Cycle Touring the Philippines
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- Опубликовано: 20 окт 2024
- After a 3 year hiatus due to Covid, it’s time to head overseas again and Cycle Tour another far off land. This time it’s the Philippines. Join me as I explore some of the Islands in the Visayas Region of the Philippines starting and finishing in Cebu. The trip is challenging, energy draining and even involves a crash causing me to break a couple of ribs which, although slowed me down, failed to deter me from finishing what I started.
Grab ya gear; Lets Go!
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I’m not a cyclist…. But here I am watching a cycling series…. Enjoying the different perspective Steve O, good stuff 👍🏼👍🏼
Gotta be versatile...a man for all seasons. Thanks for watching.
Welcome back. Love following your adventure. Ride safe.
Watch this space...I'm about to depart and cycle tour South Korea in a few weeks.
😀
Good to see you back Steve, great video and insight, your tooth issue reminded me of the same issue I had on a work trip to USA many yrs back, works insurance covered it, $$$, hope your rear end sorts it self out with a few days off.
Welcome to the Crown Club. As an Aussie, I've had 2 Crowns, the same symptoms as Steve, both done in Chiang Mai Thailand. Saved a bleeding fortune.
Good to see you back, Steve. Great video.
Hi WMS, glad you enjoyed the journey…next vid out in a few days.
Thanks for watching.
Good to see you on the pushy again.
It was good to get home...could be my last hurrah! I'm feeling my age lol.
Hi Steve, I was born in Perth and moved just south of Manila, been here 20 years.
The traffic can be quite daunting, be careful.
Everytime I go back to Perth I have to really concentrate to drive on the correct side!
Safe adventure.
Bloody hell Steve! 65 you say, I'm only 59 and riding motorbikes and working like a dog has ruined me mate. Good onya for putting in the hard yards for us. I must thank you though had a real shitty day today but seeing you going hard made my day a whole lot better, Cheers mate!
Glad your day improved...thanks for watching.
Good to see ya back mate,Philippines,been there quite a few times,doesn't really turn me on much.Enjoyed the vid,wfe liked it as she is from there.
Hi Norm, yeah, I haven’t considered the Philippines before now. I was running out of places to see in SEAsia. I don’t think I will be going back anytime soon. Thanks for watching. Next Chapter out in a few days time.
hi Norm, turned you on enough to go back a few times.
This is very interesting Steve, I will be looking for the next episode.
Hi Bill, out later this week (I hope).
Hey mate, i know I'm late to the party. I just finished 3000kms in New Zealand and used bepthanen cream for the first week or so. I had zero issues with the bum. Kudos on taking on the Philippines. Good people, great beaches, awesome diving and nice scenery. But i never had much luck with finding great food though. Look forward to the rest of your journey.
Well, you got back - I assume safely... - You're a brave man, Steve!! Hope you get to relax at some point...
I hope so too! Thanks for watching.😊
Great video Steve ride safe
Chapter three out tomorrow (Sunday). Thanks for watching.
What amazing memories you’ll have. I would love to do something like this 😊doesn’t surprise me the ambulances lol the traffic 😱
It was pretty chaotic. Thanks for watching.
How do you know the patient inside was there because of an RTA? Might have been some other health emergency totally unrelated to the roads.
@@alexmorgan3435 you know what, you're absolutely correct. I guess I was just selfishly mindful of the risks directly affecting me. TBH, I found the drivers pretty respectful (although they are risk takers at times). It could have been anything. Thanks for watching.
was wondering when I'd see another video. seems your traveling a bit rough. but nice to "ride along with you" . safe travels.
Hi jz, next vid out later today…thanks for watching.
You and me both m8, been lookin at The Philippines myself with a Pamarawan Bulacan [Luzon] base myself, although a battery operated trike sort of thing for me. There is one I know about in Angeles City. Nice ride. Hope you enjoyed it.
Dentist on day -1, things can only get better, great video, top class, thanks very much.Good leather chamois nix help, and always rinse them and yourself in 50/50 vinegar and water.
Yeah, I was wearing loose shorts with padding...it just wasn't quite cutting it. I've learnt a valuable lesson! Thanks for watching.
