I was easing my way out of my office building parking lot (usually packed with motorcycles), careful not to scratch my shiny new Ultima Whistler 150cc scooter. The exit of the parking lot also serves as the entrance and for me to be able to get out easily, someone straddling a modified Honda Wave Alpha had to give way.
As i was passing through, he gave a nod and shouted through his helmet "
ganda ah!"(nice bike!). "Break-in!" I blurted out. "
Isang Tagaytay lang yan" (a trip to
tagaytay ought to do it). His suggestion echoed in my head as i was riding home. The next Sunday morning, i pointed my scoot southward. With four hundred pesos in my pocket and a tank full of gas, i rode off thinking of majestic views, cool climate and, of course,
Bulalo(tasty beef broth native to
Tagaytay). Since my ride was 250cc short for the South Luzon Expressway(motorbikes below 400cc are not allowed in Philippine expressways), i reached
Alabang via East Service Road. Ive chosen to make a
pitstop before i take on the heavy traffic in the
Laguna area, and also to reflect on the essence of the butt numbing trip. After a quick bite and a bladder break,
im off to my next stop at
Paseo de Santa Rosa(a shopping complex where you will find native product stalls and sport shops infested with Korean nationals) in
Laguna. From there, the ride further up was a breeze. Upon entering
Tagaytay, i was greeted by
Tagaytay Econo Inn with the promise of rock bottom rates but the remaining Three hundred forty two pesos in my pocket is already reserved for my favorite
Bulalo eatery and perhaps a box of
buko pie to take home. As expected, the meal was heavenly and i needed a break after ingesting all that beef bone marrow. I went to
Taal Vista for a cup of tea, a bladder break, and "number two". After
ive done the "paper work", i rode all the way to
Cainta without stop overs to make it home before dark. By 6pm i was in our driveway placing the scoot on its center stand. A box of
buko pie in hand, i entered the house beaming with a huge sense of accomplishment paralleled only by a huge butt ache.
