THE BUND SIGHTSEEING TUNNEL

After taking photos at the Bund, we headed down to an underground tunnel called the "Bund Sightseeing Tunnel", connecting between the Bund and Pudong. It has a total length of 646.7 meter and is China's first cross-river artificial sightseeing tunnel.

Our guide gave each one of us a one-way ticket trip; we entered into a cute silver cable car on rail that looks like a transparent glass capsule.



Modern technologies are applied in the decoration of the interior walls of the tunnel; we saw various pictures about history, culture, natural scenery with digital audio and background music, waving puppets and colorful laser lights.


The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel maybe a little touristy, but it's a fun place to experience and a must-see for visitors.

As soon as we arrived at the Pudong area, we walked and we passed through a hallway filled with small shops selling various Chinese art handcrafted fans, carved pictures, grass art, autograph design and trinkets etc.



There's also another ticket counter for the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel ...


Aside from that, they also posted and sell tickets for the "China Sex Culture and Sex Health Exhibition" (20 Yuan per person). In case, you're wondering what it is all about? Well, this is an ancient China Sex Culture Museum, where a collection of sex-themed antiques exhibited. You can also buy a ticket for the "Exhibition of the Rare Aquatic Animals (30 Yuan). But sorry to say, we bypassed these two shows.

MALINTA TUNNEL NIGHT TOUR

Malinta Tunnel Night Tour is a special tour which is not included during the regular day tour. This will be availed only by guests who stays overnight in Corregidor.

The hotel's van, along with our tour guide came to pick us up (with our fellow overnighters) at the hotel's lobby at 5:00 pm in the afternoon. Our local guide brought us again to the Malinta Tunnel and explained a little further about the history. It is said that some of its laterals were so secret only those working there knew of their existence. Branching from it are 13 laterals on its north side and another 11 laterals on the south side. Each lateral averaged 160 feet and 15 feet in length and width, respectively.



and then we entered to one of the innermost laterals of the tunnel.



Our exploration began. I heard before that these tunnels are notoriously hunted but our guide started to demolish our apprehensions and superficial perceptions about the place.



This tour allow us to see the different laterals of the 1,000-bed capacity Fort Mills Hospital that was used during the seige of Corregidor.



Quarters for the female staff of the hospital was the only lateral inside the Malinta Tunnel which was secured with a heavy steel door and bolted at night for the security and privacy of the women who were billeted in it.

Our little adventure...

The most exciting of all was when our guide told us to switch-off all the flashlights. There was a cold and eerie feeling when we were exposed to the total darkness. The pitch blackness enveloped us and we felt the numbness in all our senses.

The MacArthur's Escape Tunnel, an escape tunnel supposedly dug especially for MacArthur.

The "air vent" near the hospital tunnels was used by the looters as their passageway in taking innumerable items.

The Malinta Tunnel Night tour is far different and a lot more unique than the regular day tour. This is an exciting activity that should not be missed.

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MALINTA TUNNEL DAY TOUR (LIGHT & SOUND SHOW)

Constructed from 1922 to 1932, Malinta Tunnel has a main tunnel 835 feet long and 24 feet wide and 24 laterals branching from it.

Originally an arsenal and an underground hospital, its unique location beneath the Malinta Hills made it ideal bombproof headquarters for embattled Filipino and Americans, and served as the seat of Philippine Government under President Manuel L. Quezon.


We visitors experienced a good half hour the thrills of Malinta Tunnel in a vividly staged Light and Sound show (P150.00 per person as of 2003).


Scripted by the late, noted Filipino film director Lamberto Avellana, the show is a reenacment of World War II's dramatic event.

Our Malinta Night Tour Adventure >>>

The Tunnel Experience

We went down on the FIRST TUNNEL (30 meters). We lined up in a single file and went into the hole. As we got into the hole, I just saw how dire our situatuion was. There were too may people inside the tunnel. Plus it was extremely hot, airless, dark and claustrophobic. The ceiling was so low that we had to move slowly in a squat position waggling like a duck. And because of muscular fatigue induced by the uncomfortable posture, we ended up crawling inside the pitch-black tunnel.

the entrance to the tunnel

Along the way, we encountered a pretty tricky dilemma. Whenever someone in front of us stops, I felt as if I was going to faint. I was already scared that panic attack would grip me. I was breathing heavily already (hah...hah...hah...). Even hubby felt the same way because there was no air coming down inside the tunnel. He was already shouting the people in front of us to hurry up. And when I saw a streak of light appeared ahead... it was like a heaven relief for me.

