Got up and outta the hotel just before 10am in the morning as we're heading to pick up my ride here in the Philippines!
I've been warned by many that the traffic in the Philippines can be erratic, especially in Manila where it is often congested too, and I had my first taste of it here when Maynard picked me up on his Ducati Scrambler.
Let my expression tell you all about it...
Hahaha.
But! Nothing's gonna stop me from riding here so say a big "Hello!" to my ride for the trip! The BMW F700GS! :D
To be honest, I've always had this feeling of being intimated by touring motorcycles.. even till this day!
I'm not exactly very tall (standing at 165cm) and my arms are far from strong, hence such big bikes that have high CG never fails to reduce my confidence in handling them.
I'd be like "omg omg dunno can anot.. then if traffic jam how how".
Furthermore it was my first time riding in Philippines, where I had to get used to the bike while adapting to the erratic traffic here in Manila while checking out everything else around me and not forgetting, take photos on the go.... hah.
But the one thing that does help a bit is that I'm used to tipping toes when riding because.. that's what people who have short legs like me have to do hahaah. My very first bike was a KTM200 dirt bike and it was really high, so that's where I started!
Having said that, tipping toe on a light 95KG bike and a heavier 200KG bike when stationary or going on off road is veryyyy different. At the end of the day, you just tell yourself you can do it.. and before you know it, you're doing it :)
For a start, Maynard took me on a little tour around Manila city.
From the Manila Cathedral,
to Rizal Monument,
to taking random selfies with a tourist and the police officer,
and selfies with the traffic and people on the road LOL.
We then decided to escape the blazing heat and crazy traffic by heading out towards the mountains in Tanay!
Just a short hour ride to cooler weather yaaasss!
The road up to Cafe Katerina was nice, curvy and pretty smooth, a popular route that many local bikers enjoy during the weekends with friends. Sounds similar to how bikers from Kuala Lumpur would ride up to Genting just for a quick run.
What a like about this place is that it's very un-commercialised. No fancy set ups, just raw local food and friendly people :)
The air up here was fresh and invigorating, as Maynard shared with me about other popular riding places in Philippines over lunch before I found myself cuddling with this cutie furball.
After a good chill out time at Katrina Cafe, it's time to head down the mountain and back to Manila city.
The roads were smooth and,
apart from having to overtake these Jeepneys occasionally, there wasn't much traffic in sight.
With the sun setting slowly behind us, painting the scenery around in golden orange,
the return leg was simply therapeutic.
[Singapore.Manila.Tanay.Manila]
[Mileage Clocked: 125KM]
[Weather/Temperature: 36°C/Scorching Hot]
Next stop: Anilao, Batangas