Bus tour includes Yonge Street, the edge of Chinatown, the U of T area, Queen West near Spadina, part of the harbourfront and the CN Tower/Rogers Centre area.

The water portion is in the interior bay created by Ontario Place and out near the wind turbine by Exhibition Place. The Hippo Bus does not go to the Toronto Islands or in the water near Queens Quay.

Prices and Payment:
An adult trip costs $38 with seniors 65+ and students aged 13-17 saving $5. Tours for children 3-12 are $25 and it's $3 for kids under 3.

There are savings available for families of 4 or more and groups of 10 or more, plus the buses are available for charter. For any of these situations, visit the Toronto Hippo Tours official website for more details.

Tickets can be purchased online at TorontoHippoTours.com, by phone at 416-703-4476, or in person at 151 Front Street West.

Hippo Gifts:
Although they don't advertise them anywhere on the website, you can buy gift certificates to send someone else on a Hippo Bus adventure. As well, if you know someone who loves hippos in general and are looking for stuffed hippos or other hippo-related paraphernalia, the Hippo Tours office at 151 Front Street West has a wide selection for you to chose from.

Safety and Accessibility:
There are life jackets provided under the seats of the Hippo Bus, and just like on an airplane your guide will give you a quick demo on how to use them before you hit the water. Things stay dry inside except for perhaps a little spray on the most windy of days, and the water portion of the tour is taken at a slow cruising speed.

Climbing stairs is required to board the Hippo Bus and there is no bathroom on board. The seats are similar to what you would find on a school bus - benches suitable for two without any armrests or other structure.

The Tourist Experience:
Designed for tourists, the Hippo Bus Tour gives an overview of the city by land, pointing out several major landmarks and key neighborhoods that visitors will likely want to return to and explore. The water portion is mostly for the novelty, although it does provide a few nice views of Ontario Place. It's certainly a fun way to get an overview of the city, especially early in a visit.

What's in it for Local Residents:
If you're from Toronto a Hippo Bus ride often sounds like fun, but it may also sound like a lot of money to spend just for the novelty of being driven into the water. In actuality, the tour itself can also be enjoyable for locals because of the trivia provided by the guides. They give a little bit of basic info to help ground visitors, but move effortlessly into sharing fun and little-known facts.

Also, there's the added novelty of being the ones in the Hippo Bus. Just as you may watch the Hippo Bus go by with interest, when you're in it people are often watching you go by, many waving and smiling - or just looking really confused, if it's their first Hippo Bus sighting.

The water portion itself is actually less of a tour and more of a boat ride. Your guide may talk a bit, but mostly they let you enjoy a different view of Lakeshore, Ontario Place and - when I took the tour - mildly annoyed looking cormorants, seagulls, ducks and swans.

Overall, a Hippo Bus Tour may be a bit pricey for many Toronto residents to justify, but if it does interest you it can easily fall into the category of something you should do once, just for fun. Using it at as part of a full day celebrating a special occasion also works very well, since the route begins and ends near so many restaurants.

Canal Taxi

Bangkok city is often referred to as the Venice of the East. This is not because the city has many rivers and their modes of conveyance water. The number of canal and river network in the Thai capital bore taxi river by boat.

Transit tool is an essential part of the transport system of the city of Bangkok. By using this means of transport, traveling becomes easier and faster than using ground transportation bottlenecks that often occur.

Uniquely, these river taxis serve up to urban centers. although in seini have a low bridge, it does not matter. We will cross the bridge, taxi boat will slow down and lower the roof, the passengers had to be down for a while.

Vast network of canals or better known as khlong gives Bangkok the nickname as 'Venice of The East'! Served as the highways in the past, today these khlongs is far inferior but still work in a way to combat the traffic congestion in Bangkok. Water taxi or express long-tailed boat that runs along the khlong provides a good alternative to get around in Bangkok city, particularly perfect for adult travelers on shoes string budget. Water taxi is more efficient and reliable compares to cabs or buses which have high tendency to stuck in traffic choke. 

The most favorite khlong route among Bangkok backpackers are Khlong Saen Saeb that runs in the central of traffic congestion area. Operates from 05:30 through 20:30 hours, these long tailed boats ferry passengers from the designated piers along the khlong. Apart from the foul stench and pollution of canal's water, the pier or boarding jetty is usually within the walking distance to the landmark of Bangkok or places of attraction. 

However, it is wise to pick up some simple Thai especially the name of your destination pier so that the boat operator could inform you the fare.

Run systematically upstream or downstream on Khlong Saen Saeb, the service of long-tailed boat starts at Tha Ramkhamhaeng which is the last stop/pier of upstream and ends at Tha Phanfa that is the last stop of downstream. The following provides some general guide for the pier to disembark and attractions/shopping malls nearby. You may grab a tuk-tuk or walk to these destinations.