Hi mate. I went to Cebu city a few years ago when fillings were $10 aud. My dental work was as cheap as chips. I visited Alona beach and Bohol (chocolate hills and Tarsia monkeys etc. I agree with your descriptions lol. The people though are generally very hospitable. Negotiate everything! Cheers 👍🏻🙏🦘
Hi Grahame, overall, it was a positive experience. I'm glad i did the trip. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Fare does me old cobber doing this at 65 keeping you fit, makes a change from the outback on the motorbikes. mind you Aussies are used to a bit of heat not like us poms, ride safe!
Have you considered using a motorbike to tour in SE Asia? I have cycle toured in Taiwan which I really enjoyed but in general I have always thought Southeast Asia is a bit too hot, humid and mountainous for a bicycle. I have just come back from a Saigon to Hanoi solo motorbike trip on a Honda XR150 (only sold as an ag bike here in Oz) which was a blast. The 150cc dual sport is perfect for Southeast Asia.
Also Steve as I noticed with your Taiwan trip you need to do a bit more background research before you head off. 😆 I have only been to the Philippines once (Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros) touring on a scooter. But it is a different kettle of fish than Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Hotels are relatively expensive and poor quality so $25 a night was optimistic and the food is pretty dreadful. Also my experience of SE Asia in general is that 90% of the population lives on the coast so you want to avoid those areas (busy roads and endless urban sprawl) and head for the remote mountain areas where the roads are empty and nature beautiful and the air clean. Hence why a scooter or small motorbike would be the go. Despite its drawbacks I did enjoy the Philippines a lot and want to head back there.
I agree the food is ''pretty dreadfull'' when adverts tout cracker biscuits
as being ''sarap',' tasty, it shows what to expect.
Interesting. Vietnam dont recognise International Drivers Licences. How did you overcome that? I did a 5 day Adv Ride in Bali a few years back. I did hire a scooter on two occasions to some inland exploring on this trip. Scooter touring is on my radar but only after im too old to cycle tour (maybe I'm there already lol).
@@mongreldogproductions Yes if you have an Australian licence like I do it is strictly by the letter of the law illegal to ride there. They do recognise the IDPs from the 1968 treaty apparently but not the earlier 1949 treaty which covers places such as Australia and the USA. In practice however the police are uninterested and no one ever seems to get stopped or fined if they have a valid foreign licence and IDP (despite both not being valid! An absurd situation.) I suspect that is because the situation is all so technical and impractical that your average cop in Vietnam is totally unaware that someone like me (I have a WA motorcycle licence and carry an IDP) is riding illegally. The only way for me to ride legally there would be to apply for a Vietnamese licence but this is not really practical and again the letter of the law I believe is that you should be resident there with an appropriate valid visa ie not just a tourist. So to conclude I take the risk to ride there even though it is technically illegal although in practice permitted. The main implication in practical terms is that in theory it will mean that you are not covered by your travel insurance in the event of an accident as the small print states that to be covered by your Australian insurance you must me riding legally in the country in question. However even this is murkier than it seems at first glance as in practice the insurance companies do actually seem to pay out as they are as confused as the Vietnamese police! They see that you are legal and licenced in Australia and assume you are good to go in Vietnam too. I queried all this with my insurance company and the end result was that they told me I would be covered but then sent me some small print mentioning the condition that cover only applied if you were riding legally under local laws. So a confused picture. Personally I am just willing to take the risk both in terms of the legality and insurance cover. In the case of the former the worst that is going to happen is that I have to pay a fine or bribe and in the second instance I have enough money to self insure. And it goes without saying that I am very cautious and defensive in my riding which is more or less a given anyway considering the conditions in Vietnam (small capacity bikes and low speeds).
If you feel OK with taking the risks I would highly recommend a trip there renting a manual bike such as the Honda XR150 which is perfectly suited to the local conditions and much more fun and versatile than a scooter. There are some superb bike rental companies there that make everything a doddle (Tigit, Style, Dragon etc) and a superlative motorcycle touring website/blog - Vietnam Coracle - run by Tom Divers, an Englishman who has lived in Vietnam for years and toured all over (doing over 200,000 km on his scooter so far). I took all the remote, empty back roads through the mountains. The scenery is stunning and the riding is fantastic with hundreds of miles of curves and generally decent road surfaces. Really exhilarating. But it would be very hard work on a bicycle unless you were extremely experienced and fit in my opinion.
