Cost

Considering London is divided up into zones and depending on which zone you are traveling to will cost you more money, the subway in NYC is a dream. It's $2, plus transfers from the subway to bus or bus to subway are free as long as it's within a two hour period. Hands down, NYC wins this one.

NYC 1 London 0

Oystercard vs. Metrocard

Excluding the fact that the new Oystercards have IKEA written all over them, I think the overall look of the Oystercard has a simple yet efficient design and is a lot more professional looking. Forgetting the fact that no one knows why it's called an "oystercard" (besides the obvious lame excuse of "london is your oyster") I think the Big Smoke wins this category. Metrocards look a bit outdated even though the name makes the most sense.

NYC 1 London 1

Appearance

I've always taken the look of the subway for granted. After all it's underground why wouldn't it look like a deep dark cavernous post-apocalyptic garbage dump? However after having it pointed out to me that NYC city subways look "unfinished" and as if they just stopped building when they felt like it, I think London's clean, eye pleasing, relatively sleek interiors (underground station and actual train cars) are aesthetically more pleasing, even though every given space (as mentioned with Oystercards) is filled with advertisements and free newspapers strewn everywhere.

NYC 1 London 2

Efficiency

Ha. This is tough. Seriously. I think this is open to a bit of interpretation, seeing as in both cities it will always depend which line you live on. I happen to live on the Piccadilly line and will not even begin the rant which is brewing in my mind right now. But perhaps the real test of underground systems is the weekends. In London most lines seem to be closed or partially closed on weekends for "refurbishment". In NYC, the same happens but albeit less frequently (probably why they get low marks for appearance!), however I do remember a time in the summer when it was near impossible to get any subway line going downtown. But if push comes to shove, I'd have to go with NYC subway getting the gold star for efficiency. Hear, that MTA?

NYC 2 London 2

Ease of Deciphering Map/Signs

Even though the tube maps looks like a lump of multi-colored spaghetti, it wins in my book. The NYC subway is pretty easy to decipher, as long as it's during the day. Sure there are express and local trains on the same line, with tiny transfers and directions written on the map. But once it hits midnight local can run on express track and all kinds of chaos takes over. Try to read this on the map or even signs on the platforms and you can end up in Brooklyn instead of downtown Manhattan. So for this I say London's spaghetti map wins. However only slightly since NYC may have trains issues after dark, but at least there are trains after dark!!! So I may have to give NYC an extra point just because it is a 24-hour service.

NYC 3 London 3

Annoyances/Entertainment

In NYC it's beggars on the trains, in London it's buskers in the stations. Granted we do have some pretty talented beggars. I've seen kids do acrobatics on moving trains (and I would say that the train ride is a bit rougher and more bumpy than the Tube) and been wowed by singers, percussionists and rappers. However being broke, it's a bit hard when these people are asking for money, or more likely homeless people begging for it. So in this case I would have to go with London, as there are minimal beggars on the train and buskers throughout the stations who are playing for fun and whatever cash they can rake in.

NYC 3 London 4

Weather

Now I'm not sure whether (haha) to divide this into two categories- weather inside the stations/subway cars and weather outside effecting the service (you know I'm talking to you London Underground). I think the combination should be alright for now. I'm going to go for NYC for this one. It maybe be as hot as hell in the stations but at least the subway cars have AC. Plus the actual subway lines are hardly ever effected by outside weather (unless extreme, or the station becomes flooded). So all in all NYC deals with its weather pretty well. Whereas London gets a bit of snow or it can be a few degrees too hot and the whole process slows down or shuts down completely. They don't get weather in one extreme or the other too frequently so maybe they should get a bit more credit or slack, but some lines are always unbearably not matter what the weather- Victoria and Central lines, I'm looking at you.

NYC 4 London 4

So by my count, that's a tie. Obvioulsly it's all a matter of personal opinion but regardless of which city wins, we all know that whatever the transport- London Tube or NYC Subway- all of us city dwellers can't live without either system.

By: nobert soloria bermosa

Aside from beautiful white sand beaches and scenic diving spots, the Philippines is also endowed with wonderful caves. There are hundreds of caves in the Philippines. Peñablanca, Cagayan alone has already around 300 caves.

Spelunkers and non-spelunkers, here's a list of the most famous caves in the country that can give you thrill and excitement. You will surely love and enjoy them.

6.) Callao Caves in Cagayan

On the Sixth slot is Callao Caves. Located within the Peñablanca Protected Landscape.The seven-chambered Callao Caves boast of massive limestone and other rock formations, skylights, and a chapel. The conditions inside the cave cause stalactites and stalagmites, particularly in the deeper chambers. Every chamber has natural crevices, which let light get into the cave, serving as illumination for the otherwise dark areas of the place.

5. Jackpot Cave in Cagayan

On the fifth spot is the Jackpot Cave also in Peñablanca, Cagayan. It is the second deepest cave in the Philippines at 115 meters. The cave has a walking size passage, shafts and drops of varying depths that provide for a lot of rope works. Meandering streams and pools of varying size abound inside the cave.

