Day 4: Danshui Cycling

I asked dear boyfriend if cycling is a sport.  He said yes and I told him that that maybe the only sport that I am good at.  To be honest, I am not really a sporty kid.  I've always been into studying and reading books.  I know, I sound so nerd but it's true.  I am more of a brain person.  Now, that's arrogant.  Hahaha!

As I've mentioned before, there are lots of biking trails in Taipei.  I am always on the look out for cycling places where ever I go.  It started with Amsterdam, then Thailand and now Taipei.  I hope they do the same in Manila but pedestrians are not really safe here.  PedXing aren't honoured here.  

We got off at the Danshui Station which is the last stop on the Red Metro Line.  We don't know where to go to rent bikes then so we asked the Info Desk at the station.  Good thing that he can speak English and there is a bike rental 5 minutes away from the station.  To be honest, I just do my research but I don't do enough.  Good thing I am lucky with life.  LOL!  

We rented our bike for 2 hours for 150NTD each.  BTW, if you want to rent bikes, you should bring a proper ID with you as it is a must.  For 2 hours, we cycled for 12 KM.  I think that's a good achievement.  It was fun cycling from Danshui to Taipei but from Taipei to Danshui is a bit of hell.  We were both hot(we started to cycle at 1PM) and thirsty.  The view gets uglier and uglier the nearer you get to Danshui Station too.  I am just being honest here.

Here are some of the photos from our cycling trip:

We were supposed to go to Lengshuikeng Hot Spring but it was 4PM then and we were advised not to go as the buses run out of service after 6PM.  So to the Photography Street we go but first

Shaved Ice with Mango.  It was the most delicious dessert I had on my Taipei Trip!  I think the place was called Meet Fresh.

The Photography Street.  I tell you, it is cheaper to buy everything in Taipei than in HK.  Luke regret not buying his photography stuff in Taipei.  He now thinks HK is a rip off.

Then we went to Shilin Night Market.  Now we have to clarify this.  Shilin Night Market is a place for foodie and kids.  The proper Shilin clothes market is across the Shilin Night Market.  If you want to eat at Shilin Night Market, please avoid the spicy steak-y as the lady calls it.  It was the worst thing that we had.  It has fried fatty pork with horrible peppery sauce(which makes it spicy) with pasta.  Yes, that's pasta!  Ewwwwww!

I love these cute slip ons.  I don't know when I grew up and stopped using slip ons and chucks.  I miss those days.

The Shilin play place as I call it.  It resembles a "peria".

Wow!  No drama.  I must be well fed.  Hahahaha!

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Project Ailema: Cycling Day 2

I grew up knowing my whole neighbourhood.  How can't I?  Most of my relatives on my Dad's side of the family lives on the same street.  I know that the farmer with his carabao comes home at 5PM, I know when it's time to play and when it's time to go home, I know when the kids from public school comes home.  You get the idea, I know everyone's routine. 

I moved to Cabanatuan from Manila when I was 7 then again when I was 13 for my first year in High School then finally when I turn 16 for University.  I was excited.  Most my cousins our age were in University then.  We were excited to all the fun possibilities.  Since I was busy with Uni, I didn't have time to know my community. Right after Uni, I moved to England.

I took photos while cycling today.  Cycling is a good way to know your neighbourhood.  Don't you agree?

I found few stray cats and dogs.  Dogs are not allowed to roam in our subdivision.  They impound stray dogs.

My Neighbours Bianca and Kittel.  Finally, I asked for their names.  Oh Gosh, I sound like a perv taking photos of kids and asking for their names.

Road Parking.  This is the reason why I don't drive.  I get scared of "roadblocks".

 Kids Playing.  Later when I came back from cycling, I saw one of them crying.  It made me think about my childhood.  I don't remember crying but I remember kids not wanting to play with me cause I was a sore loser.  My granny would beg my cousins to play with me.  Maybe that's the reason why I hung out with my older cousins. 

