Posts

Week 14: Going to Daranak Falls is #BetterByBicycle

-
Image
One early morning, I woke up feeling restless,  I couldn’t go back to sleep so I pulled a book and tried to read. But I couldn’t focus so I took out my stereoscope and viewed some scenic reels. I ended up craving for nature. I thought to myself, I have a bike, I could be go there now. Just like that, I decided to have breakfast at Daranak Falls. I’ve been meaning to do a ride there, though I’ve always thought I’d do it with a group. The good thing about having a bicycle is it allows me to travel spontaneously. I should say though, that I’m also lucky to be living so close to nature -mountains, forests, rivers, falls and the lake, as it lets me act on spur of the moment wanderlusts. So I packed my bag and mounted my bike and set off to Daranak Falls. It was just a 10 km ride from my home, but it wasn’t easy. About 70 percent of the ride was ascent, 15 percent flat and 15 percent descent. I’m not a monster cyclist and I’m using a 5-speed internal gear hub so I’m not ashamed to say ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 13: Getting Lost is #BetterByBicycle

-
Image
I've been in Hoi An, Viet Nam quite a few times last year, that in my latest visit, I kinda got confident about going to places without using GPS. I'd always thought that I should slowly wean off my reliance on technology specially when going to places, like a real traveler. One of the things I do on a weekly basis whenever I'm in Hoi An is bringing organic waste to Hoi An Eco Hub ,  a community composting facility, which is about 5 km from where I was staying. I thought, I've been there many times so I should be able to go without using Google Maps. So yeah, I got too confident and went there completely relying on my mind map. But my memory betrayed me and halfway through my trip, I started to see unfamiliar landmarks. I got lost. Help Klook! I'm lost! Yes  I can still smile.   The good news was, Hoi An is a great place to get lost. The place is charming, friendly, safe, and most importantly, it has a strong cycling culture. I say that with conviction because even ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 12: Talking to Strangers is #BetterByBicycle

-
Image
Dangling Reflector given to me by Mia Kalyetista of Firefly Brigade / Explore Your City on a Bicycle   I have been in and out of Metro Manila  the past couple of weeks attending bicycle related events. I live about 35-40 km away from the venues and the roads to get there would require a lot of time and huge reservoir of stamina. I need to pass by Antipolo City, the terrain involves plenty and long uphill climb. Being a foldie user, I always utilize a bi-modal transportation whenever I travel to long distance destinations. So the drill would be, from the house, I ride to the bus or jeep station, fold my bike, alight at the bus / jeep terminal, unfold my bike, turn on my Strava, pin my destination in Google Maps, and ride away along with all types of automobiles on major thoroughfares in the city, inhaling all the smoke they spew from their belchers and praying that drivers would be considerate enough to yield to me when needed.  It's really tough being a bike commuter wit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 11: Picking Up a Medical Test Result is #BetterByBicycle

-
Image
So today I was tasked to pick up the medical test result of my dad, and the diagnostic clinic was 9 km away from my home. I have already decided to use my bike but my mom insisted on taking the car because she finds it too far. And I told her, no it's not, I've done it before, I did longer rides. We argued for about a minute or two and in the end she gave up. I have always stood my ground in transport cycling, I know my body better so I know how far I can ride. I made it just in time before the clinic closed. It was a cloudy afternoon, and it's always my favorite weather to ride the bike. On my way back home, I thought of quantifying the economic benefits of cycling, because, let's face it, money talks. So the total distance of the round trip is 18.92 km, and this is what it would cost me if I took a car or the public transportation. Option A: Car - my car fuel consumption is about 12 km/L, and the current rate of gas where I fill up is Php56.65. That means round trip ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 10: Moon Viewing is #BetterByBicycle

-
Image
I am going through a difficult time in my personal life right now, maybe someday I will talk about it here, but the past few days, I feel like even cycling couldn't fix my mood. I still do it anyway because the more I stay still, the more I get restless. I have to move my body and try to shake off the sadness and anxiety. Sometimes, it seems like the world was put up just to nourish loneliness. Then, yesterday, on my way home from my afternoon ride, I saw the Hunter's moon.  It was magical. I continued pedaling but I was also transfixed at the beauty hanging over my hometown. And I thought to myself, thank God I can still see wonderful things despite this gloomy state. I reminded myself, it's a phase and it doesn't last. Things will get better and I have to be in best shape to enjoy it. So just keep pedaling, because one day, I will find my way to a true home. 
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 9: Taking care of Your Mental Health is #BetterByBicycle

-
Image
Happy World Mental Health Day! This year's theme is about prioritizing mental health in the workplace. A lot of the programs and activities, mostly wellness seminars and sessions at work are being conducted in various organizations. But companies should do more than that. For employees to be mentally healthy at work, companies should create and foster an environment and culture that makes every employee feel valued and nourished. But there's an issue that a lot of us forget because it's not part of our jobs but it affects how our day at work could go because of the stress it brings. I'm talking about the COMMUTE TO WORK. The usual queue of people going to work in MRT 3 For most Filipinos, work stress begins during the commute to the workplace and extends until coming home because of the obdurate transport landscape of our cities, especially in Metro Manila, which is among the worst in the world. I spent a good 'ol 14 years in the Metro, 4 years as a college student ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 8: Grocery Shopping is #BetterByBicycle

-
Image
First of all, I'd like to add that grocery shopping is better when you do it in a public market than big supermarket chains like Savemore or Pure Gold, because 1) you support small and local business owners, they need more of our support than the billionaires who own those supermarket chains. 2) The goods being sold in the public market has  no or less plastic packaging unlike the ones sold in supermarkets. The plastic pollution crisis is so alarming and we have to do everything we can in our capacity as consumers to stop the demand to produce more plastics. 3) In public markets, you can haggle for prices whereas everything is fixed price in the supermarkets. Now if you are a budget conscious shopper, then a public market suits you perfectly.  The only advantage of supermarkets that I could think of is that they are airconditioned. No, I can't even count that as an advantage,  it only sounds one at first because of the comfort it brings to shoppers, but the confined and ...
Post a Comment
Read more