Bentonthephilippines: June 2016

Day 22 Sat 25/06 - San Miguel "kidnapped" by Taliptip Bikers

Today Distance :53.6 km Total: 847.6 km
Today weather : 28 - 37c Cloudy
Time on Bike : 2 hr 51 min
Ave speed : 18.7 kmh Max :38.0 kmh
Ave Climb : 1% Max :4%
Trip Altitude : 125 m Max :64 m
Today spend : 75 php Total : 9951 php

Today arrangement had been made to meet up with a group of bikers from Taliptip organised by Eric who hosted me in his home earlier. They a group of 4 bikers Eric,Eddie,Jack and James met up with me in Maasin and brought me to their usual eatery stall for a great breakfast of beef noodles, rice with dishes of veggie and roasted pork. After the food,we started to ride back to Taliptip on a punishing pace to beat the other traffic. I was able to keep pace with them with my loaded bike as i had somewhat got the experience of riding in busy road in Philippines for the past 3 weeks. A note to any cycle tourist, in order to survive riding alongside with the jeepneys and tricycles,you have to beat them,and if you can't ,then you have to join them,no one will entertain you if you show your unhappiness by shouting,that;s my advice.

Goodbye San Miguel and on the road

"kidnap" by the Taliptip bikers and brought me to a famous restaurant in Maasin

Escorted by the group leader Tinto back to Taliptip,no way to escape

Eric from right,Eddie and Jack

Finally got a chance to taste the local delicacy- balut

Day21 Fri 24.06 - San Jose to San Miguel

Today Distance :93.7 km Total: 794.0 km
Today weather : 30 - 39c Cloudy with shower rain
Time on Bike : 5 hr 42 min
Ave speed : 16.4 kmh Max :25.0 kmh
Ave Climb : 2% Max :3%
Trip Altitude : 72 m Max :143 m
Today spend : 527 php Total : 9876 php

Today marks the longest riding distance and hours from San Jose to Canabatuan,Santa Rosa,Gapan and arrived in San Miguel almost 5pm. Had some difficulties in finding accommodation, Kyoto Inn was too costly at 1000php overnight,another guesthouse shown in my gps is runs out of business when i arrived there, asking around for other options,and finally landed in a substandard RL Lodge for 300 php,couldn't sleep well the whole night as the room looks like a prisoner cell so hot with only one small miserable windom,my bike just managed to park inside with very limited space to move around,for the 1st time i have to open up my groundsheet bedsheet,and sleeping bag to cover the bed for safety against any bedbugs.So far this is the worst room i stayed.

On the way to San Miguel

Giant head of Buddha rare scene in Philippines

Don't miss this roadside coconut drink if you are cycling in Philippines 10php

Pork and onion in sizzling hot plate served with rice 60 php

Tested once and it really means it really STRONG...

Salamat Po ( is it means the same as Selamat Jalan in Malaysia)

Day20 Thu 23/06 - Santa Fe to San Jose City

Today Distance :56.6 km Total: 700.3 km
Today weather : 30 - 38c Cloudy with shower rain
Time on Bike : 3 hr 40 min
Ave speed : 15.4 kmh Max :50.5 kmh
Ave Climb : 3% Max :23%
Trip Altitude : 437 m Max :877 m
Today spend : 583 php Total : 9349 php

Dalton Pass or Balete Pass is very historic and is a national shrine that commemorates General Dalton, who died of a sniper's bullet. It joins Nueva Ecija and Nueva Viscaya and is located at about 3,000 feet above sea level, where Caraballo Sur meets the Sierra Madre. Being the only access between Pampanga and Cagayan Valley, the pass became the scene of much bloody fighting during the final stages of World War II and bore witness to the death of almost 17,000 Japanese, American, and Filipino soldiers. Commemorative markers stand by the road’s highest point, which also offers a good view into the headlands. Dalton Pass is likewise the gateway to the Cagayan Valley Region and the Ifugao Rice Terraces. ( statements taken from Wikipilipinas)