How to Ride Safely amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

The government recently relaxed the community quarantine guidelines, which gradually reopens up the economy. Thousands of workers are finally allowed to go to their offices, provided they follow strict health and safety protocols. Although public transport will be operational, there are lots of limitations to ensure social distancing among passengers.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), the resumption of public transport systems will be done in two phases, says the Department of Transportation (DoTR).

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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.

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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.

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First-Timers Guide to Buying a Motorcycle in the Philippines

So you’re looking to buy your first motorcycle but don’t know where to start. There are just so many motorcycle models and brands out there that it can feel pretty intimidating just browsing online or going to a shop to inquire about a motorcycle when you’ve never owned one before. I know how overwhelming it can be to look at a spec sheet and have no idea what all the numbers mean.

While I’m not really into the technical side of motorcycling, I think I can speak from experience. Together, my husband and I have bought 5 motorcycles: a Kawasaki Eliminator, Yamaha Mio Fino, Royal Enfield Classic 350, Suzuki Thunder (custom), and Kymco Like 150. I also rent motorbikes and scooters a lot when I travel and have had the chance to do test rides on various units for ride reviews.

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10 Beginner-Friendly Scooters available in the Philippines

NOTE: This article was originally written in 2020 and motorcycle prices may have changed since then.

With social distancing considered the “new normal” everywhere in public transport, lines and queues are longer on the MRT, buses, and jeepneys. Because of this, many are probably thinking of buying a motorcycle to make their daily commute easier.

Many first-time riders, however, don’t know what kind of bike they need and are intimidated by the choices. For beginners, nothing beats the simplicity of scooters. With these bikes, you just turn the key, twist the throttle and go. No need to fumble with a clutch to switch speeds.

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How Travel in the Philippines May Change after COVID

The travel and tourism industry has been hit hard by the global pandemic. At this point, everything remains uncertain, and we can’t really know if and when things will bounce back to “normal.” As movement around the world has become restricted, airlines and hotels have been forced to cut jobs to lower costs. We can’t expect the same frequency of flights and the vast travel options that we had just two months ago.

Travel as we know it will never be the same again. Here are just a few predictions for travel in the post-COVID era in the Philippines.

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10 Travel-Inspired Activities You Can Enjoy Indoors

There are times when we just can’t travel. Maybe, we’re still working and saving up enough funds for our next getaway. Maybe, the weather isn’t really great, so it’s really better to just stay at home. Or maybe, the entire world is on lockdown because of a global pandemic, flights have been canceled, public transportation is halted, and everyone is required to go on a mandatory quarantine in the confines of their homes. It happens.

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6 Ecotourism Activities in Camiguin

These days, a lot of destinations brand themselves as ecotourism or sustainable destinations. This means they rely on small-scale tourism where tourists can visit relatively undisturbed natural areas and enjoy low-impact nature activities compared to commercial mass tourism. Camiguin, the “island born of fire” offers an amazing ecotourism destination in the Philippines. The island province is blessed with natural attractions and tourism efforts revolve around conserving the environment and improving the well-being of the local people.

Here are just a few eco-tourism activities you can enjoy in Camiguin.

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Hiking up Mt. Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin

Those who have been to Camiguin often rave about its stunning white-sand beaches, freshwater springs, and sweet lanzones. But there’s a lot more to love in this tiny island province. For motorcycle riders and bikers, doing an island loop on two wheels is a real treat. The food scene is surprisingly good and varied. For mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts, the island’s volcanoes, particularly Mt. Hibok-Hibok, offer a challenging but rewarding hiking destination.

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Food Trip: Camiguin

When it comes to natural wonders, there’s a lot to love in Camiguin. But aside from the white sand beaches, springs, and waterfalls and volcanoes, I find the food scene here pretty interesting. There are currently no fast-food joints or malls in the tiny island province because locals really want to preserve homegrown restaurants and cafes.

Here are just a few notable dining destinations in Camiguin where you can grab a bite to eat in between island-hopping, hiking or sightseeing.

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