A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Bikers are always on the lookout for scenic spots to visit for a bit of nature and greenery in the city. Aside from Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife and Quezon Memorial Circle, one of the public parks currently open to visitors as of January 2022 is La Mesa Eco Park in Quezon City.
While the pandemic has kept most of us grounded compared to years of travel in the pas, it’s been a good time to rediscover the city and nearby destinations on two wheels. We’ve been biking for years long before the pandemic, and even short errand rides around the neighborhood has kept us sane throughout the different levels of quarantine restrictions we’ve had over the past two years.
Once travel restrictions eased and destinations started opening up again in the last quarter of the year, we started going on longer bike rides revisiting top biking destinations near the metro including Wawa Dam, Mt. Parawagan, Camp Sandugo, and Puray Falls, which ended up being my first Century Ride (over 100 km long).
Continue reading “Travel Guide: Biking to Mangantila Cafe and other scenic spots in Baras, Rizal”After years of excavation and clearing, and months of pandemic-induced delays, the El Deposito Underground Reservoir is now finally open to the public! Visitors can walk back in time through a portion of the Spanish-era tunnels just sitting underneath the sprawling public park in San Juan City.
Biking, camping, and coffee rides have really boomed in the Philippines during the pandemic. Everyone wants to spend time outdoors, and going on bike rides to natural spots like mountains and forests near the city or visiting bike-friendly cafes with friends on weekends satisfies that wanderlust of traveling somewhere far by car or by air.
The coffee and cycling culture has really boomed in the Philippines. Since the pandemic hit, pop-up coffee kiosks coffee and minimalist roadside cafes serving good coffee catering to cyclists have become destinations on their own for weekend rides. You can find a lot of minimalist and pop-up roadside cafes situated in scenic spots along biker’s routes like Antipolo, Timberland, Boso-Boso, Marilaque, offering relaxing spots to rest during longer rides.
But for those looking for a destination for quick city rides, there are plenty of cool coffee shops in and around the metro that you can check out as well. Here are just a few cafes in my own Maginhawa neighborhood where bikers can grab a good cup of coffee and snacks for those chill Tambike sessions.
Continue reading “Bike-friendly cafes in the Maginhawa area (2021)”One of the things I miss the most about traveling is hunting down unique beers you can only find in specific destinations. We used to enjoy biking in the Timberland area before the pandemic hit, but sadly most of the bike trails (Blue Zone, Green Zone, etc.) through the regular route up the Wall are no longer accessible to mountain bikers except for special events.
I really wanted to revisit the area just to try out Brusko Craft Beer, the in-house craft beer served at Camp Sandugo, a popular biking and camping destination in San Mateo in Rizal, near Metro Manila.
Continue reading “Camp Sandugo: Biking, camping & craft beer with a view near Manila”The restrictions and dangers of public transportation amid the pandemic have caused many Filipinos to consider buying their own vehicles for personal mobility.
In the past year and a half, there’s been a surge of people buying their first bicycles, e-bikes, e-scooters, motorbikes and other personal transport vehicles as a practical and safe means to get around the city and deal with new normal challenges.
Electric bicycles or e-bikes are gaining popularity in the Philippines as an alternative mode of transportation. E-bikes combine the joys of and eco-friendliness of traditional biking, with the perks of additional support and speed needed for urban mobility.
UPDATED: November 2021
With most tourism establishments still closed and travel still generally restricted, going to a restaurant to eat out is one of the few allowable activities people can do in the city. Dining out gives people a semblance of normalcy and a break from staying home and cooking the entire week.
While it’s still safer to get food delivered compared to dining in, if you do choose to eat out for special occasions or in between errands, it’s best to choose places with outdoor seating and good ventilation. A lot of restaurants in the area have evolved with pandemic times and changed their dining set-up to cater to meet the restrictions.
Maginhawa Street in Quezon City is popularly known as an “Eat Street” because of the number of restaurants in the area. Recently, I’ve noticed a lot of new street art and murals around the neighborhood made by local artists who live in the area. Some serve as decorative elements adorning gates or walls outside food parks, restos, or other business establishments.
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