Kara Santos

Biking in Balara Filters Park

The Balara Filters Park is one of the oldest recreation areas in Quezon City. First opened to the public in 1953, this 60-hectare park (almost as big as Rizal Park) is located in the Diliman village of Pansol in Quezon City, adjacent to the University of the Philippines Diliman main campus. This intriguing place contains an assortment of Art Deco structures, an old windmill, a replica of a fountain designed by a national artist, a picnic grove, an amphitheater, and several playgrounds.

Despite being one of Quezon’s City major parks, the historic value of the structures, and natural beauty of the surroundings, the park now lies in a sad state of neglect and dilapidation, resembling an eerie ghost town rather than a public park. Biking through this area always makes me feel like I’ve just entered Silent Hill or a long-abandoned town in The Last of Us.

Biking in Marikina River Park

Biking is one of the few allowable outdoor exercises during the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in Manila. Since the lockdown was declared, we’ve been biking more around our neighborhood for errands and nearby destinations to get fresh air and exercise during the weekends. For new cyclists who bought bikes during the pandemic who are not yet familiar with the usual biking spots in the city, I’ll be sharing more details and photos about safe biking destinations in and around Manila.

Get inspired to travel, boost your business & earn extra cash from Pinned.ph

Do you miss traveling around the Philippines? Have you started a small business during this quarantine period and are looking for a way to increase your product’s visibility online? Or maybe you just have some free time on your hands and are looking for a way to earn some extra cash for your impulse cravings. If you answered yes to any of the above, you might want to check out the website Pinned.ph, a new digital lifestyle publication that highlights the best of the Philippines, while giving a much-needed boost to local destinations, businesses, and freelancers.

Sheraton Manila Bay launches gourmet delivery

With all the travel restrictions these days, the thought of going on a luxurious hotel staycation in the city and dining on gourmet cuisine is something that a lot of people are looking forward to. Staying in hotels can give you that sense of travel we’re all missing these days and a momentary escape from the quarantine lifestyle of going out just for essentials. But while we still can’t check into hotels for leisure, it’s still possible to get a taste of some hotel’s gourmet offerings through takeaways and delivery services.

Since special events like weddings, birthdays and anniversaries have had to be canceled, a lot of people are turning to food delivery as their main cause for celebration at home.

10 Quarantine Food Trends in the Philippines

Pinoys love to eat out. But with many restaurants still closed for dine-in, people are elevating their dining experiences at home. Since times are tough, most people are choosing to find joy in the simple comforts of food. The pandemic has unleashed the creativity of home cooks and brought to light a number of interesting food trends and quarantine cravings. In this time of stress and uncertainty, people are making the most of their pantry staples, going back to traditional homebaked food preparation, and choosing familiar and feel-good comfort food.

With bars closed, chilling out and drinking at home has become the norm. Delivery services are also upping up their Instagram game with DIY meal kits and ready-to-eat meals that look good and taste even better to get repeat customers. Here are some of the most popular food trends in the Philippines that have come out of the quarantine.

Biking Bucketlist: Sea to Sea Cycling Tour in the UK

The United Kingdom (UK) is a great place to go on a cycling tour. If you consider its geological layout, you’ll find it similar to the rest of Europe in many ways. Cycling tours are popular in Europe, but they are equally interesting and rewarding in the UK as well. The scenery is stunning and the weather is pleasant. There’s usually a nice cool breeze to stop you from getting too hot as you cycle through lush green pathways towards your destination. Everything gets better when you embark on a Sea-to-Sea cycling holiday tour set up and managed by a company like Mickledore.

The idea is simple, you start from one coast and cycle all the way to another. You pass through all kinds of terrain and live adventures and amass stories you’ll tell your friends and family about. Interestingly, it’s not about just the experience and joy. A coast-to-coast cycling tour does something to your body as well and this article is all about that. Let’s get right into it, shall we?

Gear Guide: Choosing a Motorcycle Helmet

If you’re planning to drive a motorcycle or regularly back ride as a passenger, the most basic piece of safety equipment you need is a proper helmet. Since motorcycles don’t provide the structural protection that a car does to keep drivers safe in the event of accidents, riders need to take extra precautions to protect their body, especially their head – and that’s where helmets come in.

A lot of shops in the Philippines sell motorcycle helmets designed for guys. As a female rider, I’ve personally had a hard time finding a helmet that fits me. While I’ve used a few different helmets over the years, the best-fitting ones for me so far have been the ones from LS2 Helmets Philippines.

Top Destinations in the Philippines for Backpackers

The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 different islands, which can make getting around the country a bit challenging. For backpackers who want to cover a lot of ground at one time, planning your route and trying to visit major tourist destinations spread apart the country can be a bit of a puzzle. While there are ferries and boats that connect major islands, it’s difficult to know exactly where to go.

In most cases, it’s practical and faster to just fly between islands to maximize your trip. For some places in Northern Luzon without commercial flights, you have no option but to take a bus or travel by land from major cities. For first time travelers to the Philippines, it really helps to focus on particular regions and aim for quality instead of trying to visit every major tourist hub.

Are Folding Bikes for you?

If you’re short on space at home and want a form of transport for urban commuting and errands in the city, folding bikes are a practical choice. Folding bikes are bicycles designed to fold into a compact form and can be more easily carried into buildings. While originally designed for short distances and flat roads, many cycling enthusiasts also use folding bikes for epic rides up mountain roads and for bike touring over hundreds of kilometers.

Folding bikes are a great option for bimodal transport and can be carried easily while riding in buses, trains, cars, planes, and boats, making them a good choice for urban dwellers and leisure travelers.

Neighborhood Bike Shops in Quezon City

Looking to buy your first bicycle or need repairs done? A lot of bikers usually head to Quiapo and Cartimar where bikes and bike parts are generally cheaper. But with the bike shortages everywhere, it might be better to just head to your local bike shop or LBS in your neighborhood. It may cost a little bit more, but this way if ever you need spare parts or repairs or maintenance done, at least you don’t have to travel too far to get it fixed by bike mechanics.

For residents of Quezon City and nearby areas, these are just a few of the bike shops that are currently open as of June 2020 (including safety measures in place with regards to COVID.)

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