Kara Santos

Gear Guide: Motorcycle dress code in the Philippines 2023

If you drive or ride a motorcycle in the Philippines, you probably know that the Single Ticketing System (STS) is now in effect. Starting May 2, 2023, new guidelines have been put in place to harmonize existing laws on traffic enforcement and management in Metro Manila. This includes standardized fines and penalties for common traffic violations.

The new system is currently being rolled out in 7 cities in the National Capital Region (NCR), namely Manila, Parañaque, Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Muntinlupa, and Valenzuela.

One of the key violations under the system is “Dress Code for Motorcycle Riders” which has a penalty of P500 (first offense), P750 (second offense), P1,000 (third and subsequent offenses).

Where to stay in Lucban, Quezon: Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel

The town of Lucban in Quezon is celebrating the Pahiyas Festial soon. Known as one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines, Pahiyas is celebrated every May as a means to give thanks after a bountiful harvest. ‘Pahiyas’ literally means “precious offering,” and the practice dates back to the 16th century. People celebrate it in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the farmer’s patron saint.

View Park Hotel Tagaytay: Scenic and comfortable weekend retreat

Tagaytay is always a favorite weekend destination for families wanting to escape the summer heat in Metro Manila. While you can easily visit on a day trip, you can also extend your trip and stay overnight so you can have more time to go around, try new restaurants, or just enjoy the cooler weather.

During our last trip to Tagaytay in March 2023 to do the Taal Lake Bike Loop, we stayed a couple of nights at View Park Hotel, an elegant yet affordable boutique hotel.

Royal Enfield opens new branch in Batangas

Royal Enfield has just announced the opening of its brand new exclusive store in Lipa City, Batangas. The seventh exclusive store in the Philippines, located in Pilahan St., Barangay Sabang will further enhance the reach and accessibility for customers in the country.

Travel Guide: Biking in Sagada

Last December before Christmas, we spent almost a week in Sagada just to enjoy the cooler weather. This lovely town in the Mountain Province is probably the closest place you can get to experiencing winter in the Philippines. At any rate, it’s always a respite from the summer heat. The cooler temperatures in the months of November to February dip to lows of 15°, though the average temperature all year around is 18°, which is amazing considering the 40° heat index we’re currently experiencing in Manila.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo -The Making of Harry Potter tickets now available

Want to experience the magic of the Wizarding World on your next trip to Japan? Travel and experiences platform Klook has just launched tickets for pre-booking to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter on its platform.

In case you’re a Potterhead planning to visit Japan soon and have already been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Osaka, you can add this hassle-free tour to your Tokyo bucket list.

Travel Guide: Nueva Ecija (2023)

Nueva Ecija, best known as the “rice granary of the Philippines,” is an underrated tourism destination. Aside from quick visits for work or stopovers in some towns like Cabanatuan City, we usually just pass through the province during road trips on our way to other destinations in the North.

We’ve taken road trips to Dingalan in Aurora passing the towns of Laur and Gabaldon. We’ve also driven through the zigzag mountain roads of Bongabon on the way to Baler. During previous motorcycle rides, we usually just stopped at the tourist markers, welcome arches, and the views of mountains on our way to the coastal towns.

Review + Blog Giveaway: LUMOS DAWN Home Cinema Projector

It feels like ages since I’ve watched a movie in an actual cinema. It doesn’t seem practical anymore since movies come to streaming sites so quickly these days. We’re currently subscribed to Netflix, HBO GO, Disney+ and Amazon, which has kept us pretty content watching TV at home.

But sometimes you want a break from just watching shows on the small screen. In case you want to level up your movie nights with the family, you can always plan a movie night using a home cinema projector instead of watching on a smaller TV, smartphone, or tablet.

Review: Nakto Premium Ranger All-Terrain E-bike

We all know that the public transport system in Metro Manila is a mess. Taking taxis or using ride-sharing services all the time can be expensive. Car users have to deal with rising fuel costs, bad traffic, and parking problems wherever they go. While owning a motorcycle can get you places fast and isn’t as expensive as owning a car, riders still regularly get discriminated against and still have to go through the tedious process of dealing with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to get a driver’s license and vehicle registration and renewal every year.

One of the best gifts you can give yourself is a bicycle since it offers both mobility and a leisure activity without the hassles of dealing with LTO. However, those who bike to work everyday know that biking can get pretty tiring, especially if you live far from your workplace or need to pass high-traffic routes and areas with a lot of uphills.

Video games with environmental themes to play this Earth Month

Climate change, air pollution, and other destructive habits of human beings towards the environment should be a great cause of concern to everyone. Travelers are well-aware of the environmental troubles impacting tourist destinations in the Philippines, including the encroachment of territories in Masungi Georeserve, destruction of mountains due to mining in Sibuyan Island, and damage to marine life brought by the recent oil spill in the wates of Mindoro.

However, kids these days are growing up stuck to their screens rather than exposed to the great outdoors. One way to make the younger generation appreciate the value of nature and our environment more is through video games.

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