4. Odessa Tumbali Cave in Peñablanca, Cagayan

On the fifth spot-Odessa Tumbali Cave in Peñablanca, Cagayan. At 12.6 kilometers, it is the third longest cave in the Philippines. It is active and provides excellent wet sport caving. It has superb formations and passage shapes, canals and lakes for swimming, photography and cave diving opportunities, and varied fauna. Acknowledged to be a perfect cave system, it has five known entrances.

3. Sumaging-Latipan-Lomyang Crystal Cave in Sagada, Mt.Province

On the third place, we have Sumaging-Latipan-Lomyang Crystal Cave in Sagada, Mt.Province. In terms of vertical range it is the deepest reaching 163 meters from its mouth. In terms of length, it is the fifth longest cave in the Philippines. Six entrances lead to a complex mix of active and fossil cave remarkable for its large passages and impressive gours. The system is partially accessible to tourists and a sump connected to Lokohong Cave.

2. Odloman Cave in Mabinay, Negros Oriental

On the second slot is the Odloman Cave in Mabinay, Negros Oriental. This cave is 8.9 km. long. Five entrances have been connected and the system comprises a mix of large and small galleries with some active streamway. This cave is the 6th deepest in the country.

1. Palawan Underground River or St. Paul Subterranean River - Longest Navigable Underground River in the World

This is the most famous cave in the Philippines. The longest underground river was discovered a few years back in Mexico somewhere in the Yucatan. St. Paul Underground River in Palawan, Philippines may not be the longest underground river in the world anymore, but it is still the world's longest navigable underground river. The navigable part of the river inside the cave of the 4000-acre St. Paul Subterranean River stretches 15 kilometers in length (5 miles). St. Paul Cave is the 3rd deepest cave in the country.

Right, first up is Big Ben, the big clock with the pointy turret that's stuck on the side of "The Houses of Parliament". As clocks go, it's possibly the most recognised one in the world. It's just over 315 feet high, was designed by Charles Barry and is, in fact, the world's largest four-faced, chiming clock. However, it's real name isn't Big Ben, it's "The Clock Tower", Big Ben is actually the name of the bell that chimes the hour.

Most Convincing Blag:

At the base of each clock face in gilt letters is the Latin inscription: "DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM", which means "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First".

Tower of London:

It was really crowded when you went to the Tower, wasn't it? All those tourists; no wonder it's always in the top 5 of London's attractions. O.K. so you saw the Crown Jewels, a couple of ravens and a Beefeater or two (they're the ceremonial guardians of the Tower). You thought Traitor's Gate, where Anne Boleyn entered the Tower, was pretty cool and Bloody Tower where the two young nephews of Richard the Third supposedly "disappeared" felt spooky.

Most Convincing Blag:

From the top of the White Tower (William the Conqueror's idea) you can see the River Thames, Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast.

British Museum:

What a cool place and it's free to get in! Established back in 1753, the British Museum's got more than 13 million objects and some countries would like them back. (Don't mention "The Elgin Marbles). You name it and this place has got it. Mummies, the Rosetta Stone, Viking treasure and that"s only for starters. You spent ages wandering round the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, amazing or what?

Most Convincing Blag:

At the centre of the Museum, the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court is the largest covered square in Europe.

Tower Bridge

Wow! What a view you had up and down the river from the covered walkways along the top of the bridge. Yeah, this is the bridge that opens in the middle when something big is travelling up the Thames. Sometimes, it's called London Bridge but that is, in fact, the next bridge upstream. Remember you had to buy tickets to get to the walkways and the Victorian Engine Room but it was worth the wait.

Most Convincing Blag:

Back in 1952, a crowded London double-decker bus had to jump over the gap in the middle of the bridge when the bridge started to open unexpectedly.

Gherkin:

Opened back in April 2004, the "Gherkin" as it's unofficially called, is 590 feet high and instantly recognisable. Winner of all sorts of awards like the RIBA Sterling Prize, it's enviromentally friendly due to its energy saving heating system. Whatever you do though, don't blag about the view from the restaurant and bar - it's not open to the public apart from Corporate events and Weddings.

Most Convincing Blag:

Depending on when you were supposedly in London you could have seen the filming of:

• Doctor Who, The Christmas Invasion
• Woody Allen's "Match Point"
• Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction

All of which have used the "Gherkin" as a film set.

Underground:

You can't really have travelled around London without using the Tube, so if you remember the names of the different lines your blag will sound more convincing:

Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, East London, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern, Picadilly, Victoria, Waterloo & City.

The nearest Tube stops for the above attractions are:

• Big Ben: Westminster or Embankment
• Tower of London: Tower Hill
• British Museum: Holborn,Tottenham Court Road, Russell Square
• Tower Bridge: Tower Hill
• Gherkin: Aldgate

OK, so you went to London, had a great time, also saw Nelson's Column (Tall statue in Trafalgar Square), Millenium Eye (Gigantic Ferris Wheel) and Buckingham Palace (Where the Queen lives - she wasn't in!).

Remember though, don't get carried away, because as the famous quote says "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" And no, after that we don't become a little bit better at it.