@@mongreldogproductions great vid thanks for posting , with ref. to this thread check out top gears vietnam special from a few years back were they all passed a motorbike /scooter test in the space of an afternoon
What did you do with the bike carton? Won’t you need that for the trip home?
I folded it as flat as I could, strapped it to the trailer and left it at the Hotel for my return journey. Other times I have left it at the airport (discarded it), done my journey, and gone to local bike shops at my Exit point. They might charge me a couple of $$$ but I’ve never had any trouble finding one. Thanks for watching.
Im the same with the separation anxiety.. I wont part with the push bike or motorbike when out riding, especially some of the more dodgy parts..
Yeah, I guess it must be some sort of insecurity sub conscious thing we have in common. Especially in some of those remote communities.
Onya chief thanks for the video
No problem😊
you can cycle around mindanao the eastern side. cdo butuan surigao going davao region up to bukidnon. lots of roads to cover. Yeah, just stay away from the western side.
I take my hat off to you, trips like these border on an endurance test as much as a holiday!
I found ‘Cure rash powder’ just the ticket for those nasty rash problems.
I do enjoy the challenge (up to a point) but it’s mostly about seeing another Culture at a relaxed pace. Thanks for the heads up about the powder. Thanks for watching.
I bought a much wider and plush seat than the nut crusher/arse grinder seat that you have for my bike. Will be going the Phillipines soon but will be touring by motorcycle .
Enjoy your journey.
Careful with those dodgy pinoy hotels. 40 years ago i had to share one with a couple dozen Huntsman spiders. It was quite the night... pushed the bed into the center of the room. Couldn't afford anything else back then. Don't worry too much about your safety in Mindanao. My wife's family is from there. Hope to be back there again in a couple of months.
Hi Garry, Fond memories (of the spiders). Good times. Thanks for watching.
Well that must have been quite an adventure.... I am following Noraly (itchyboots) on her adventures and the "Don't get kidnapped" comes to mind a lot. She's very brave travelling by herself and I am quite concerned with her travels through North Africa.... especially places like Nigeria.
She is a brave lass. Thanks for watching.
I would think there is little chance of getting kidnapped in the philippines - the dominant religion is Roman Catholic, and it's quite conservative.
Nice video, and good to hear another Aussie accent for a bit. 'Flat out like a lizard drinkin' up those hills. I'm the same now (not that I did any serious cycle touring until my 50's anyway)
Dingo
New bike Steve? Can't go wrong with Giant.
About three years old. I had one stolen from the city and had to replace it. I’ve had a number of Giants over the years and I do spend a bit of $$$ on preventative maintenance. They’ve always been a reliable workhorse with good build quality. Thanks for watching.
DOn't get kidnapped! That was my 1st thought... look forward to discovering how your adventures unfold!
I felt pretty safe (most of the time lol). Next vid out in a few days (fingers crossed).
@@mongreldogproductions I know of a YT-er who lived in the Philippines for some years & was quite concerned his American-Philippian child could have been taken - as you say, some parts are more nerve-wracking than others! Glad you enjoyed your Adventure.
Well done, Steve, no way I would ride bike in the Phils. I have lived here for 13 years
and still prefer to have steel protection around me. There is no peak hour, traffic is
like that 24/7, I use to drive 230k to Manila, leaving 1am, it would still take 6- 8 hours.
Different now we have the expressway, read tollway, now we constantly stop to pay
toll. The jokers calling out "Hey Joé" are smartarses proving something to their mates,
I yell back ''
'Hey Joe, how are they hanging?'' that baffles them.
The nutsack does suffer, I use Aloe Vera that is in abundance here.
Looking forward to you next post to see how you go!
Yeah, I tired of the ‘hey Joe’ thing pretty quickly. Somebody did ask my name once. For shits and giggles I told him it was Joe. I was glad to get outta the city. It’s hard to focus on the road and navigate at the same time. Thanks for watching.
nice hair mate
Thanks…I’m thinking for the next time I might go with a man bun or mullet 😂
Thanks Steve. Cebu is an Islamist hot spot. Shotguns? Why take a knife to a gun fight.
The anti-clockwise piece is good advice - it never occurred to me.
