Yesterday, I was browsing through my Facebook newsfeed and saw statuses about the new season of TBBT. In case you don’t know, TBBT stands for “The Big Bang Theory”, a very popular American sitcom about the lives and friendship of four geeks and their girl neighbor, Penny. I, sister, brother and boyfriend are super fans of this show especially of one of its main character Dr. Sheldon Lee Cooper. If you are also following TBBT, you would probably know Sheldon of “Bazingaaaa!” fame. Hehehe.
The FB posts were such a nice surprise since my brother claimed that Season 5 was the last season of TBBT. Learning that there is a Season 6 for this US sitcom was a wonderful way to end my day! I really love the banter of the characters, their geeky arguments and their cool friendship.
Anyway, Sheldon just love trains and talks about trains at every possible opportunity. If given a choice between first class ticket on an airplane which comes with all its perks, and a regular train ticket, Dr. Cooper will take the train any given day. How’s that for passion! 🙂
Train rides maybe common and ordinary for nationals of other countries but not for majority of people here in the Philippines.
Many Filipinos have not yet experience riding a train especially those who have never left their home provinces in Visayas and Mindanao. This is because the only public railway systems we have in the country are located in the capital city of Manila.
Trains and Railways Serving Manila
In Manila, we have the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT Yellow Line) and Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT Purple Line) that covers Baclaran to Monumento. We also have the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) that runs along EDSA and of course, the Philippine National Railway (PNR) that connects Manila to most of the southern provinces of Luzon up to the Bicol Region.
Train transport system may not be practical to build if the intention is to connect the Visayas provinces since we have to consider the open seas separating the Visayan Islands. But we can still have trains per island right? I wonder what happen to the plan to build a train here in Cebu. Oh well, the proposal may have been already forgotten by our local leaders. On the other hand, train availability in the landlocked provinces of Mindanao and Northern Luzon would be very beneficial to the people including tourists and visitors. This is doable too if our government has the budget and if there is political will.
I envy those who have access to trains since it makes getting to a destination a lot faster and more convenient. How awesome it would be if we have trains and railways like those in Europe that makes scheduled stops in the best cities and places. Riding a train can be a holiday in itself just like Treyn has many options for travelers when it comes to destination options and on-board amenities. Having access to dining and entertainment cars, varied amenities and comfortable coaches would make traveling via trains all the more enjoyable. I bet more Filipinos would be enticed to go and explore even our far flung provinces if only we have affordable and accessible train transport system like those in EU countries. We can also have our very own railway to heaven; we only need a train that will pass by the scenic Buda route in Bukidnon to get to Davao. Can you imagine how wonderful the experience will be when you are comfortably seated and can gaze at plantations and plantations of pineapples and the calming countryside sceneries of Bukidnon? I can’t wait to experience that!
But sadly we don’t have that yet, who knows in the future that will become a reality. 🙂
This is A First!
Yes, first time train ride is a cause for celebration in my books and there are many others who shares the same excitement. You might think this is silly but to us, it’s a sort of accomplishment. Another crossed-out line on the bucket list. YES!
I was really excited the first time I rode a train and so was my sister when it was her turn. If you have been following this blog, you would probably know now that my sister just loves pictures. So, on her first train ride, she made sure I got pics of her. Hahaha.
Earlier that day we were in Luneta and there was this famous Thomas the Train replica and yep, she just have to strike a pose when Thomas passed by us, LOL. It got her more excited knowing that by that same afternoon; she’ll have her first real train ride experience. 🙂
Thomas the Train in Rizal Park, Manila
Kenneth on the MRT platform, excited about her first train ride!
Kenneth’s first time on a train was last December in the midst of Christmas holiday shopping, so you can just imagine how tightly packed the LRT was. But she didn’t mind, she was still all smiles as she hold on tight on the hand straps.
We are simple folks and simple things make us happy, yep, even waiting for our first train ride.
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