Few Massive Houses.  This isn't a rare sight to where I live.  I saw few more new massive houses.  When I was younger, I wonder how people get very rich.  I still don't know the answer. :P

I am slowly learning the routine of my neighbourhood.  I passed by a house who got Chinese Station playing loudly everyday.  I wonder if Chinese people live there.  I also see Helps chatting on sidewalk.  Men fixing cars.  I love seeing people and their normal activities.  Cycling is good for me. Must do this everyday.  :)

Oh God It's Monday

Had a very busy day today.  My morning was spent slaving on my 3 weeks worth of laundry.  It was backbreaking but it's good to know that I was able to sort that problem out.  *wink*

I went to Trinoma armed with my to-do list.  I went straight to Kodak to have my photo taken for my CV.  In the Philippines, all CVs must come with a photo.  Pleasing Personality is required and when they say pleasing, it means pleasing to the eyes.  After Kodak, I went to Mary Grace.  I promise to eat good food didn't I? 

Noone is paying attention to this escalator in Trinoma.  It was broken for 3 months now.

 

My Lunch.  Seafood Pasta with Apple Cinnamon and Honey Iced Tea.  It was the best Iced Tea I had so far.  So refreshing.

Although I love Mary Grace's cooking, I have one complain about this dish - the lack of seafood.  It comes with 5 small shells of clam, 2 small shrimps, 2 squid.  I felt ripped off!  The olive made up for the lack of seafood.

I love the Mary Grace's cozy ambiance.  It feels so homey.  The table is decorated by Mary Grace's customer's mail.  So cute.

I love these books too.

After Mary Grace, I went to contact lens hunt.  Apparently, -2.5 is out of stock on most clinics.  I went from Ideal Vision, to Sarabia Optical and then to Vision Express.  On my way to Vision Express, I met people who are working for WWF.  I said, I wanted to help their charity but I am not working at the moment.  On my way back from Vision Express, I smiled to them and they spoke with me.  They ask how old I am, where I finish my Uni and what course I took.  She said that she might have a work for me.  Only they have Management Trainee position at the moment and for UNICEF.  OMG!  This year, I plan to do Charity Work so that's hitting two birds with one stone. 

Finally I went to the Bike shop and got myself a new bike.  I cycled for almost an hour today.  I plan to cycle my way to slim-dome.  :P

Wish Me Luck on Job Hunting and Slimming!  :)

BKK Cycling Tour

Do you like cycling? Do you like temples? Are you up for the 30km challenge? Then this cycling tour is for you.

The idea of a cycling tour in Bangkok is new to me. Whenever I think of Bangkok, shopping and temples come to mind. I didn't even know that a cycling tour is possible until dear boyfriend surprised me with one. He told me to bring trainers. Now, the sound of trainers scares me. First, I hate wearing trainers. I look stupid in one and second, trainers means working out which I absolutely hate. Thank God, it is cycling. I don't consider cycling working out. It is something that I enjoy. :)

Whenever I am with Banks, I eat. No, scratch that, I pig out. Before we left for cycling, I had a big breakfast buffet consisting of Thai, Chinese and Continental. He said, I have an EBS syndrome. Whatever babe! I love to shove my face with food. After I had my last bite of siomai, he told me a diarrhea story. Deja Vu. 5 minutes into the cab trip, I felt the urge to go. It was a horrible feeling. I will try to eat less next time.

Photos from the Bangkok Trip:

Briefing.

Upper body strength is needed in this cycling trip. On the start of the trip, we had to carry our bikes to the stairs.

We also came across this. We were informed that cock fights are illegal in Thailand so they label their activity as "practice". Seriously, I won't be fooled by that.

Temple. It is not bad architectural design. The boat design is intentional. Thai people believe that the buddhas(inside the temple) are the driver that will bring them to Nirvana.

Floating Houses. In this area, post and food are still delivered by boat.

