Jariel’s Peak. An Oasis on top of a Mountain

Following the blog of Pinoy Rider Erik Gatmaitan, I found myself here, at Jariel’s Peak. http://pinoyrider.com/jariels-peak/

Situated on top of a mountain 2,331 feet above sea level is a lone, kinda odd, relaxing stop, Jariel’s Peak. Named after the visionary Ariel Evangelista, the owner, the place is a trekker’s stop. Haven for mountain bikers, riders, joggers, mountaineers or just anybody who wants to get away from everybody. Truly a home away from home [or work]. There is no telecom signal here.

The food here is superb and unique in a good way.

There is the all-time-fav, Sizzling Mountain Snails. These are not your ordinary backyard snails. These are huge, knuckle-size snails.

There is also the Mountain pig delicacy. Lean chunks of pork, not like in the supermarket.
The taste is smoky and gamy.Nice.

There are others exotic delicacies to try and discover.

Did I mention the coffee. I love it!

Jariel also has rooms for rent if you want to stay overnight. There is the modern room and the cottage down the hill.

Hey! Check this out. Jariel has unusual residents here.

Tisay,the eagle. Queen of the Infanta.Quezon skies.

Mimay, the ever curious monkey and the friendly doggies.

It is windy here, and cold.

Ariel has a hammock, some earthly furniture and everything else that makes you want to relax.

Some other establishments are already popping up all around and the main highway might be open to public transport soon so visit Jariel’s Peak NOW!

This is PINOY ADVENTURE RIDER. Thanks for reading.


“If you CAN, Do it! Because there will come a time that you can’t anymore even if you want to.”

– Pinoy Adventure Rider

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Great Food and Great People at BIKERS CAFE

BIKERS CAFE is an open-type mini resto with bar that caters to joggers, bikers and the like. It is located at C6 road near Timberland Heights in San Mateo.Rizal.

You can dine at their nipa huts and have an overlooking view of the metro. Better bring your jacket at night because its quite cold there.

We are always here because the food is superb, prepared home-style with love. You will be welcomed by husband-wife tandem Bojie/Ella Pangan who are also avid bikers/riders, son Bryan, daughter Monica and other family members.

[photo grabbed from Bikers Cafe Facebook page]

My brother Oliver celebrated his birthday here last year. It was a lot of fun in a unique way.

Here is the MENU and I recommend all of them. Try them all!

Let’s say you just arrived with your bike and you just need a light snack, the MAMI noodle dish is for you. It has veggies, chicken, boiled egg and fried pork. Nice!

Ah, you have not eaten anything when you left home? No problem, the TAPSILOG is for you. It’s a complete,strong meal comprising of 1 cup of rice, egg, some veggies and the famous cured meat called TAPA. It can be pork, beef or horse.

You also have to try the Filipino famous Pancit Bihon and the Pancit Canton[Canton has thicker noodles].

I mean just look at it, have you seen anything better?

And there is also, FISH. Dinaing na Bangus or Milkfish split in half and mashed with salt, pepper, garlic and vinegar. Tasty!

And last but not the least, the super-famous PORK/BANGUS [fish] SISIG . Ridiculously delicious!

[NOTE: these are not all their MENU, these are just the ones I ordered]

The prices are affordable, don’t let the ambiance fool you. Cool. That’s all.

This is PINOY ADVENTURE RIDER. Thanks for reading Adventure Buddies!

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The 14th Tour of the Fireflies – Bicycles for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation

The Firefly Brigade is a citizen’s volunteer action group formed in 1999 to work for clean air and a habitable, people-friendly environment in our cities.

The fireflies have fled the city because they could not stand its dirty air. All of us cyclists, pedestrians, commuters, even those who ride cars who live, work and raise families in the city may suffer the same fate. We continue to dirty our city’s air with polluting vehicles and factories. As a result, we also risk disappearing like the fireflies.

Why resign ourselves to this fate?

We have a choice. We can fight for clean air and bring the fireflies back.

Tour of the Fireflies

The group organizes an annual cycling caravan known as the Tour of the Fireflies. The tour attracts cyclists from all walks of life and of all ages for a treat of a bike tour around the cities of Metro Manila; still to promote cycling as an environment friendly and healthy form of transportation around the cities.
[taken from Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia]

Nov. 18.2012. Sunday. 5AM. The day of the long-awaited 14th Tour of the Fireflies.

I hooked up with my MTB buddies, Rocky, Rox and Manny. We rode to Tiendesitas in Pasig City.

Upon reaching ground zero, I saw hundreds of fireflies. [bikers] More than last year.

From all walks of life.

There are also the usual sponsors like Pepsi and Nutribar.

It’s Super Jam-packed! We can’t even move. I can’t see the head or the tail of the Tour.

The roads are  not enough.

I stopped and stood at the side of the road photo shooting for 1.5 hours and still, I did not see the tail.

I saw many different bikes and costumes.

I just love the little bikers.

I even saw the Power Rangers.

The 14th Tour of the Firelfies is an overwhelming success.

See you again next year!

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Manila-Matnog-Manila 1,200 kilometer 24-Hour Challenge Year 5

NOV. 17. It’s a Saturday night. 10 PM. I rode to PETRON, Diego Silang in Taguig taking the C5 road.

I just have to see the BEST of the BEST. I can imagine gnarly-looking guys that eat metal for breakfast…or not.

