A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
NOTE: Updated April 2023
Typical museums in the country only appeal to history buffs and art enthusiasts. Visitors are expected to just look at artwork hanging on walls or stare at artifacts behind glass cases, learn historical facts, and that’s it. In most museums, photography isn’t even allowed, leaving visitors with no visual proof of their visit.
Bikers are always on the lookout for scenic spots to visit for a bit of nature and greenery in the city. Aside from Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife and Quezon Memorial Circle, one of the public parks currently open to visitors as of January 2022 is La Mesa Eco Park in Quezon City.
Much has been written about the benefits of nature and green spaces. For many people who have been cooped up inside their homes for almost two years, a simple walk in a park or bike ride with a view of trees can really help boost one’s mood. Nature parks and green spaces can provide a respite from the stress of urban life and offer city dwellers a place to relax and recharge.
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”With the shift to Alert Level 3 in various areas in the Philippines, museums around Metro Manila have been given the go-signal to reopen, with limits on the number of visitors and online reservations systems in place. One of the 27 history museums under the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) that recently reopened is the Presidential Car Museum (Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan) inside the Quezon Memorial Circle.
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.
What is it with nostalgia these days?
I’ve been missing everything about daily life pre-COVID, especially eating out. Who else misses the simple act of dining in at a restaurant and just chilling out with friends over beers at a bar? Part of what makes dining out special is the ambiance of the restaurant, the service, and the company and laughter as you enjoy your meals together with friends and family.
Anyway, this got me thinking of the oldest restaurants and food establishments in the vicinity that I can patronize for delivery/takeout and hopefully revisit when they’re allowed to reopen. It gives me hope to see establishments that remain resilient and have managed to endure through various crises including World War II, fires, typhoons, economic recessions, and currently this global pandemic where the Philippines is facing the world’s longest lockdown.
Continue reading “Oldest & Most Nostalgic Restaurants in Quezon City”The Quezon Memorial Circle or QMC is a national park located in Quezon City, the largest and most populous city of Metro Manila, which once served as the official capital of the Philippines from 1948 to 1976. Commonly referred to as the “Circle,” this park is located inside a large traffic roundabout bounded an Elliptical Road. Back in the ’80s, my cousins and I used to go here a lot, for bike rentals, roller skating, picnics, or to just enjoy the green surroundings. It got a bit run down during the ’90s, but in recent years, it’s gotten upgrades and improvements. I’ve revisited QMC for various events over the years, but I tend to take it for granted. It’s just something that’s always been there. But the lockdown has left me with a newfound appreciation for any accessible urban destination that has greens and open spaces.
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.
Continue reading “Biking in Balara Filters Park”A lot of restaurants have come and gone along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City. As a resident, I have top 10 personal favorites that I regularly go to including Friuli, Tomato Kick, Roberta’s Seafood Restaurant and Indonyaki, to name a few. While these days, the area seems saturated with food parks, Samgyupsal and milk tea places catering to the student crowd, some residences have been converted into restaurants ideal for quiet time or small gatherings. Here are some of the relatively newer restaurants (opened from 2017 to 2019) that offer unique food and a cozy homey ambiance in the Maginhawa neighborhood.
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