Bodhy Tree. It was said that Buddha attained his enlightenment under this certain type of tree. Thus, you see this tree in every temple. The textile wrapped around the tree are the auspiscious colours wrapped by people who had their fortune read.

Boat Station perhaps?

We had our lunch at a local canteen. It looks something like this. I am a fan of street food. I felt like it is more authentic than eating at overpriced places. That's just me. :P

One of the oldest temple in North of Bangkok.

During our trip, we were able to feed giant catfishes. Something that dear boyfriend enjoyed.

I haven't seen catfishes this big. The guide told us that people are not allowed to catch fishes in the vicinity of the temple. This explains the catfish giantism. LOL! It is as big as my leg!

Thai people believe that broken buddha will bring bad luck. So they leave it here under the banyan tree near the temple.

This temple was abandoned during the war.

Photo of Dear Boy P and I completely blocking the view. :P

We also saw cock fights on our way home. A first for Banks.

So the Million Dollar Question is, did I survive the trip? The answer is barely. As much as I love cycling and getting a tan, I can't stand going under the sun for hours. It took 6 hours to finish the trip, lunch break not included. I had splitting headache towards the end. I was complaining to Luke then. Thank God he was patient with me. It is true he knows how to handle my crankiness. LOL! Thank You Banks for taking me on a cycling trip. I loved it!

Cycling Once More

I know, I blogged about cycling at QC Circle before but since I went again today, I want to write another blog about the QC Circle Improvements. It is still a long way to go and I am worried that they won't be able to finish everything since SB's term is ending soon. Hopefully he runs for 1 more turn to finish everything that he has started. He is a good Mayor.

I saw few security guards around the park. They are building a theme park as well. It is looking more like a family park. I am not embarassed to go there now.

Best of all, it is a non-smoking park.

Project Ailema: Let's get physical!

Yesterday was the most tiring day I had in ages. I cycled with my friend Divine, Robert and my cousin Lorraine. It was supposed to be a light workout. Me and Lorraine didn't dress up for it. She was wearing a cute batwing top while I was wearing a sneaker. Cycling for an hour shouldn't be hardwork right? Yeah, but coupled with an hour badminton without rest is a killer. Mind you, my cousin and I never workout. We hardly move when we are together unless we really have to. To give you an idea, our daily exercise consist of going to her place, walking from her living room to the dining room, garage or to the computer room. Told you hardly moving! LOL!

We went to Quezon City Circle. I am pleasantly surprised of how it looks like now. I have a vague memory of QC Circle. I only remember going with an ex boyfriend to cycle and that's about it. There are few renovations going on with the park at the moment and Katorse set is there as well. Sucks My Number 2 Filo Hottie, Enchong Dee isn't there in the set. Would be good to see him. LOL!

The only bicycle station(translation:monopoly).
Bike Rental ranges from 80-120 for an hour rental. Ayutthaya is still cheap, 150 THB for a day I think.

My outfit. I had a hardtime picking clothes for yesterday. Good thing my brother's closet is open. I took his shirt. It fits me perfectly. It's XS so I am XS still right? :P

Must have girly detail. It killed Lorraine. She didn't notice it until I pointed it out.

Lorraine who needs sunshine and my friend Divine.

Divine and Robert.

Robert drove us to a nearby badminton court. The first 10 minutes was okay. It was fun until our hunger pains kicked in. It was hell from there. Lorraine and I kept on looking at each other counting minutes. Literally, every minute counts. 5 minutes feels like ages and we are not exaggerating. We were knackered at this point and it's only 15 minutes into the game. Robert wanted to play for an hour and since it's both our first time to be spending time with him, we couldn't tell him that we were dying. I told Lorraine to pretend to collapse on the floor but she told me that I am the better actress. She suggested that I should fake an injury. We were laughing the whole time. So we survive an hour badminton and we felt accomplished. It was fun. I don't wanna do it again soon. Hahaha!

Lesson Learnt: Next time, don't do sports with Robert. Just kidding! Must wear comfy clothes and get enough sleep.