A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
When you think of museums to visit in Rizal, the Instagram hotspots of Pinto Art Museum and Art Sector Gallery and Chimney Café are the first two museums that immediately come to mind. But it’s always nice to visit and revisit the older and more established museums around the country.
Since the pandemic hit, I’ve been trying to avoid group rides and crowded places. While the number of al fresco restaurants and pop-up cafes along the main Marilaque highway has really mushroomed, the most popular spots tend to get crowded with groups of riders and cyclists. For date rides or solo rides, I prefer to go to hidden spots a little off-the-beaten path.
With the ongoing pandemic, motorcycles are fast-becoming the ride of the new normal. For those looking for a budget-friendly scooter that can take you around the city for your daily tasks and leisure rides for the weekend, Honda’s latest model, The All-New Dio is probably one of the most affordable options in the local market today, priced at less than 50 thousand pesos!
When you think of retro scooters, Vespa is the most iconic and well-respected brand that immediately comes to mind. The legendary Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio has been around for 75 years. The classic scooter was launched in 1946 in Florence, Tuscany and has achieved a cult following among motorcycle riders and enthusiasts worldwide.
Sometimes we just need to get away from the city to enjoy fresh air and nature. Camping weekends where the main agenda is to do nothing but go stargazing, roast marshmallows over a bonfire and sleep under the stars can offer a quick escape. However, the most beautiful camping spots usually require long hikes up the mountains or boat travel to smaller islands and remote beaches.
Bikepackers and motorcycle riders are always on the lookout for natural spots that are still accessible by vehicles or with secure parking nearby.
Here are just 10 campsites located just 1 -4 hours away from Manila that I’ve personally visited or have been planning to visit. These camping areas are located in areas close to nature, with spacious grounds for pitching your own tents and have facilities like restrooms, running water and places to buy food nearby.
Continue reading “10 Camping Destinations near Manila”I’ve been meaning to visit ArtSector Gallery & Chimney Cafe 360º for a while now. This special events place located in my husband’s hometown of Binangonan has become one of the most popular spots on social media this past year because of the stunning views it offers. The relatively new café perched on a hill offers a 360º view of Laguna Lake, Sierra Madre Mountains, Pililla Windmills, sunset, moon, and city lights.
Crescent Moon Café is a long-running establishment in Antipolo. This artistic restaurant known for their Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine and pottery products from the studio of Lanelle Abueva-Fernando has been around since 1997. I’ve written about this place several times before, but with all the travel restrictions these days, there’s been renewed interest in accessible and open-air restaurants near Metro Manila, so I though I’d share more photos and details about the place from visits over the years, before and during the pandemic era.
Antipolo has its fair share of restaurants and cafes that offer stunning views overlooking the city. Kaulayaw Café is one of the newest dining destinations along the Antipolo ridge, specializing in locally sourced coffee. Because of the ongoing pandemic, open-air dining destinations with nature views are much more preferable for dining out rather than enclosed indoor restaurants in malls.
Batala Bar in Intramuros recently reopened! Right before the lockdown restrictions in March 2020, I met up with good friend Mica of Senyorita for a “business meeting” in the area and we spent a chill afternoon with mugs of local craft beer here. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed random meet-ups with friends over drinks and it’s nice to know that more establishments are finding ways to reopen with the proper health and safety measures, like contact tracing and health declaration forms in place.
I’m always on the lookout for unique places to eat for road trips. These days, with the restrictions because of the pandemic, we’ve been dining mostly at home, or in accessible spots where we can enjoy fresh air and nature views not far from the city. To kick off the new year, we checked out a new place in Antipolo that’s been getting some buzz online for its rustic and romantic look.
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