"Central America's Singapore" is also not a dream About Panama which is definitely changing with economic development

Hub of the traffic linking the Pacific and the Atlantic OceanPanama Canal. Its management right belonged to the United States, but it was finally returned to Panama on December 31, 1999, due to the treaty signed in 1977. As a result, toll revenue is directly included in Panama. The toll revenue which recorded a record high of about 1 billion dollars (about 100 billion yen) in 2005 is expanding to about 1.85 billion dollars (about 185 billion yen) in 2012. Today, if the expansion work being advanced is completed, the toll fee income will be further increased.

Hello,Takuya Sudo @ circle around the world bicycle @ Charridermanis. I was not very interested in Panama, but as I got on a trip I found something I was interested in, so I checked it. By securing stable income, the country of Panama is changing.

◆ Panama Canal

The Panama Canal, which opened in 1914, connects the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean as an "ocean shortcut" of 80 km in length. It is a water elevatorLock gate, The ship climbs up to the Gatun lake at 26 meters above sea level and crosses the continent. This time I visited Mira Flores Lockmack which is an hour by bicycle from Panama City.

The neighborhood is like this jungle


Miraflores Lockmart Visitor Center


From another angle.


A sightseeing bus came and was full of tourists.


From the observation deck inside the visitor center, you can see the canal like this.


When arriving, there were just two boats passing.


The Liberian flag of "VENUS SPIRI"Is a large ship of 45,559 tons


This was a car carrier of "Nissan"


Two vessels sticking behindTugboat.


The water level which was this level ... ...


Gangbo and rise


I finished adjusting the water level and went to the Pacific Ocean.


When a new ship comes ...


Electric locomotives pulling with wires will head to the site.PanamaxIf you become a ship of size, you can not sail by yourself because the ship width is just barely visible.


In the steep slope sectionRack type trackIt is said that it is used.


The boat slowly approached.


Proceed to thread through the needle ......


It fits perfectly.


Water filling will start when the gate closes.


Although I saw only a pure white hull,


Along with the rise of the water level, the indigo ship's bottom appeared.


It will appear like this.


Moving to the next section.


I repeat the same stroke again, and it was also passing through to the Pacific Ocean.


Immediately, another one.


A lot of boats will pass through as a major transportation point.


It is the American bridge that can be seen in the distance. The other side of the American bridge is the Pacific Ocean.


We also visited not only the canal, but also the museum that is attached.


Amazing 3D Theater.


I watched a video introducing the Panama Canal.


Diorama of the canal control room.


You can also experience the simulation of passing through the Panama Canal.


The image flowed on the big screen, it seemed to be on a large tanker.


This Panama Canal is currently being expanded. Currently there is a limit of 294.1 meters in total length, 32.3 meters in total width and 12 meters in draft, but after completion of expansion work it seems that ships of up to 366 meters in length, 49 meters in width and 15 meters in draft can pass. .

Comparison of old and new largest vessels in brochures.


The new gate is sliding style.


◆ Panama City

The new town was overwhelmed by its skyscrapers, like Singapore, lined up with skyscrapers. Although I can not rely on the old city a little, there are places where maintenance is proceeding as a sightseeing spot, so it seems that the scenery will change completely in a few years.

New town seen from old town.


A highway along the coast.


A skyscraper looking from the cycling road.


A valley in a skyscraper.


On the other hand, life in the old city seems to be difficult.


A dark place with a little atmosphere.


However, the maintenance of the old city was underway.


Along the covered shore. From here to the new town are connected by a boardwalk and a cycling road.


The road in front of the inn was beautifully decorated with bricks.


Next is like this.


In Panama it was comfortable because there was nothing cheap ones. Composite commercial facilities in the suburbs are so huge that they are tired. Downtown in the center was bustling with clothes-centered shops. This shop is stupid every single one. Supermarkets also ranged from grocery to stationery, tools and assortments were the best in Central America.

Panama City's "AlbrookmallWalking around.


It is a square where giraffe's objects are lined up.


It is a very large mall.


It is also difficult to find an empty table food court.


This is downtown area of ​​Old City of Panama City.


A department store that had everything from groceries to sporting goods, clothing, stationery, tools and appliances.


Overseas valuable vinyl case was cheap so I bought it. Translucent case is $ 0.45 (about 45 yen), transparent case is $ 0.3 (about 30 yen). The semi-transparent plastic case will be 1.5 dollars (about 150 yen) as the size increases and it will be higher than the Japanese 100 yen shop.


McDonald's.


Shop where products were loaded.


People who enjoy shopping. Panama is full of things.


There was supermarket which is the same as in Japan and opened 24 hours.


China-based Panama people are opening mini supermarkets in places without supermarkets. It was a selection of items like a convenience store in Japan, and I often dropped in on my way. They work well. As a self-employed Chinese-type Panama people seemed to be wealthier than ordinary Panama people.

Located in convenience stores in Japan is a mini supermarket of Chinese Panama.


It is a Chinese trading company that offers up to palm juice.


There were also many dining halls managed by Chinese Panama people.


About 3 dollars (about 300 yen) was about a standard for such meat and beans and rice.


There is Chinese in store.


Illustrations of cute pandas too.


◆ Development that kept the key points

If the changes felt in Sierra Leone and Rwanda in Africa are to withdraw from the poorest countries, what Panama is aiming for is a challenge for developed countries. Tourism, security, transportation, education and eye-catching change kept the old part of the old city where maintenance was proceeding.

Panama also holds security issues common to the Central American countries.


The security of Panama City Old Town was uneasy, but as many police officers were guarding, I could walk normally. In Panama, the Ministry of Public Security was established in 2010, and we have keen on security measures.


Also watch the surveillance camera.


Non - step city bus.


In the city bus of Panama City, I used a recharge type electronic card.


Even the local buses are complete with this fishing.


4G mobile phone is also starting.


Mobile recharge machines were also installed in town. If machines do what people do, productivity of society will rise.


How can Panama tap water. It is wonderful to drink the water that twisted the faucet from the inefficiency that had a heavy tank in Mexico.


Construction of the subway was progressing in Panama City.


When I ran toward Tocumen International Airport to leave Panama, I was concerned that students had the same kind of computer and personal computer. I also found the same computer as the student at the bus stop so I was charged. It seemed that they were around 14 years old with all the same personal computers.

Intel's ATOM is configured as CPU, and OS is configured as Windows 7. Intel has launched it hereClassmate PCIt looks like.


I was using a personal computer like this.


Search this classmate PC "Intel y Meduca continuan con exito Programa Balboa"Intel ha entregado 100,000 computadoras Balboa"Was found.

Students waiting for the bus.


I told you that "Panama is a nice country," but I guessed. Because you are the one who will carry Panama in the future.


The government also made free Wi - Fi spots.


"Internet Para Todos"Has provided 1104 access points to 32 municipalities, and the number of registered users in 2012 is over 600,000. I also used it when the radio wave of the hostel was bad.


The population of Egypt with the Suez Canal is 82.53 million people, while the population of Panama is 3.57 million people. Economic development is likely to proceed promptly because of the small population. President Ricardo Martinelli, Panama's current president, explained the development of Panama as an example of Singapore as "We copy a lot from Singapore and we need to copy more". Ministry of Foreign Affairsbasic dataAccording to the economic growth rate in 2012 is 10.2%, the unemployment rate is 4.0%, Panama continues strong economic growth.

(Sentence / photo: Takuya S. Narou Charriderman
Cycling around the world for a bicyclehttp://shuutak.com)