* Tha Phanfa - Visiting The Golden Mount Temple (Wat Saket), KhaoSan Road, Giant Swing, Democracy Monument, Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
* Tha Bo Bae - Shopping at Bo Bae clothing wholesalers market
* Tha Saphan Hua Chang - Shopping at Siam Square, Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, MBK and visiting Jim Thompson's House
* Tha Pratunam (Interchange) - Shopping at Pratunam Market, Platinum Fashion Mall, Panthip IT Mall, Central World, Gaysorn and visiting Erawan Shrine

The cost for the canal boat ride is between 10 Baht to 20 Baht depending on the distance of the journey. Not recommended for physically challenged individuals or adults that are traveling with infants or young children. 

Hanging Train

The hanging railway in Germany’s western central city of Wuppertal (pronounced Voopahtahl) is the oldest monorail system in the world. Built in 1900, the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn or “floating train” has been continuously operated since 1901, despite two world wars, various accidents and other turbulent events. Find out the stories behind this stylish and green mode of transportation.

What to do when a growing industrial region requires an efficient transport system yet geographical characteristics like hilly terrain, a flood-prone river and high groundwater levels prevent building of the same? This is the situation city planners faced in Wuppertal at the turn of the 19th century: The city region had reached an all-time population peak of 400,000 and quickly needed an efficient mode of transportation that would go beyond the requirements of traditional ground or subterranean transportation.

Leave it to the Germans to come up with something unique that would later be copied many times in the world: the suspended monorail. The model for this railway, however, came from English engineer Henry Palmer who had already devised plans for a horse-drawn suspended monorail in 1824. German engineer Carl Eugen Langen finally built and tested the first prototype for a motorized suspended monorail in Cologne in the 1880s.

In 1898, construction on the actual Wuppertal monorail began and after a construction period of only three years, under master builder Wilhem Feldmann, was opened in 1901. It was soon known as the “Wuppertaler Schwebebahn,” literally Wuppertal’s “floating train.” So great was the hype around this new mode of urban transport that even German Emperor William II was roped in to ride the monorail during a trial run on October 24, 1900.


Today, the suspended monorail stretches over a track system of 13.3 km and 20 stops. 10 km of tracks follow the Wupper River at an elevation of 12 meters and for 3.3 km; the tracks follow Wuppertal’s narrow streets at a height of 8 m. The monorail reaches top speeds of up to 60 km/h and covers the complete distance in about 30 minutes. It is a popular mode of transport that carries 75,000 passengers every day or 25 million annually.

Given its long history, it might come as a surprise to learn that there have only been a few accidents involving the Schwebebahn and no fatal ones until 1999 when Coach No. 4 derailed because of parts left on the tracks after repair work. One train compartment fell into the Wupper and five passengers died while 47 were injured.

Apart from a few exceptions, the monorail has not had to suspend services. During World War I, ridership sank because of large parts of the male population being drafted, leaving all operations in female hands. After the war, one of the stations was part of French territory and passengers actually had to pass immigration to proceed, slowing travel times down considerably.

World War II bombings and air raids of Wuppertal left stations and parts of the tracks damaged, so that full service was not possible and, after further damage in 1945, had to be suspended altogether. However, after the war, reconstruction of the beloved Schwebebahn went full steam ahead so that already in 1946, service could resume fully.

One bizarre accident deserves special mention: In 1950, the local circus decided to let Tuffi, one of its young elephants, ride on the monorail for promotional purposes. Tuffi soon lost his cool upon hearing the unfamiliar noises of the train and being suspended so high and decided to scoot: He broke through the sidewall of the compartment and landed in the river, unscathed.

The accompanying journalists weren’t as lucky – though none of them fell into the river, some were injured in the ensuing chaos. However, the whole incident became so famous that many drivers later claimed to have driven that fateful train. A clever local dairy company, cashing in on the publicity, quickly copyrighted the elephant’s name and is known as Tuffi-Campina to this day.

Since 1901, though, the monorail concept has caught on worldwide because of its many advantages: minimal horizontal and vertical space requirements, lower construction costs compared to conventional rail systems, less noise pollution and no interference with existing transport systems.

The last point is also a disadvantage because monorails can only run on their own tracks, therefore making compatibility with any other rail infrastructure virtually impossible. Also, each monorail requires unique parts from a particular manufacturer, making servicing time-consuming and costly. Famous monorails can be found in Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Osaka, Tokyo and many amusement parks and airports; other suspended ones in Memphis, Dresden and Dortmund.

Though the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn is a landmark and famous sight of the city, most Germans, including this author, don’t give it a second thought. Given the many technical marvels and inventions that the country has brought forth, even a more than hundred-year-old suspended railway seems no big deal, especially one that integrates so well with other modes of transport that it is barely noticeable as something special.