A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
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.
Here’s something cool for those who like craft beer and biking. Chainline Brewing Company, a bike-inspired craft beer brand from the USA, is now available in the Philippines.
Inspired by the active outdoor lifestyle of Seattle, and situated alongside Kirkland’s brand new bicycle corridor, Chainline Brewing Company was founded in 2014 with the singular goal of creating the highest quality ales and lagers for the discerning craft beer drinker. It’s said to be the fastest growing micro-brewery in Kirkland, Washington, USA, home of fresh hops farms.
Biking has really boomed during the pandemic, both for daily commuter use as people face problems with public transportation, and as one of the few allowable socially distanced leisure activities you can do outdoors. However, with the sizzling summer heat, daily commuters and employees who rely on pure pedal power to get to and from work may find biking regularly too tiring.
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”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.
A lot of people got into biking last year because of the lack of transportation and as a recreational activity. This year, more people will probably be interested in venturing further from the cities for bike exploration or are planning to meet up with friends for group rides. While borders have started easing up, we’re still not out of the woods yet. As long as vaccines are not yet available, it’s better to err on the side of safety.
That being said, biking is a physical exercise that’s beneficial for maintaining health, fitness, and the body’s immune system. When done alone or with members of your household, it can be a relatively safe and rewarding activity.
Continue reading “Biking safety tips during the COVID-19 pandemic”Bohol is an amazing destination for bikers. Panglao Island, in particular, the main tourist area on the island province, offers a great place for leisurely bike rides. Aside from all the water-based activities like island-hopping, snorkeling, scuba diving and dolphin watching, bikers can easily enjoy exploring the land-based attractions on two wheels. There’s no better way to appreciate the charm of island living than by hopping on a bike to bask on the white sand beaches and pass through small towns.
Bike tourism has really boomed in the Philippines during the pandemic. While most of us living in cities have had to content ourselves with urban rides the past few months, there are loads of beautiful places in the Philippines perfect for biking. The thought of being able to bike through coastal and mountain roads in island provinces is something I’m looking forward to doing once we can all travel freely again. The sad lack of green spaces to bike around Metro Manila got me reminiscing about some of the most amazing destinations in the country that I’ve had the chance to explore by bike, particularly Batanes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on a biking boom in the Philippines and around the world, unlike anything we’ve seen before. More and more people are getting into biking as their main means of transportation and leisure weekend activity. Provincial borders may still closed and leisure travel is still prohibited in the NCR, but biking for exercise can really open up a whole new world of adventure.
Despite being a highly urbanized city, Marikina still manages to retain a sense of history, nature, and culture. The “Shoe Capital of the Philippines” is a bike-friendly city that possesses a quiet, small-town charm. Heritage buildings are preserved, the streets are clean and well-maintained, there are actual designated bike lanes, a number of public recreational spots, and green spaces, and lots of charming homegrown garden restaurants, unique shops, and hidden gems here.
Whenever I bike around Marikina, I feel like I’m biking around a small town in the province. While the rest of Metro Manila feels grimy, congested, and overly developed, you still get the feel of the simple provincial life in some spots here. Marikina feels like a modern-day pueblo where family-run businesses are still the norm and cultural heritage is still present. Here’s a look at some of the fun and unique things you can do in Marikina.
Continue reading “10 Fun & Unique Things to do in Marikina”
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