Steve asks a local on a backroad where they don't speak English and he gets waved off.
1.5 stars in Cebu? That's a Gold stay.
I recommend Wilkinson's Paste for chafe. It's available from a compounding Pharmacy. But, increasingly it's available as a 'chemist brand'.
"It's got a McDonalds". But does it have an IGA or Foodworks? That's my measure!
Looking forward to the next Ep.
Hi Comfortable, glad you enjoyed this instalment...next one out in a few days (i hope). Thanks for watching.
1 1/2 star hotel, good thing for that 1/2 star the 1 star is probably a hammock nailed between two trees. extra for the mosquito net.
I actually do bring my own mozzie net with me and use it often. Thanks for watching.
Enjoying the video....thanks. But one thing....I aspire to ride the bmw in places you go; no similar wish to ride a pushy i must admit
Ya gotta do things that make you realise you’re alive. Riding a pushy in far off places does it for me (only occasionally). I’ll be sticking to the Suzuki and BMW for the rest of the year (I think).
dude try corn flour for rashes... works great
Onya mate, honest hard ride, balls, backs and bum hole pain, the pleasures of long distance riding😅
Good on ya Steve, thought you must’ve got kidnapped as we hadn’t seen for a whole 😂
I’m still around…just tryin to keep a low profile over the holiday period. 😊
Bet you miss the R1200 GS enjoy anyway.
Ive been there 4 times & waa brave enough....or crazy enough to hire a motorbike for a week, The filipinos are good drivers/riders, but the roads are crap & no shortage of stray dogs, pedestrians & cyclists. I bet you were the only cyclist wearing a helmet.
I draw a bit of attention when ever I cycle overseas. It might be the helmet, it could be the hair (lol), it might be the trailer. I also hired a scooter a couple of times just to explore some of the inland country. Thanks for watching.
Ya didn't bring up the whole Jeff Horn V Manny Pacquiao thing did you ???
I did not….not following the Sport I had to look up the details on Google. Thanks for watching.
@@mongreldogproductions
Wise.
There was a huge social media blue between Filipino Manny supporters and Aussie Jeff Horn supporters after the win by Jeff.
Plenty of angry little knifey guys over it. 😂
I really enjoyed watching your video. Great storytelling. I’m gonna binge the rest of your Philippine series. I myself biked around Negros and hope to finish the rest of the Visayan Trilogy (Panay and Cebu) next time I return.
Glad you enjoy the content...thanks for watching. 😀
How do you find accommodation?
Sometimes I ‘wing it’…other times I book it in advance on Air BNB or one of the other Hotel booking sites. I don’t like booking ahead too much because you then lose a bit of flexibility. You get a ‘feel’ for it after a while when in country. Google maps displays all the hotels in the areas I travel in. Thanks for watching.
I'm following a Korean girl ride around the world on a bike.
Must be a gutsy lady…
@@mongreldogproductions www.youtube.com/@universewithme
$25 is More like a weeks pay for flippers
You’re a better man than me Steve. I’m 65 too and newly retired. Not sure I’m going to tell you this time that you are living my dream but I enjoyed watching you living yours.
Hi Mick, it’s a tough gig but I do enjoy challenging myself. I will have to start slowing down…just not yet. Thanks for watching. Next vid out within a week (I hope).
Do you wear padded bibs or shorts, I can tell you they are the only way to ride.. I can do 200 kms and be fresh as a daisy wearing good padded bibs. No underwear, just the bibs..
I was wearing a pair of shorts with the padding included…they were ineffectual. I won’t be doing that again. I did train with them but the combination of heat and humidity really took its toll. I was also going commando. Every other adventure I’ve done on the bike I have worn conventional Lycra cycling shorts with the padding.
@@mongreldogproductions Did you try chamois cream? That also helps on the longer rides, or if you get wet.. stops the chafing.
@@jjsadv yes…it ain’t my first Rodeo but nothing seemed to help initially. It did get a bit better as the ride went on. I ended up using baby nappy rash cream (lanolin) which helped.
@@mongreldogproductions yeh. I know you old hat. I have also used the baby creams. They have worked pretty well for long rides.
👍🏻
no ones gonna kidnapped if your riding a bike, it means ur broke hehehehe
You back😂
Back in Oz? Yes. Got back in one piece!😊