I brought my Nikon camera. I saw familiar faces from the SAFERUN 2012.

I saw MME[Marikina Motorcycle Enthusiasts] riders,Glen,Bunso,Erik,Jun,Chad,Sir Francis and many others.

Tonight is the night of the MMM5 take-off at exactly 12 AM.

The Manila-Matnog-Manila 24 Hour Challenge is a motorcycle feat done only by the toughest, most determined and most disciplined 2-wheeled riders.

Some may even say it is CRAZY, but all I can tell you is, it is very REAL!

Here’s why.

The riders’ task is to complete a 1,200 kilometer road trip in 24 hours. Trying not to sleep in 24 hours is already a challenge to most people.

Do you know where they are going?

They will be travelling to MATNOG,SORSOGON, the ass-end of the Island of Luzon, and back.

I can just imagine that and I remembered my North loop ride when I did 370 kilometers a day and got so tired already.

The event is not a race. No awards. No trophies. No money. Some sponsors. No big network media coverage.

I salute these guys, that is why other riders look up to them and make them say “I wish I can do that too.”

This is PINOY ADVENTURE RIDER.

Thanks for reading Adventure Buddies!

“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.” – Anonymous

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“Kamay ni Hesus”[Hand of Jesus] Here we COME!

It’s 11.11.12 [Nov.11.2012] Sunday.

Perfect riding Sunday. We are going to “Kamay ni Hesus.”

I googled it and saw a giant statue of Jesus on top of a mountain. I MUST see it.

Located in Lucban,Quezon around 3 hours drive from Manila is “Kamay ni Hesus” [Hand of Jesus]
situated at the foot of Mt.Banahaw,Brgy.Tinamnan,Lucban,Quezon.

This place is a well-known pilgrimage site and where the healing priest Fr.Joey Faller resides.

Before going to Lucban, we passed by Lumban where the famous Caliraya lake is situated.

Now according to WIKI,Caliraya Dam is an embankment dam located in the town of Lumban province of Laguna, in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range of the Philippines.

The reservoir created by the dam, Lake Caliraya, initially supplied one of the oldest hydroelectric plants in the Philippines, and later became a popular recreational area for numerous water sports and fishing.

The dam construction was started in 1939 and a small hydroelectric plant was operated in 1942. [WIKI stop]

ON TO Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban.Quezon.

Upon reaching the place, you will be amazed at how grand the view is. A 50 foot statue of Jesus Christ is on top of a mountain.

If you want to reach the top, you will have to climb a 295-step stairway made of rocks and stones. This ordeal will serve as somewhat, penance for your sins and exercise too.

On the way to the top are more giant statues of the 14 Stations of the Cross made of cement.

Going up, everything turned to black and white or that’s just me.

Going down is easier..I think..faster if you just let go and fall rolling like a stone.

Finally, I managed to go down. The ordeal made me hungry and immediately spotted a food store.

I will go for the Lucban specialty PANCIT HABHAB. Pancit HABHAB is made of thick miki noodles with sauteed ground pork and veggies.

The big difference of this noodle dish from other noodle dishes is it is mixed with vinegar. It is not for me. Habhab is a way of eating it. Using a piece of banana leaf as plate, you shove it strait to your mouth, like a cave person…in a good way…hmmm…Economical. No more dirty dishes.

The weather is cool. The roads are mighty fine!

It is 2 PM. Meryenda time or snack. Halo Halo anyone. Halo Halo is a mixture of sweet fruits and candied veggies with shaved ice, milk and sugar. Aleng Taleng’s Halo Halo is one of the BEST if not the best [at least according to one TV show].

It is time to give it a try.

Php 75. Cool. The presentation is not very inviting. Not colorful or fancy. I tasted it. Promising. There is something on top. The waitress told me it’s candied coconut pulp. Brilliant! And the milk, carabao’s milk, I think..WOW! Super delicious. Worth the travel. 2 thumbs up.

Time to ride home.

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“Tayo na sa Antipolo!” [Let’s Go to Antipolo!]

Antipolo is a city in the Philippines located in the province of Rizal; about 25 kms. east of Manila.

The city was named after the tipolo (breadfruit) tree (Artocarpus incisa), which was in abundance in the area.

The city is popular for being a pilgrimage site. It prides itself as the “Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines.”

You will find many religious items for sale near the Antipolo Church.

The Marian image of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage or the Virgin of Antipolo, which was brought in from Mexico in 1626, and enshrined in the Antipolo Cathedral has a continuous following among Filipino Catholics since the Spanish era.

A popular custom of pilgrims to the Virgin of Antipolo is the trek going to its shrine on the eves of Good Friday and May 1, from various locations in Rizal Province and Metro Manila.

Some pilgrims would begin the trek from Quiapo Church in Downtown Manila following the procession of the image.

There is also an existing custom to have new vehicles blessed at the church in the belief that this will ensure the safety of the vehicle and its passengers.

We are here today to get a new motorcycle get blessed. You will have to  make a donation at the church office and a priest will come to your vehicle at the parking lot. All the riders with us will stand as Godfathers to the newly blessed or [newly baptized] motorcycle. A celebration will come soon after.

Its higher elevation than that of Metro Manila provides a scenic view of the metropolis, especially at night.

Its locally grown mangoes and cashews are popular among tourists, as well as suman – a local delicacy made out of glutinous rice. [information from Wiki]

 

 

This is Pinoy Adventure Rider. Thanks for reading.

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