1000k to Manila

It’s about 1000 kilometers from my place in Leyte to Manila. It usually takes me about 30 hours of actual drive time including taking the ferry connection between Samar Island and Luzon.

This is the west coast of Bicol near Pasacao – Daruanak Island looms in the distance.

Southern Luzon, or the Bicol province is often overlooked by visitors but it is the best part of this trip for me. Legaspi is one of the best budget places to stay in the Philippines.

The nearby Mt Mayon is always  a beautiful sight, provided the weather is cooperating. The Cagsawa ruins are less than a kilometer off the main highway and well worth stopping in for a look. (old pic)

The restaurants there have good food and it’s a nice place to take a break.

Donsol is a great stop over Jan to April if you are interested in snorkeling with whale sharks. The peak season is Feb and March but I have seen them every month from November till May, but there are not as many and it takes more work to find them.

This truck  had taken this turn too fast. The highway in Samar has been paved over the past 2 years and is a beautiful highway now. Local drivers are not yet conditioned to driving on proper roads and this type of accident is common.

I got my oil changed and a tune up in Naga. You have to keep up on the maintenance of your vehicles if you want to avoid breakdowns, especially  if it’s a motorbike – keep an eye on the tires, chain, spark plug etc and you will make life easier for yourself. Breakdowns are to be avoided in Manila as it will be enough of a madhouse even if your machine is in perfect running condition.

This motorcycle helmet was sitting on the counter as a reminder how dangerous riding a motorcycle is. The driver was spared some serious road rash on his face. The chin protector was broken as well.

Small motorbikes under 400cc are not allowed on the expressway so you have to wind through a bunch of construction and secondary roads to get downtown.

People sometimes ask if I use a road map but it wouldn’t be of much use. Few roads have signs on them and you couldn’t open a map anyway when you are weaving through the traffic.

I usually talk to jeepney and tricycle drivers also caught in traffic for directions.

It looks a bit out of place for a beat up Honda 5 seater habal habal motorcycle to be in Manila . The only problem is that to get to northern Luzon it is almost impossible to bypass the city. This little scrambler will be ideal for the mountains in the Cordilleras.

M.H.Del Pilar outside the Duck Inn.

I am  staying at the Pension Natividad further down the street. Dorm room accommodation there runs 400 pesos per night.

There is secure parking and the breakfast at the pension is pretty good. I had to stop in at the embassy so made a two day stop here.

Also it’s a good break for the rear end after bouncing up and down the last 1000k.

Friendlys guesthouse is 2 streets over on Adriatico and is a good value too.

Sunglasses are only 50 pesos at these portable stalls on the edge of Roxas Boulevard. I got 2 pair because they didn’t even try to shoot me the tourist price.

The barkada camping out on the sidewalk.

Nobody gets too uptight about people sleeping on the sidewalk as long as they leave room to walk by.

It’s warm out with very few mosquitoes and not really that bad if it’s not raining.

The people here are adaptable and seem to remain cheerful in almost any condition.

D homeboyz

Be an educated driver!

Robinson Mall salesgirl selling “Incognito Man” t-shirts!

Manny Pacquio painting at the mall.

Manila can be an interesting place, but for me two or three days and I am ready to move on.

1000k to Manila by motorbike