A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Taal Vista Hotel is the oldest hotel in Tagaytay and the second oldest in the Philippines. Officially opened in 1939, the historic property overlooking Taal Volcano and Taal Lake has managed to survive WWII, volcanic eruptions including the most devastating eruption in January 2020 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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”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”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”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.
With the closure of many bars and restaurants everywhere because of the pandemic, more people want to drink in the safety of their homes. While groceries and minimarts have stocked up on the usual staples of mainstream beer brands, sometimes you just want something different for special occasions, but you also want to avoid going out just to get your essential liquor supplies. It’s now more convenient than ever to get quality craft beer delivered straight to your home.
Here are few craft beer delivery services and breweries based in Metro Manila where you can easily order your stash online and get beer delivered straight to your doorstep.
NOTE: Due to government regulations and travel restrictions, some online stores can only service areas in the NCR not covered by liquor bans. Provincial deliveries may be delayed.
Continue reading “Craft Beer & Liquor Delivery in the Philippines”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.
Since the pandemic started, people have opted to stay safe indoors and get food delivered at home instead of dining out. But for those who are out on errands or bikers on exercise rides looking for a bite to eat, the safest option for dining in is at al fresco restaurants with outdoor seating. Dining with members of your own household offers a relatively safe option compared to dining in mall-based and enclosed indoor establishments.
Here are just a few restaurants with al fresco dining and safety protocols in place where you can enjoy a pleasant meal in Marikina.
Continue reading “Outdoor dining and al fresco restaurants in Marikina”
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