And here I am perspiring heavily...



And the funny side of our adventure - we were still able to smile and took some quick photos of ourselves. I tried taking picture of my hubby but my olympus camera wasn't working at all. sheesh!

Just a reminder, if you don't want to experience what we had experienced, don't go with big groups.

Afterwards the tour guide introduced us the SECOND TUNNEL, a bit smaller and longer than the first one. The hole was around 50 or 100 meters (I'm not sure). And I thought... "W-H-A-T?!!? Smaller than the first one? Are you sure? That is already more suited to Mahal and Mura (midget Philippine celebrities) and even Dr. Evil's Mini Me. If these were Survivor and Fear Factor challenge (reality tv shows wherein the stunts are designed to challenge the contestants both physically and mentally), and with a big prize at stake, I would probably do it." Hubby decided to go. I DID NOT.

After a few minutes of torture, hubby came out from the hole. He was drenched in his perspiration and his shirt all sopping wet and covered with red dusts. And to top it all, he had a sore leg for the rest of the day... until the next day. Too Bad. tsk... tsk...



Next we were taken downstairs to one of the meeting rooms.

And tadaaa... here I present the Commander-in-Chief! He is having a meeting with his subordinates and giving creative approach how to solve problems.

And here's the Assistant Commander-in-Chief, an enthusiastic advocate of strategic planning. Hmmm... she looks like she's sleeping. Nope, she's not! She's thinking of the major planning and operating functions for the defense workforce improvement.

Here's a photo shot with some of my Vietcong Guerilla officers. hahaha... Nope, just kidding. These are just dummies.

Then we went to National Defence Sports Shooting Range. We rested for a while there and watched the people who tried the shooting range. Available are M16, AK47 and pistols. Earmuffs are also available. A bullet will cost you a dollar.



I enjoyed the tour and I recommend you visit this place so that you will have the chance to see and experience the hard and protracted struggle of the Vietnamese people during the war.

Cu Chi Tunnels are certainly one of the most interesting things that we saw. It was an unforgettable experience that we had while in Vietnam.

Next: War Remnants Museum >>>

Cu Chi Tunnel

On the third day, we visited Cu Chi Tunnel. We booked our half-day tour the previous day at Delta Adventure and paid for US$4 per pax (rate as of 2004). We were put in a group with seven other tourists, who appeared to be Americans, Germans and Spanish. It is quite a long drive, located 40 kilometers to the northwest of Saigon. Approximately 1-½ travel but well worth a trip.

We arrived at 8:30 am, and we were led into a room where we heard a presentation and short brief history about the tunnel.

The Tunnel Structure.

The Tunnel of Cu Chi, is a well-known historical vestige of the Vietnamese revolution. As a distinctive architecture, this cobweb-like tunnel complex is a network of underground dugouts of over 200 kilometers long, consisting of many layers and turnings meeting rooms, living and fighting quarters.

The tunnels were an excellent way for the Vietcong to move around the countryside undetected by the Americans. The tunnel entrances was so small that American soldiers could not even get inside.

Then we watched a 20-minute black and white film documenting the Vietnam War which paints a one sided view of the conflict.

Afterwards we were brought across the street somewhat a lush jungle where we got to see and experience of what it was like to live during the war. However, there was another fee of US$5 to get in.

A secret and small entrance into the underground tunnels. It is 23 cm. wide and 35 cm. long. Good for very sporty fit, slim to medium built. And here is my hubby...



I wanted to try but I wasn't sure if I'm going to fit in there or if I can carry myself up. So, to avoid embarassment (since there were too many people watching) I just pose for a picture beside hubby. :(



Our tour guide showed us several booby traps, and here's a photo of open "tiger trap" showing deadly bamboo spikes.



It's a flat square door-like form on the ground covered with leaves, that swiftly swing around whenever someone steps either on one side thus letting the victim to fall.

Here are some of the different traps made.



Dummies of Vietcong guerillas making weapons.

Next: The Tunnel Experience >>>