Bentonthephilippines

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Day 40 Wed 13/07 - A Note of Saying THANK YOU

Coming to the end of my bike touring in Philippines,that is on the eve of my flight back to Malaysia.I would like to dedicate this last post of bentonthephilippines blog to those kind,friendly couples or individuals who have help me along the way,,your warm hospitality make me feel home away from home.Once again Thank You.....

Mr Dale Roberts and wife Litz went as far to fetch me in the airport at 2.30am when i first arrived on 6/6 .Hosted me in their cozy home in Alabang and also my last 3 days before my flight back to Malaysia on 14/7.Thank You

Eric Villanueva and wife Rina Evangelista hosted me in their home in Taliptip when i was stopping at a roadside stall for drink.Eric approached and invited me to his house for lunch.We became instant good friend chatting all about bike touring.I offered to put up a night.Rina is a good cook and always making sure i had something to eat and she knew my love for coffee.I make a promise to come back after my tour in Baguio,Sagada,and Banaue.We ride and camped in Mt Arayat,hell ride to Metro Manila China Town or just simply hang around in Eddie's scooter shop in my 2 weeks stay in Taliptip.Thank you

Leonard Felix and her girlfriend Maria came to my rescue when I arrived late in Baguio looking for the Guesthouse mentioned in my gps. I couldn't find it and desperately looking for a place to stay as the day is started to get dark. My intention is just to put up my tent in front of his uncompleted house for a night, but he invited me to set my tent inside the 2nd floor for safety reason .I stayed 3 nights with him and he brought me to visit the Baguio town in a jeepney.Thank you

Mr Bojie,wife Lalaine and daughter ( right) hosted a farewell dinner in his house with Jack in the middle. I really enjoy the dinner.Thank you

Jack (centre) is a strong rider and used to hang around in Eddie's shop in the afternoon after helping his wife delicacies shop,only regret not having any chance to try out .Thank you

Eddie Samonte, the scooter master can turn any junk into life again is very friendly and the villagers like to hand around in his shop.If you want black coffee just hang around here. I went to his house for fast internet and also a meal cooked by her wife.Thank you.

Met James as he was in the ride to meet me in Maasin. He is a quiet man doesn't like to talk much.Thank you.

Louis is a young handsome man who joined us in the ride to Mt Arayat National Park.Always busy with his mobile phones. Thanks for the lovely mango

Jess and wife Riza hosted me for 3 days in Batangas.Both are doctors.Thank you

Bike boxing ready for home

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Day 38 Mon 11/07 - Batangas City back to Alabang where I started

Today Distance : 94.6 km Total: 1291.2 km
Today weather : 28 - 37c Cloudy morning with heavy afternoon rain
Time on Bike : 5 hr 35 min
Ave speed : 16.9 kmh Max :55.0 kmh
Ave Climb : 1% Max :7%
Trip Altitude : 456 m Max :378 m
Today spend : 440 php Total : 12321 php

The weather was good when we were ready to roll by 5am. Jess n wife Riza woke up early too to prepare a simple breakfast for us and sent us off after taken some farewell pictures. The morning breeze was so refreshing with very board road to ourselves, we really enjoy the ride even though the terrain is gradually on the climb. We were clocking good distance on some flat and descent roads, but the weather took a sudden changed after Lipa, almost without warning, it rained like cats and dogs and the road surface was flooded in no time. Eric suggested to have our lunch in Jollibee while waiting for the rain to stop. We continued our ride after the rain and was a little lost inside the Alabang town.Thanks for the many security guards around to show us the west service road which eventually leads to Alabang Hill Village.Time to say goodbye to Eric who has to continue ride back to his home in Taliptip. It has been such a wonderful times staying and riding together with Eric.Thank you my great friend and really hope to see you soon in Malaysia.

Thank you my Batangas host Jess n Riza

Ready for my final ride from Batangas to Alabang

Our usual stop at 7-11

One rare wefie shot

Taking shelter lunch in Jollibee while the rain is pouring outside

I love my rain coat found by the roadside in Vietnam

The bridge is under repair only accessible to pedestrians n bikers

Rain has stopped so the camera is out to shoot

Arriving at the door step of Robert n Litz house by 2.30pm

Monday, July 11, 2016

Day 37 Sun 10/07 - Walking tour in Batangas City

My stay in Batangas for 3 days

A MTB race is coming up in Batangas

Traditional bike shop with many bike parts on sale

A grand hotel in Batangas - Integrity Net

Eric with the faded wall painting

Calumpang River flow into the sea in Batangas

Walking across the bridge to the city center

Batangas city center

Basilica Minor of Infant Jesus and Immaculate Conception.

Sunday inside the church

A father and his daughter

Outside the church

The church in front of the mini roundabout in Batangas

Plaza Mabini

Not sure who is this lady

The history of Batangas

At the 7-11 counter

Inside the 7-11

Enjoying a drink outside the 7-11 table

Sitting next to a jeepney driver

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Day 36 Fri 08/07 - Rainy Day Long Ride to Batangas City

Today Distance : 145 7 km Total: 1196.6 km
Today weather : 28 - 37c Rain and strong wind
Time on Bike : 9 hr 03 min
Ave speed : 16.0 kmh Max :43.5 kmh
Ave Climb : 1% Max :7%
Trip Altitude : 541 m Max :425 m
Today spend : 275 php Total : 11881 php

Batangas City is known as the "Industrial Port city of Calabarzon" located some 110 km south of Manila. Eric has a brother living in Batangas and both are crazy about playing tennis,that's part of the reasons of making this ride and also my farewell ride leaving Taliptip where I was like one of the villager there after staying for nearly 2 weeks.Taliptip will be hard to forget with friends like Eric n wife Rina where I stayed. Eddie and his scooter shop where we hang around. Bojie n wife Lalaine who cooked a farewell dinner for me.Louis and his mango,and also my smoking partners James n Jack. And now in Batangas, Jess n wife Riza for hosting me in their cozy home. I would like to say a big big "Thank You" and "Salamat" for me like your own brother.Hope to see you in Malaysia and don't forget to contact me,if any of you would come to Malaysia one day.
The ride from Taliptip to Batangas was delayed by rain and only started at 6.30am arriving Batangas at 6.30pm, lasted 9 hours with a distance of 145 km. This was the same day as the typhoon Nepartak hit Taitung in Taiwan.We rode with rain coat on and brazed the rain with strong wind coming from the side,some roads were flooded with water but did not stop us from riding as our intention is to arrive Batangas before dark, we managed to have 2 coffee stops in 7-11,a breakfast stop and a lunch stop in Cabuyao.From the gps map,there were supposed to have 2 lakes on either side but what we rode thru' is still very busy and populated streets. There were some long challenging dragon backs as we approached our destination and enjoying a short downhill all the way to Batangas.Thanks Eric for accompanying me on the ride and also Jess and wife Riza.