escape! Magazine – July 2019

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The buildings of Havana, Cuba’s

capital, are characterised by their

vivid pastel colours

middle

A mural of Che Guevara, a

revolutionary and national hero

that helped Cuba remove its tyrant

leader

Cuba is still largely inaccessible for many
countries in the world. Perhaps this is when
we should feel grateful as Malaysians, our
passport and good relations with Cuba has
given us visa-free access into the island nation.
I was privileged enough to be able to see what
this supposed closed off paradise is all about.
However, it is probably not a destination for
beginner travellers.

HOW “ISLAND PARADISE” IS
CUBA?
How many Cubans actually just sit back all day
in Varadero puffing cigars and dancing salsa?
People go to Cuba expecting paradise, pristine
beaches, delicious rum, cheap cigars, classic
cars, it is supposedly a place filled with “don’t
worry, be happy” vibes. I often wonder why
people long for “authentic” experiences when
travelling somewhere but never actually stop
to think what “authentic” really means. Cuba,
like most of Latin America and the Caribbean,
is an impoverished country, there are no ways
around it.
When I arrived in Havana, I was in awe
with how different this place was to any other
places I’ve ever been to. It felt like I went
back in time, cars from the 50s and 60s filled
the streets, people gathered outside in groups.

It was like a huge movie setting, making it

easy to forget that everything I saw was a

reflection of the socio-economic problems

Cubans face. We’re talking about one of the

last true socialist countries in the world, it isn’t

just another island paradise where rich people

go for crazy beach parties.

ANTIQUE CARS, AND WHAT

THEY MEAN TO TOURISTS AND

LOCALS

One experience people might expect when

heading to Cuba is taking a ride in an antique

car. In fact, I almost exclusively only took old

taxis since they are much cheaper. The taxi I

took from the airport in Havana, the capital,

was a two-seater with no safety belts nor air-

conditioning.

In terms of long distance travel, collective

taxis, or shared taxis, known locally as taxi

colectivos, are the most pragmatic inter-city

transports. They are huge old cars with at

least two rows of seats behind the driver.

You usually share them with around five

other people going to the same destination.

Depending on the distance, your fare may be

as low as USD 1 (RM 4)!

The old car vibe of Cuba is not just a

show for tourists, many people can’t afford

cars on an average state salary of USD 20 (RM

80) per month. Land vehicles are incredibly

expensive in Cuba, for less than USD 10,000

(RM 40,000) you can only get a model from

TEXT: HOI MUN YEE / IMAGES: 123RF & HOI MUN YEE