Titanic I’ve heard of, but this ship that’s about to make waves in Manila is something for which I’ll allow my newfound curiosity to be fatal. I can’t swim, but I most definitely am going to take the risk when Doulos ^[1], the largest floating bookshop and oldest ocean-going passenger ship in the world, visits Manila again.

According to the official press release —

Doulos was built just two years after Titanic, and is the world’s oldest ocean-going
passenger ship still sailing. With its enormous onboard bookshop and its
international crew of 350 volunteers, representing over 50 countries, Doulos
is an international ambassador of goodwill and understanding, bringing
knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world.

Over 6,000 different titles are available, in the bookshop at very
affordable prices. Subjects range from science, medicine and management to
Christian literature, hobby and cookery books. Most of the books are in
English, with a smaller selection in Tagalog.

The ship will stay in Manila and open its bookshop daily from January 5 – 22, 2007. Opening hours are from 10 am to 10 pm Tuesdays to Saturdays; from 2 pm to 10 pm on Sundays and Mondays. The entrance fee is only P10, and children under 16 (so long as they are accompanied by a parent or a guardian).

Over 18 Million people, in over 500 ports, and more than 100 countries, have come on board the Doulos. Now the people of Manila are warmly invited to find out for themselves what Doulos is all about!

Doulos is owned by a German non-profit, charity organization ‘Gute Bücher für Alle’ (Good Books for All). For more information, please contact Hyeok Seon Kwon ^[2]at 092-7361960. See you there!